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28 When the Lord spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt, 29 he said to him, “I am the Lord! Tell Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, everything I am telling you.” 30 But Moses argued with the Lord, saying, “I can’t do it! I’m such a clumsy speaker! Why should Pharaoh listen to me?”

Aaron’s Staff Becomes a Serpent

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pay close attention to this. I will make you seem like God to Pharaoh, and your brother, Aaron, will be your prophet. Tell Aaron everything I command you, and Aaron must command Pharaoh to let the people of Israel leave his country. But I will make Pharaoh’s heart stubborn so I can multiply my miraculous signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. Even then Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you. So I will bring down my fist on Egypt. Then I will rescue my forces—my people, the Israelites—from the land of Egypt with great acts of judgment. When I raise my powerful hand and bring out the Israelites, the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.”

So Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord had commanded them. Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron was eighty-three when they made their demands to Pharaoh.

Aaron to Speak for Moses

28 Now when the Lord spoke to Moses in Egypt, 29 he said to him, “I am the Lord.(A) Tell Pharaoh king of Egypt everything I tell you.”

30 But Moses said to the Lord, “Since I speak with faltering lips,(B) why would Pharaoh listen to me?”

Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have made you like God(C) to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet.(D) You are to say everything I command you, and your brother Aaron is to tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out of his country. But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart,(E) and though I multiply my signs and wonders(F) in Egypt, he will not listen(G) to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and with mighty acts of judgment(H) I will bring out my divisions,(I) my people the Israelites. And the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord(J) when I stretch out my hand(K) against Egypt and bring the Israelites out of it.”

Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord commanded(L) them. Moses was eighty years old(M) and Aaron eighty-three when they spoke to Pharaoh.