After the death of the Egyptian’s livestock, the plague of boils and the destruction of their crops by hail Moses approached Pharaoh again. This time Moses came to warn of a coming plague of locusts, the eighth plague that would devour what is left of the flattened crops and more. Pharaoh’s court officials pleaded with Pharaoh and admit that Egypt is already ruined. Moses is called in for negotiations. Pharaoh opens the negotiations by granting Moses permission to go into the desert with the Hebrew slaves to worship their God Yahweh, the one who has destroyed Egypt.

Since, Pharaoh fears that Moses is planning on leaving and never returning, he asks Moses, “Who will be going?” Moses’ answer gives the impression that since all the families will be gone with all their livestock there may be no reason to return to Egypt once they leave. Pharaoh does not trust Moses’ motive and rejects Moses offer. Pharaoh counters by saying, “No! Have only the men go and worship the Lord.” The Greek historian Herodotus records that in Egyptian culture women worshipped along with the men in religious festivals.

Moses and Aaron are “driven” or “expelled” from Pharaoh’s presence. The Hebrew word translated “driven” or “expelled” is garas which means “banished.”

Even though it is in his own best interest to cooperate with Moses and Yahweh, Pharaoh cannot allow himself to work with Moses. Even as Pharaoh’s court officials advise him to spare the land of Egypt, Pharaoh is unable to concede anything to Moses. And, Moses continues to toy with Pharaoh’s emotions and his pride. Instead of accepting a half-hearted compromise that would weaken Yahweh’s demands, Moses speaks from what has become a position of strength. Moses rejects Pharaoh’s offer to allow the men to go worship, and instead demands that the entire family of each man is allowed to go along with their livestock. If Moses’ demands are not met, Pharaoh will face the locust plague.  Pharaoh’s attitude and his actions are isolating him from the support of his people and his base of power among the court officials. Pharaoh is not a god, he has merely presented the allusion deity. This allusion is disappearing like fog when it is exposed to the sun.

"Envy and greed starve on a steady diet of thanksgiving."
- Billy Graham

From May 2011:

"More than 9 in 10 Americans still say 'yes' when asked
the basic question
'Do you believe in God?';
this is down only slightly from the 1940s, when Gallup first asked this question.
(Details Here)