IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

The Plague of Blood

Date: Jan. 13, 2021

Passage

Exodus 7:14-25

The First Plague: Water Turned to Blood

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, and stand on the bank of the Nile to meet him. Take in your hand the staff that 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.” But so far, you have not obeyed. 17 Thus says the LORD, “By this you shall know that I am the LORD: behold, with the staff that is in my hand I will strike the water that is in the Nile, and it shall turn into blood. 18 The fish in the Nile shall die, and the Nile will stink, and the Egyptians will grow weary of drinking water from the Nile.”’” 19 And the LORD said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, their canals, and their ponds, and all their pools of water, so that they may become blood, and there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, even 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 staff and struck the water in the Nile, and all the water in the Nile turned into blood. 21 And the fish in the Nile died, and the Nile stank, so that the Egyptians could not drink water from the Nile. 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 take even this to heart. 24 And all the Egyptians dug along the Nile for water to drink, for they could not drink the water of the Nile.

25 Seven full days passed after the LORD had struck the Nile.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: Exodus 7:17

Thus says the LORD, “By this you shall know that I am the LORD: behold, with the staff that is in my hand I will strike the water that is in the Nile, and it shall turn into blood.

1. 'Blood will be everywhere in Egypt' (14-19)

In the arid land of Egypt, the Nile was their most important resource. Much of their wealth, as well as religious activity, centered around the river. God would strike the Nile in the morning, as Pharaoh goes out to bless it. In this way all Egypt would see the power of the LORD over their false gods of the Nile and over their ruler, Pharaoh. The blood points to God's vengeance on Egypt, hearing the cries of the baby boys of Israel who died in the Nile (1:22).

2. The LORD's command vs. secret arts (20-24)

Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded, and they all saw the power of God: all the water changed to blood, killing the fish and making it undrinkable. Blood was everywhere in Egypt, showing the limitless power of God's command. The magicians, empowered by Satan, were able to replicate turning water into blood, so Pharaoh refused to yield. But they could not undo God's judgment on the Nile. All the people of Egypt suffered, needing to dig for water. God's command is greater than Satan's tricks.

Prayer: Father, your judgment is right and your power is limitless. Help me trust in you today.

One Word: God's power revealed in judgment

Daily Bread

Remember Who God is

Psalm 77:1-20

Key Verse: 77:11

I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I will remember your wonders of old.

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