Aaron’s Story, Part Three: "Six Plagues Remain..."

For three days, the land of Egypt was thrown into chaos; as swarms of flies and gnats infested every corner of the nation. The relentless insects brought disease, annoyance and filth, settling upon everyone and everything, spreading misery throughout the kingdom.

Yet, amid the suffering, the Israelites remained untouched by this plague, a sign of divine protection that inspired both awe and envy. Gershom was free from the wrath of Yahweh.

The people of Egypt, tormented by the swarms of pests, cried out in desperation, beseeching Rameses II, for relief. Unable to ignore their pleas any longer, Pharaoh summoned Moses and me back to the grand palace once more.

As we stood before the Pharaoh, the weight of our people's suffering, and the gravity of our mission bore down upon us. Pharaoh, emboldened by his pride and arrogance, attempted to strike a compromise.

"I will yield, but only slightly. Gather your people, and you may take time to make your sacrifices and do your worship here, in Egypt. There is no reason you need to leave the nation."

However, Moses, guided by divine wisdom, while channeling the wrath of God, knew that such an offer would not suffice. There is no compromise in the Worship of God. He responded with unwavering conviction, "That would not be right. The sacrifices we offer to the Lord our God would be detestable to the Egyptians. Surely, we're you to come across our rituals, you would stone us to death for blasphemy."

Pharaoh sneered, his voice dripping with condescension. "Detestable, you say? You dare speak of what is detestable? Go ahead, sacrifice to your God here in Egypt. Why must you insist on venturing into the wilderness? This silly ploy for freedom needs to come to an end, Moses."

Stepping forward, I spoke with resolute determination, my voice brimming with conviction. "King Rameses, it is not merely a matter of offering sacrifices. We must journey into the wilderness to worship the Lord Yahweh, our God, as He has commanded us. It is a sacred pilgrimage that cannot be fulfilled within the confines of Egypt. We come here humbly to ask you for time to exalt our Lord."

Pharaoh's eyes narrowed, his displeasure etched deeply in his face. "If you dare venture into the wilderness, know that you shall not go far. I will grant you permission, but do not test my patience any further. Be rid of these filth-spreading vermin. If you go any further than 3 days from here, you will pay severely."

Moses nodded, his gaze unwavering. "Pharaoh, mark my words. Once we depart, I will pray to the Lord, and tomorrow the flies will leave you and your people. But be warned, do not act deceitfully again, by denying us the right to worship our God… If you continue this foolishness, the plagues will continue, and they will get worse and worse."

With our interaction concluded, Moses and I left Pharaoh's presence, finding solace in the seclusion of our dwelling. Together, we prepared ourselves to call upon Yahweh once more, beseeching Him to deliver us from His divine judgment, and guide us on our arduous journey in the wilderness.

That night, within the confines of our sanctuary, Moses raised his hands heavenward, his voice filled with fervor and unwavering faith. His prayers resounded with the conviction that the deliverance promised by our God would soon manifest.

Joining him in supplication, I could feel the weight of our people's burdens upon us, fueling our determination to fulfill the divine purpose entrusted to us. The Holy Spirit fell upon us, and we were granted new wisdom and insights into the future of Israel.

As the sun heralded the arrival of a new day, anticipation hung in the air. Returning to the opulent palace, we braced ourselves to witness the fulfillment of the Lord's word.

Moses, his voice steady yet commanding, once again addressed Pharaoh, his words carrying the weight of undeniable authority. "Pharaoh, as I leave your presence, I shall pray to the Lord.

And mark my words, the vermin shall depart from Egypt, but you must not deny our people the freedom to worship."

Pharaoh's eyes widened with surprise, perhaps even a flicker of fear. "Very well, Moses. Do as you must, but ensure that your God delivers as He has promised."

With those final words, we left Pharaoh's presence, and Moses raised his hands toward the heavens, a conduit between the divine and mortal realms. His voice resonated with unwavering conviction as he fervently beseeched the Lord to bring an end to the plague of flies that had tormented Egypt for far too long.

The day progressed, and as the sun descended, a remarkable spectacle unfolded before our eyes. The buzzing swarm of flies and gnats began to disperse, their numbers dwindling until not a single one remained. The land, once teeming with these detestable creatures, was now liberated from their torment.

Pharaoh's officials, unable to comprehend the miraculous turn of events, hastily surveyed their surroundings, confirming the absence of the flies. They turned their gaze toward Pharaoh, their expressions a mixture of awe and uncertainty.

Pharaoh himself appeared taken aback by the sudden reversal, yet his heart remained hardened still, unyielding to the signs presented before him.

"Your God has indeed shown His power," Pharaoh conceded begrudgingly, "but it changes nothing. You shall not go far into the wilderness. You have a week to return."

I locked eyes with Pharaoh, my voice imbued with unwavering resolve, as I felt the authority of God flow through me. "Pharaoh, be warned. The plagues will persist until you release our people. The Lord God Yahweh said 'Let My people go.' Not 'Let my people have a holiday.' If you continue to defy Him, the full wrath of the Lord will be unleashed upon Egypt…"

Rameses the Great scoffed at us and called his guards to escort us out… And so, the battle between the nations of Israel and Egypt continued, raging with the force of divine judgment.