Hello, we're Scott and Maureen Proctor, and this is Meridian Magazine's Come Follow Me podcast,

where today we'll be studying Exodus chapter 7 through 13, some material that you'll find

very familiar to you. This is, of course, the intriguing story of the children of Israel coming out

of captivity because God spared his people and the type that became for all of the covenant

people to this very day. We have a special guest with us today. Yes, we're so honored to have

Daniel Peterson join us. And if I were to list everything he did, it would take

most of the rest of the podcast. But here are a few highlights. The theory is that he's retired

professor from BYU in Islamic Studies and Arabic, but in reality he doesn't know the word

retired. He founded the Middle East text initiatives. He's studying and taught in Jerusalem

and Cairo, and he's the founder of the Interpreter Foundation. He and his wife have produced feature

films including witnesses and six days in August, and he's created a wonderful documentary series

called Becoming Brigham, that is released in segments weekly.

Thank you for being with us today, Dan.

We are so excited to talk about these chapters together.

And as we open in chapter 7 through 13, we are looking at something that's very

familiar to all of us, in part because many who are listening have seen Cecil B.

DeMille's movie, The Ten Commandments.

Our family used to watch it every year, and there is just something about that movie that

gives us a visual representation of this time period.

But first of all, I just want to have you explain one thing as we begin

coming to know Pharaoh a little bit. It sounds like the Lord is hardening his heart every time

when he goes to receive counsel from Moses to let my people go, and the Lord hardens his heart

...