Through the Wilderness. 113

that he was to go back to Egypt and lead the
people of Israel out, that they might not be
slaves to Pharaoh any longer, but go and
possess the Promised Land, that good land
which the Lord had promised to Abraham
long ago.

“Moses was to go and ask Pharaoh to let
them go, and as he had a great difficulty in
speaking, the Lord commanded his brother
Aaron to go and speak for him.

“When Moses and Aaron told Pharaoh
that they had a message from God for him,
telling him to let the people of Israel leave the
land of Egypt, the king refused to obey. But
the Lord sent many punishments, as plagues,
to him for his disobedience.

“ At last the Lord sent a message by Moses
and Aaron, that if Pharaoh would not let the.
people of Israel go, the eldest child of every
Egyptian should die that night. But the king
again hardened his heart, and would not obey.

“Then Moses told the children of Israel
the dreadful thing that was to happen that
night, and that every family of the Israelites
was to kill a lamb, and sprinkle the doors of
their houses with the blood. Then the
Israelites were to feast upon the lambs they
had killed, all standing up and ready for a

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