Moses and Pharaoh

Exodus 4:18 - 9:35

After all of his attempts to get out of going before Pharaoh Moses goes and asks his father-in-law for permission to go to Egypt. God tells him right up front, "Look you're going to go tell Pharaoh to let the people go and he is going to say no. Just perform the signs and ride it out...he'll keep saying no." On the one hand not very encouraging but on the other I would think Moses would have to at least have some small sense of comfort in knowing that God had a plan...since he obviously knew what would happen in this first bit. In fact in 4:22-23 God foreshadows the eventual outcome:
"Then say to Pharaoh, This is what the Lord says: Israel is my firstborn son, and I told you, 'Let my son go, so he may worship me'. But you refused to let him go; so I will kill your firstborn son." God is already informing Moses that the signs won't work, that Pharaoh's heart will be hardened, that he won't let the people go and that in the end he'll have to kill the firstborn of Egypt!

The next bit is a little odd...God shows up while Moses is on his way back to Egypt...and apparently wants to kill Moses. (Ex 4:24) I'm almost wondering if Moses was being disobedient in regards to circumcising his son and so he downplays this episode when he writes the story.
All turns out well when Zipporah whips out the flint knife and performs a field circumcision.

It is also interesting that when Moses and Aaron first show up Pharaoh treats them like a nuisance...(Ex5:4)"Moses and Aaron why are you taking the people away from their labor? Get back to your work!"
He's the king for crying out loud!
But he chooses to play the political manipulation card rather than dealing directly with these two...(Ex5:7)
You are no longer to supply the people with straw for making bricks; let them go and gather their own straw. But require them to make the same number of bricks as before; don't reduce the quota.
From there things unfold pretty much like God said they would:
the signs won't work, that Pharaoh's heart will be hardened, he won't let the people go and in the end he'll have to kill the firstborn of Egypt!

I wonder if Moses secretly kept a checklist?