And the Lord said, what will comfort every one of us to remember, if we are in any trouble or sorrow, "I have surely seen the affliction of My people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; and am come down to deliver them out of the hands of the Egyptians. Come now therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh, that you may bring forth My people out of Egypt."
But at first Moses was very much afraid that the Children of Israel would not trust him, and he almost wanted God to send some other messenger who would do the work better.
But God was very patient with Moses; He kept on assuring him that He would help him in every difficulty, "Certainly I will be with thee," He said.
At last Moses told the Lord that the people would say that he had not seen God at all; and then the Lord asked him what it was which he held in his hand?
So Moses said it was a rod. Then God told him to throw it on the ground, and in a moment the rod had turned into a serpent!
Then God told him not to be afraid of it, but to catch it by its tail; and the serpent turned back into a rod in his hand.
So God told him to take that rod in his hand when he went to Egypt, for He would work signs with it for him.
Moses was still afraid, and then God allowed him to have his brother Aaron with him, that they might do God's wonderful signs together, and help each other.
At length Moses accomplished his journey to the land of the Pyramids, which it is probable the poor Jews were helping to build at that very time; and Moses stood before Pharaoh and gave him God's message "Let My people go that they may serve Me!"
But Pharaoh was not willing to understand that message. He saw those thousands of slaves, who were busy building his cities and his tombs, and he would not believe that there was anyone strong enough to deliver them from his powerful hand. So he said scornfully, "Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice?"