Moses Meets Pharaoh

In Exodus 5 we learn of Moses' first encounter with Pharaoh, the assumed god-king, who replies emphatically that he neither knows the Lord nor will let Israel go. For his part, Moses becomes the object of the ire of the Israelites. He complains the Lord has placed him in an invidious position by not giving immediate deliverance. However, we see that Moses operates as the great prophet of the Lord in this encounter, and that the spiritual battle thus engaged will not be won easily or swiftly.