I'm The Devil - Chapter 270

Chapter 270: Let My People Go

Egypt

Pharaoh’s Palace

The grand hall of the Pharaoh’s palace shimmered with wealth and power. Golden pillars lined the room, and an array of incense filled the air with the fragrance of myrrh and spices. Servants moved in the background like shadows, fanning the seated figure on the ornate throne. The Pharaoh, draped in royal robes of deep red and gold, lounged with an almost lazy authority, his sharp eyes observing the two figures standing before him. At his sides were his advisors—old men, their faces lined with wisdom, eyes hard with loyalty—and yet even they stood slightly back, wary of what might transpire.

Before him, two men—one standing with great solemnity, his hands clasped in front of him, his face weathered but strong; the other slightly behind, staff in hand, his face bearing the same age-worn marks of time, yet with a fire in his eyes. These men were Moses and Aaron. They had come for a confrontation that had been decades in the making.

“Pharaoh,” the first voice broke the tension, not loud but strong and filled with a purpose that echoed through the chamber. It was Aaron who spoke first. “The Lord has spoken—let my people go.”

Moses stood silent beside him, his eyes locked on the figure of Pharaoh, who had once been his brother, once a man of his own family. Now, however, this brother had become a symbol of tyranny and oppression. And it was time for that oppression to end.

Pharaoh’s lips curled into a mocking smile as his eyes flicked from Aaron to Moses. His expression shifted to one of bemused recognition. “And that’s what I get after all these years of separation, Moses?” His voice dripped with sarcasm, but there was something more—a dark thread of bitterness laced through his words. He shifted in his throne, his fingers tapping idly against the gold armrest. “A reunion filled with demands.”

Moses, his posture firm but not aggressive, stood silent for a moment, his chest rising and falling with calm, measured breaths. The weight of years bore down on him, years of exile and reflection, of doubt and discovery. Yet here, standing before his former brother, he felt none of the fear he once might have. He had faced something far greater than any mortal man—he had stood in the presence of the Almighty. Now, he was here not as the former prince of Egypt, but as the chosen instrument of the Lord.

“Ramses,” Moses finally spoke, his voice deep, resonant, and unshaken. He spoke the name of Pharaoh not as a title, but as the man he had once known, the brother with whom he had shared childhood memories. There was no hatred in his voice, only the solemn weight of truth. “This is not my demand. This is not for me. This is the will of the God of Israel.”

Pharaoh’s smile faltered, and he straightened slightly on his throne, his hand stopping its idle tapping. His gaze hardened. “The will of the God of Israel?” he echoed, his tone incredulous. “The God of slaves? The God of your people? And you believe that by invoking his name, I should simply release them?” His voice rose with each word, anger flickering in his eyes like a growing flame. “I am Pharaoh. I am a living god, and you—” he pointed a finger at Moses, his face contorting in frustration—”you come into my hall and make demands of me?”

The tension in the room thickened. The advisors at Pharaoh’s side shifted slightly, their gazes darting between Moses and Ramses, their expressions betraying their nervousness, but they remained silent. The servants fanning Pharaoh slowed their movements, their eyes wide with uncertainty.

Aaron, sensing the rising hostility, tightened his grip on his staff. He knew the power that Pharaoh commanded and the danger they were in, but his faith was unwavering. He glanced at Moses, a silent exchange passing between them. It was time.

Moses, without a word, nodded to his brother. Aaron stepped forward, raising his staff high, his eyes locked on Pharaoh. “By this, you shall know that the Lord, the God of Israel, has sent us.” His voice rang out with authority. “Let my people go, so they may serve the Lord in the wilderness!”

Pharaoh’s eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched as he watched Aaron. The tension in the room was palpable. Aaron, undeterred, brought the staff down hard against the marble floor. There was a pause—a brief silence that seemed to stretch for an eternity.

Then, before the eyes of Pharaoh, his advisors, and his servants, the staff transformed. Its wooden surface twisted and writhed, bending and shifting until, in place of the staff, a serpent lay coiled at Aaron’s feet. The serpent lifted its head, its tongue flickering in and out as it hissed, its dark, glistening eyes fixed on Pharaoh.

Gasps filled the chamber. The advisors exchanged wide-eyed looks, and even the servants who had been fanning Pharaoh stopped, frozen in place by what they had witnessed.

Pharaoh, however, did not flinch. His eyes locked onto the serpent, his lips curling into a sneer. “A trick,” he said, dismissively waving his hand. “Is this all you bring before me, Moses? Parlor tricks to impress slaves and children?”

With a nod, Pharaoh gestured to his own magicians, who stepped forward from the shadows of the hall. Dressed in fine robes and adorned with jewels, they carried themselves with arrogance and confidence, their faces betraying no fear. One of them raised his own staff and, with a flick of his wrist, dropped it to the ground.

Just like Aaron’s staff, the magician’s staff twisted and morphed, becoming a snake. It slithered across the floor toward Aaron’s serpent, and soon another magician followed suit, producing yet another snake. The three serpents now circled each other, hissing and coiling.

Pharaoh leaned back in his throne, his expression smug as he watched, waiting for Moses and Aaron to realize their folly.

But Moses remained unmoved, his eyes fixed on the serpents. Aaron, too, stood resolute, showing no sign of fear or doubt.

Then, as the court watched in stunned silence, Aaron’s serpent struck. Quick as lightning, it lunged at the serpents of the magicians. Its fangs sank deep into one, and within moments, it devoured the snake whole. The second magician’s serpent slithered closer, but Aaron’s serpent moved again, just as fast, swallowing it as well.

Pharaoh’s smug expression flickered for just a moment as the reality of what he had witnessed sank in. His magicians exchanged nervous glances, unsure of what to do next. The murmurs in the room grew louder, as the court tried to comprehend the significance of what had just transpired.

But Pharaoh, unwilling to lose face, hardened his expression once more. His fists clenched on the arms of his throne. “You think this proves something, Moses?” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “You think the power of your God is enough to sway me?”

He rose from his throne, his movements slow but deliberate, his gaze never leaving Moses. “Take your miracle, Moses, and leave. I will not let the people go. The Hebrews will remain as slaves, as they have always been.”

Moses felt the weight of the words, but he knew this was not the end. He could feel the presence of the Lord guiding him, giving him strength. He turned to leave, Aaron following beside him, but before they stepped out of the hall, Moses spoke one last time.

“Thus says the Lord: By this, you will know that I am the Lord. Be prepared, Pharaoh, for the river you rely upon will turn to blood.”

With those words, Moses and Aaron left the palace, their steps steady and their resolve unbroken. They had come face to face with the ruler of Egypt, but they knew the true battle had only just begun. The Lord had spoken, and soon, Egypt would know His power.

Pharaoh, however, sat back down on his throne, his face a mask of indifference, but deep inside, a storm of defiance brewed. He would not be bested by an old man and a foreign god. Not now. Not ever. And yet, the uneasy whispers of his advisors lingered in the air, the fear of what was to come creeping into the very heart of Egypt’s empire.