Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh. They demanded: Let our
people go free! God wishes it. But Pharaoh had no intention of setting the
Israelites free. He said: Who is the God of Israel that I should listen to
him? I do not know him and I will not let the Israelites go. I will have them
do even more work so that they do not forget who is their master. The same
day he ordered the slave-drivers: Make the Israelites work so hard that they
forget this idle talk.
The Israelites groaned under their burden.
Moses implored the Lord, and God promised him: I am God and I will lead you
out of Egypt. I will adopt you as my
own people. You will recognise that I am your God. I will bring you to the
land I promisedAbraham, Isaac and
Jacob. I will give it to you as your inheritance.
God let the Pharaoh feel his might.
Terrible plagues contaminated the drinking water and killed cattle. Insects
infested the houses. The air became so dirt-ridden that all the Egyptians
broke out in sores and boils. The Pharaoh was quite aware of the source of
this misfortune. Twice, three times he pretended he would free the Israelites
from their slavery, but as soon as the plagues were over he broke his word.