16. He will speak to the people for you: he will be your spokesman, and you will be as God to him.
17. Take this staff in your hand; with it you are to perform the signs.
18. After this Moses returned to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, “Let me return to my kindred in Egypt, to see whether they are still living.” Jethro replied to Moses, “Go in peace.”
19. Then the Lord said to Moses in Midian: Return to Egypt, for all those who sought your life are dead.
20. So Moses took his wife and his sons, mounted them on the donkey, and started back to the land of Egypt. Moses took the staff of God with him.
21. The Lord said to Moses: On your return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart and he will not let the people go.
22. So you will say to Pharaoh, Thus says the Lord: Israel is my son, my firstborn.