Read Online The Priest: Aaron by Francine Rivers - Free Book Online

for you and your officials, I know that you still do not fear the Lord God as you should.”
    Pharaoh’s eyes gleamed. “Moses, my friend, how can you speak so to one you once called little cousin? How can you bring such heartache to the woman who lifted you from the river and reared you as a son of Egypt?”
    “God knows you better than I, Raamses.” Moses’ voice was quiet but steady. “And it is the Lord who has told me how you harden your heart against Him. It is you who brings judgment on Egypt. It is you who makes your people suffer!”
    Bold words that could bring a death edict. Aaron stepped closer to Moses, ready to protect him if any man should come close. Everyone moved back. Some lowered their heads just enough to show their respect to Moses, much to Pharaoh’s ire.
    Moses prayed, and the Lord lifted His hand. The thunder, hail, and fire stopped, but the quiet after the storm was even more frightening than the roaring winds. Nothing changed. Pharaoh wanted his bricks, and the Hebrew slaves were to make them.
    The people wailed, “Pharaoh’s sword is over our heads!”
    “Have you no eyes?” Aaron shouted. “Have you no ears? Look around you. Can you not all see how the Egyptians fear what the Lord will do next? More come to our people every day bringing gifts. They hold Moses in great respect.”
    “And what good does that do us if we are still slaves?”
    “The Lord will deliver us!” Moses said. “You must have faith!”
    “Faith? That’s all we’ve had for years. Faith! We want our freedom!”
    Aaron tried to keep people away from Moses. “Leave him alone. He must pray.”
    “We are worse off now than we were before he came!”
    “Cleanse your hearts! Pray with us!”
    “What good have you done us when we are called back to the mud pits?”
    Incensed, Aaron wanted to use his staff on them. They were like sheep, bleating in panic. “Have your gardens turned to ash? Are your animals sick? The Lord has made a distinction between us and Egypt!”
    “When will God get us out of here?”
    “When we know the Lord is God and there is no other!” Hadn’t they bowed down to Egyptian gods? They still turned this way and that! Aaron tried to pray. He tried to hear God’s voice again, but the jumble of his own thoughts crowded in like a council of discordant voices. When he saw a scarab amulet around his son Abihu’s neck, his blood ran cold. “Where did you get that thing?”
    “An Egyptian gave it to me. It’s valuable, Father. It’s made of lapis and gold.”
    “It’s an abomination! Take it off! And make certain there are no other idols in my house. Do you understand, Abihu? Not a scarab, nor a wooden Heket or the eye of Ra! If an Egyptian gives you something made of gold, melt it down!”
    God was sending another plague, and it would only be by His grace and mercy that He didn’t send it on Israel as well. Israel, so aptly named, “contender against God”!
    God was sending locusts this time. Still, Pharaoh would not listen. Even as Aaron walked with Moses from the great hall, he could hear the counselors crying out to Pharaoh, pleading, begging.
    “How long will you let these disasters go on?”
    “Please let the Israelites go to serve the Lord their God!”
    “Don’t you realize that Egypt lies in ruins?”
    Aaron turned sharply when he heard running footsteps behind them. No one would take Moses! Planting his feet, he gripped his staff in both hands. The servant bowed low. “Please. Great Pharaoh wishes you to return.”
    “Great Pharaoh can take a flying leap into the Nile!”
    “Aaron.” Moses headed back.
    Tense with frustration, Aaron followed. Would Raamses ever listen? Should they go back and listen to another promise, knowing it would be broken before they stepped foot in Goshen? Hadn’t God already said He was hardening Pharaoh’s heart and the hearts of his servants?
    “All right, go and serve the Lord your God!”
    Moses turned away; Aaron fell into step