Moses and Aaron entered the throne room of Pharaoh, their voices steady with the weight of heaven's command. "Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness."
Pharaoh leaned forward on his throne, his eyes dark with scorn. "Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice and let Israel go? I do not know this God, and I will not release the people."
Still they pleaded. "The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Let us journey three days into the desert to sacrifice to Him, lest He strike us with plague or sword."
But Pharaoh's anger rose. "Moses, Aaron—why do you draw the people from their labor? Back to your burdens! The people are many, and you would make them idle."
That same day, he summoned his overseers. "No longer provide straw for the Hebrews to make their bricks. Let them gather straw themselves, but demand the same quota as before. They are lazy—crying out about sacrifices to their God. Make their work heavier, that they may not be deceived by lies."
The decree spread swiftly. Slave drivers shouted, "Thus says Pharaoh: We will give you no straw. Find it yourselves, yet meet your full measure of bricks."
So the people scattered across the land, desperate, gleaning stubble from fields to mix with clay. The whips of the taskmasters cracked louder, urging them to complete each day's work as before. When quotas failed, Israelite foremen—chosen to stand between their brethren and the Egyptians—were beaten and mocked.
In anguish, they went before Pharaoh. "Why do you treat your servants this way? No straw is given, yet we are told, 'Make bricks!' We are beaten, though the fault lies with your own people."
Pharaoh's reply was cold. "Lazy—you are lazy! That is why you cry, 'Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.' Now go to your labor. Straw shall not be given, yet your quota shall not diminish."
The foremen left the palace, their faces pale with despair. Outside they found Moses and Aaron waiting, but instead of gratitude, bitterness poured out. "May the Lord judge you! You have made us hateful in Pharaoh's eyes and placed a sword in his hand to kill us."
Crushed by their words, Moses turned back to the Lord. "O Lord, why have You brought harm upon this people? Why did You send me? Since I came to Pharaoh in Your name, he has dealt cruelly with them, and You have not delivered Your people at all."