10. Moses replied, “I have never been a good speaker. I wasn't one before you spoke to me, and I'm not one now. I am slow at speaking, and I can never think of what to say.”
11. But the Lord answered, “Who makes people able to speak or makes them deaf or unable to speak? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Don't you know that I am the one who does these things?
12. Now go! When you speak, I will be with you and give you the words to say.”
13. Moses begged, “Lord, please send someone else to do it.”
14. The Lord became irritated with Moses and said:What about your brother Aaron, the Levite? I know he is a good speaker. He is already on his way here to visit you, and he will be happy to see you again.
15-16. Aaron will speak to the people for you, and you will be like me, telling Aaron what to say. I will be with both of you as you speak, and I will tell each of you what to do.
17. Now take this walking stick and use it to perform miracles.
18. Moses went to his father-in-law Jethro and asked, “Please let me return to Egypt to see if any of my people are still alive.”“All right,” Jethro replied. “I hope all goes well.”
19. But even before this, the Lord had told Moses, “Leave the land of Midian and return to Egypt. Everyone who wanted to kill you is dead.”
20. So Moses put his wife and sons on donkeys and headed for Egypt, holding the walking stick that had the power of God.
21. On the way the Lord said to Moses:When you get to Egypt, go to the king and work the miracles I have shown you. But I will make him so stubborn that he will refuse to let my people go.
22. Then tell him that I have said, “Israel is my firstborn son,
23. and I commanded you to release him, so he could worship me. But you refused, and now I will kill your firstborn son.”