When Moses first confronted Pharaoh upon his return to Egypt, the interaction between them did not go well. Even though God spoke through Moses with authority, proclaiming, "Let My people go," not a request, but a demand, Pharaoh refused. Pharaoh even retaliated against the Israelites, taking away the straw they needed to make the bricks which he required each day. Upon learning of this punishment, the Jewish overseers did not blame Pharaoh for their new predicament, they blamed Moses. And did Moses blame Pharaoh? No. Whom did he blame instead? I wonder.