Freedom and truth.

Why did Moses tell Pharaoh, if not a lie, then less than the full truth?

Here's the conversation between him and Pharaoh after the fourth plague, Arov, swarms of insects or some say wild animals.

Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said,

Go, sacrifice to your God here in the land.

But Moses said, that wouldn't be right.

The sacrifices we offered to the Lord our God would be detestable to the Egyptians.

And if we offer sacrifices that are detestable in their eyes, will they not stone us?

We must take a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the Lord our God as he commands us.

Now, not just here, but throughout Moses makes it seem as if all he's asking for is permission to undertake a three-day journey to offer sacrifices to God,

and by implication, then to return. So for instance, in their

first appearance before Pharaoh Moses and Aaron say, this is what the Lord God of Israel said,

let my people go so that they may hold a festival to me in the wilderness. Pharaoh said,

who is the Lord that I should obey him and let Israel go?

I don't know the Lord and I will not let Israel go. Then they said, the God of the Hebrews has

met with us. Now let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the Lord

our God or he may strike us with plagues or with the sword.

God even specifies this before the mission has begun,

saying to Moses at the burning bush,

you and the elders of Israel will then go to the king of Egypt,

you must tell him, the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, revealed himself to us.

Now, we request that you allow us to take a three-day journey into the

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