Moses Returns to Egypt (Exodus 4:16-23)

18 Moses went back to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, “Please let me go back to my brothers in Egypt to see whether they are still alive.” And Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.” [Moses is on board with God and convinced about the success of his mission.] 19 And the Lord said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all the men who were seeking your life are dead.” [Moses can return as a prophet and not as one wanted for murder. There is now a new pharaoh in Egypt.] 20 So Moses took his wife and his sons [he is relocating his family to Egypt as Israelites] and had them ride on a donkey, and went back to the land of Egypt. And Moses took the staff of God [the authoritative presence of God] in his hand.

21 And the Lord said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh [pharaoh is commanded to be Moses’ chief concern] all the miracles that I have put in your power [suggesting the full ten plagues have already been revealed to Moses]. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go. [God will be in control of everything so that he can display his greatness and judgment.] 22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son, 23 and I say to you, “Let my son go that he may serve me.” If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.’” [The firstborn son in the ancient world was the one specially favored with inheritance, the one who would represent the father in many ways as he came into maturity and the father gave him more and more responsibility.]