17. And I have decided that I will take you away from the troubles you are suffering in Egypt. I will lead you to the land that now belongs to others—the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. I will lead you to a land filled with many good things.’
18. “The elders will listen to you. And then you and the elders will go to the Pharaoh. You will tell him, ‘YAHWEH is the God of the Hebrews. He came to us and told us to travel three days into the desert. There we must offer sacrifices to YAHWEH our God.’
19. “But I know that the Pharaoh will not let you go. Only a great power will force him to let you go,
20. so I will use my great power against Egypt. I will cause amazing things to happen in that land. After I do this, he will let you go.
21. And I will cause the Egyptians to be kind to the Israelites. They will give many gifts to your people when they leave Egypt.