Plague of Blood, mixed
media by Yvette Rock
Reflection
by
Don Schwager
God's purpose of the plagues was not only to secure the release of the
Israelities from bondage in Egypt, but also to make himself known to the
Egyptians as the one true God who not only acts with power and judgment,
but also with grace, blessing, and protection for those who serve him.
And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch
forth my hand upon Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from among
them (Exodus 7:5-6).
In the open warfare between God and Pharoah, God demonstrates his power
and shows his wonders to all of Egypt.
The first plague –
turning
the waters of the Nile into blood –
is a sign of death. The waters of the Nile nourished Egypt's fertile
lands enabling this desert climate to flourish. The plague of blood not
only polutted the fertile river, but led to death both on land and in water.
This sign would culminate with the harsh reality of death in the final
plague –
the destruction of the firstborn of all Egypt. There is a moral message
in this plague:
The wages of sin is death,
but the free gift of God is eternal life
in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23).
"Lord Jesus Christ, you died that we
might no longer live in bondage to sin. Strengthen my hands for battle
against the corrupting force of wrongdoing and rebellion in my life
(Psalm 144:1-2,7-8). Increase my hunger for your righteousness and holiness
that I may renounce sin, Satan, and the world for your kingdom and your
glory." |
The
plague of blood
Exodus 7
14 Then the LORD said to
Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is hardened, he refuses to let the people go. 15
Go to Pharaoh in the morning, as he is going out to the water; wait for
him by the river’s brink, and take in your hand the rod which was turned
into a serpent. 16 And you shall say to him, ‘The LORD, the God of the
Hebrews, sent me to you, saying, “Let my people go, that they may serve
me in the wilderness; and behold, you have not yet obeyed.” 17 Thus says
the LORD, “By this you shall know that I am the LORD: behold, I will strike
the water that is in the Nile with the rod that is in my hand, and it shall
be turned to blood, 18 and the fish in the Nile shall die, and the Nile
shall become foul, and the Egyptians will loathe to drink water from the
Nile.”’” 19 And the LORD said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Take your rod and
stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, their
canals, and their ponds, and all their pools of water, that they may become
blood; and there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both
in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone.’”
20 Moses and Aaron did as
the LORD commanded; in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants,
he lifted up the rod and struck the water that was in the Nile, and all
the water that was in the Nile turned to blood. 21 And the fish in the
Nile died; and the Nile became foul, so that the Egyptians could not drink
water from the Nile; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.
22 But the magicians of Egypt did the same by their secret arts; so Pharaoh’s
heart remained hardened, and he would not listen to them; as the LORD had
said. 23 Pharaoh turned and went into his house, and he did not lay even
this to heart. 24 And all the Egyptians dug round about the Nile for water
to drink, for they could not drink the water of the Nile. 25 Seven days
passed after the LORD had struck the Nile.
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