Burunche’s Blog

Exodus 12 The First Passover

1 While the Israelites were still in the land of Egypt, the Lord gave the following instructions to Moses and Aaron: 2 “From now on, this month will be the first month of the year for you. 3 Announce to the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each family must choose a lamb or a young goat for a sacrifice, one animal for each household. 4 If a family is too small to eat a whole animal, let them share with another family in the neighborhood. Divide the animal according to the size of each family and how much they can eat. 5 The animal you select must be a one-year-old male, either a sheep or a goat, with no defects.

6 “Take special care of this chosen animal until the evening of the fourteenth day of this first month. Then the whole assembly of the community of Israel must slaughter their lamb or young goat at twilight. 7 They are to take some of the blood and smear it on the sides and top of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the animal. 8 That same night they must roast the meat over a fire and eat it along with bitter salad greens and bread made without yeast. 9 Do not eat any of the meat raw or boiled in water. The whole animal—including the head, legs, and internal organs—must be roasted over a fire. 10 Do not leave any of it until the next morning. Burn whatever is not eaten before morning.

All this time, the Israelites have been watching as God has sent increasingly severe plagues on Egypt; yet, Pharoah has continued to harden his heart. But now God is giving some of the most important instructions He will ever give His people, instructions that will be repeated and quoted down for centuries, even down to the present day.

2 “From now on, this month will be the first month of the year for you.” What is about to happen is so very important that God wants the Israelites to change their entire calendar so that it begins with Passover. Previously, the Israelites have used some form of lunar calendar beginning in the spring; however, now God is directing them that forever more, their year will begin by celebrating His deliverance and provision. God gives very specific instructions for the last meal these people will ever eat in Egypt, and these instructions are very unusual. The Israelites are to sacrifice a lamb or a young goat, smear its blood on the doorposts of their houses, and eat the roasted meat along with bitter salad greens and bread made without yeast, burning any left-overs. The animals are sacrificed and their blood is applied to cover the sins of the people and to indicate that those inside the home worship the One True Living God.

By following these instructions, the Israelites are assured that God will be with them.

11 “These are your instructions for eating this meal: Be fully dressed, wear your sandals, and carry your walking stick in your hand. Eat the meal with urgency, for this is the Lord’s Passover. 12 On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn son and firstborn male animal in the land of Egypt. I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt, for I am the Lord! 13 But the blood on your doorposts will serve as a sign, marking the houses where you are staying. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt.

14 “This is a day to remember. Each year, from generation to generation, you must celebrate it as a special festival to the Lord. This is a law for all time. 15 For seven days the bread you eat must be made without yeast. On the first day of the festival, remove every trace of yeast from your homes. Anyone who eats bread made with yeast during the seven days of the festival will be cut off from the community of Israel. 16 On the first day of the festival and again on the seventh day, all the people must observe an official day for holy assembly. No work of any kind may be done on these days except in the preparation of food.

17 “Celebrate this Festival of Unleavened Bread, for it will remind you that I brought your forces out of the land of Egypt on this very day. This festival will be a permanent law for you; celebrate this day from generation to generation. 18 The bread you eat must be made without yeast from the evening of the fourteenth day of the first month until the evening of the twenty-first day of that month. 19 During those seven days, there must be no trace of yeast in your homes. Anyone who eats anything made with yeast during this week will be cut off from the community of Israel. These regulations apply both to the foreigners living among you and to the native-born Israelites. 20 During those days you must not eat anything made with yeast. Wherever you live, eat only bread made without yeast.”

21 Then Moses called all the elders of Israel together and said to them, “Go, pick out a lamb or young goat for each of your families, and slaughter the Passover animal. 22 Drain the blood into a basin. Then take a bundle of hyssop branches and dip it into the blood. Brush the hyssop across the top and sides of the doorframes of your houses. And no one may go out through the door until morning. 23 For the Lord will pass through the land to strike down the Egyptians. But when he sees the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe, the Lord will pass over your home. He will not permit his death angel to enter your house and strike you down.

24 “Remember, these instructions are a permanent law that you and your descendants must observe forever. 25 When you enter the land the Lord has promised to give you, you will continue to observe this ceremony. 26 Then your children will ask, ‘What does this ceremony mean?’ 27 And you will reply, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, for he passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt. And though he struck the Egyptians, he spared our families.’” When Moses had finished speaking, all the people bowed down to the ground and worshiped.

For weeks or even months, the Israelites have watched as God has sent increasingly severe plagues on the land of Egypt and the Egyptians. At a point, God has drawn a line between the Israelites and the Egyptians, leaving the Israelites untouched as the Egyptians have suffered the complete destruction of their land and their agriculture. Now God is ready to deal the final blow to Pharaoh’s pride by killing all the first-born humans and animals in Egypt while delivering the Israelites. God knows that the Egyptians will be so terrorized that they will load the Israelites up with treasure, begging them to leave as quickly as possible. Even though Pharaoh might sit fuming in his palace, his people are completely fed up.

C. H. Spurgeon once preached a sermon in which he said that when God was prepared to bring the Israelites out of Egypt, nobody could possibly delay that deliverance for a single instant. Moses is literally giving the Israelites their marching orders, even as he instructs them on the way to protect their families. God is about to do something the Israelites have believed impossible, and all they have to do is to cooperate.

There are many times in our lives when God has shown Himself mighty and has solved seemingly impossible problems. We are currently on home leave in the U. S. Two nights ago, the left rear tire on our rental car burst. When we contacted the rental company for assistance, we rapidly realized involving them might make things worse rather than better. This is the third vehicle we have had from this company since late June. The first vehicle stopped working in the midst of a trip. The second vehicle was fine; however, its registration was about to expire, and we had to exchange it for our current vehicle. Now we were facing this tire problem. Blessedly, a friend suggested a large tire service that turned out to furnish roadside assistance, even though our vehicle was 35 miles from their office. Within a few hours, a team went to the rural area where we had left the car, replaced the ruined tire with a new one, and also inspected the brakes on that side to ensure there was no problem. We were able to return to the tire garage, get the tire balanced, and settle a very reasonable bill, all with far less hassle than we would have endured otherwise. Now we have peace of mind that we can continue to drive this vehicle.

It’s a funny thing about peace; we generally fail to appreciate peace until we’re in the midst of trouble. Only when our problems are solved do we realize the wonderful stillness of peace by comparing it with the turmoil we have just suffered.

On the night he was betrayed, Jesus told his disciples “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) When we know Jesus, we can have peace, even when things are difficult.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to trust You even when things are dangerous or difficult, for You are the Peace-giver. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 11: Death for Egypt’s Firstborn

11 Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will strike Pharaoh and the land of Egypt with one more blow. After that, Pharaoh will let you leave this country. In fact, he will be so eager to get rid of you that he will force you all to leave. 2 Tell all the Israelite men and women to ask their Egyptian neighbors for articles of silver and gold.” 3 (Now the Lord had caused the Egyptians to look favorably on the people of Israel. And Moses was considered a very great man in the land of Egypt, respected by Pharaoh’s officials and the Egyptian people alike.)

4 Moses had announced to Pharaoh, “This is what the Lord says: At midnight tonight, I will pass through the heart of Egypt. 5 All the firstborn sons will die in every family in Egypt, from the oldest son of Pharaoh, who sits on his throne, to the oldest son of his lowliest servant girl who grinds the flour. Even the firstborn of all the livestock will die. 6 Then a loud wail will rise throughout the land of Egypt, a wail like no one has heard before or will ever hear again. 7 But among the Israelites it will be so peaceful that not even a dog will bark. Then you will know that the Lord makes a distinction between the Egyptians and the Israelites. 8 All the officials of Egypt will run to me and fall to the ground before me. ‘Please leave!’ they will beg. ‘Hurry! And take all your followers with you.’ Only then will I go!” Then, burning with anger, Moses left Pharaoh.

9 Now the Lord had told Moses earlier, “Pharaoh will not listen to you, but then I will do even more mighty miracles in the land of Egypt.” 10 Moses and Aaron performed these miracles in Pharaoh’s presence, but the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he wouldn’t let the Israelites leave the country.

Moses knew this day was coming, but now he is grieving! Moses was born in Egypt, raised as an Egyptian noble, and given one of the finest educations available. In some respects, for Moses, returning to Egypt was a homecoming, even if a bitter one. But as God’s punishments for Pharaoh’s pride and Egyptian fetish worship have continued to escalate, Moses has realized how this situation must end. Moses has watched as the country of his birth has been destroyed, leaving nothing except the people, many of whose families Moses has known for decades. Now Moses is forced to issue a final warning to Pharaoh: at midnight tonight the Angel of Death will pass through Egypt, killing every Egyptian first-born, whether human or animal, including the crown prince in the palace. But God will protect the Hebrews and “it will be so peaceful that not even a dog will bark.”

At first, the mention of dogs refusing to bark might seem strange; however, animals are far more spiritually sensitive than people. God knows that when the Death Angel passes over Egypt, every single dog in Egypt that does not die will be howling as loudly and insistently as possible.

By now the Egyptians have no peace whatsoever, and now word of this last threat is spreading throughout Egyptian society. As Israelites visit their neighbors, requesting anything they can give, those neighbors quickly go through their dwellings, gathering jewelry, clothing, and anything else precious in hopes that in so doing, they will avoid the death plague.

As I am writing these words, news of the tragic fires around Spokane, Washington, and Boise, Idaho are coming. The destruction is unimaginable, with hundreds of homes gone and thousands of people left destitute. What peace can one find in the midst of such horrors? Look at the Israelites.

First, the ancient Israelites could thank God that He spared them the worst of the plagues and that their families and livestock remained alive. Second, these people were beginning to realize that God really was all-powerful and that He would do exactly as He had promised. Although still enslaved, these people had the hope that God would work on their behalf and that they would escape their slavery.

“Great!” you say. “But what about all those people in Washington and Idaho? Where is God’s peace in the midst of these fires?”

First, these people are alive. Centuries ago, Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 9:4 “But all who are among the living have hope, because a living dog is better than a dead lion.” Even though these poor people have lost all their possessions, they are alive and have hope that God will move others throughout the country to help them. Second, thousands, if not millions of people, are now praying for their well-being and their safety. “So what?” you sneer. “Big deal!” All this focused prayer is a much bigger deal than you realize. We never know how much God can do, even when situations appear hopeless. Once we begin to pray blessings over those who have lost everything, God can work to heal individuals and families and restore righteousness to the land. When we pray, God can also heal the land.

Deuteronomy 11:10-12 tells us “The land you’re about to enter and take possession of isn’t like the land you left in Egypt. There you used to plant your seed, and you had to water it like a vegetable garden. The land you’re about to enter is a land with hills and valleys, watered by rain from the sky. It is a land the Lord your God cares about. He watches over it all year long.”

We make a terrible mistake if we assume that God does not care for the lands we occupy!!! God cares far more than we do, and God passionately wants to restore the land. As God restores the land, He can also restore peace to those living there.

How can we pray for those suffering from these tragedies? Pray for God’s blessings and His anointing to flow over the land, penetrating it down to the center of the earth and up to the highest heaven! Pray for God’s blessings and His anointing to saturate everyone hit by these tragedies, that God will correct, guide, and restore in all the ways He can. And above all else, pray that God’s Kingdom will truly come and His Will will be completely done in the lives of all involved.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, words fail us when we consider the tragedies striking people throughout the world. Please heal, restore, guide, and bring to full repentance and salvation all involved. Send revival!!! In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 10 A Plague of Darkness

21 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Lift your hand toward heaven, and the land of Egypt will be covered with a darkness so thick you can feel it.” 22 So Moses lifted his hand to the sky, and a deep darkness covered the entire land of Egypt for three days. 23 During all that time the people could not see each other, and no one moved. But there was light as usual where the people of Israel lived.

This time, Moses doesn’t give any warning; he reaches out toward heaven and darkness descends. But this isn’t the ordinary darkness of night, for this is deep darkness, a total absence of starlight, moonlight, or even hope. When the Egyptians try to light lamps, the lamps refuse to function. The Egyptians feel as if they have ten tons of weight on their chests, with the presence of evil oppressing them spiritually. I John 1:5 tells us, “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.” But when God withdraws His presence, the darkness is total. Guzik points out “This was a dramatic show of greatness over the prominent Egyptian god Ra, thought to be the sun god.”

Those Israelites who live close enough to the borders of Goshen can look at the utter darkness and feel the cold of evil, but they aren’t suffering. While the Egyptians are groping in the dark, the Israelites are rejoicing in the light of God.

24 Finally, Pharaoh called for Moses. “Go and worship the Lord,” he said. “But leave your flocks and herds here. You may even take your little ones with you.”

25 “No,” Moses said, “you must provide us with animals for sacrifices and burnt offerings to the Lord our God. 26 All our livestock must go with us, too; not a hoof can be left behind. We must choose our sacrifices for the Lord our God from among these animals. And we won’t know how we are to worship the Lord until we get there.”

27 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart once more, and he would not let them go. 28 “Get out of here!” Pharaoh shouted at Moses. “I’m warning you. Never come back to see me again! The day you see my face, you will die!”

29 “Very well,” Moses replied. “I will never see your face again.”

 You have to hand it to Pharaoh; he’s nothing if not persistent, even if he’s persisting in stupidity. Once more, Pharaoh tries to compromise, bargaining with God, and once more Moses refuses. Pharoah gets so angry, he warns Moses never to return on pain of death. While this sounds like a curse, Moses responds, agreeing that Pharoah will never see him again. Eventually a time will come when Pharaoh might wish for Moses to return, but as he rejects Moses, he is also rejecting Moses’ God.

At this point, Pharaoh really is a special kind of stupid. Egypt is in ruins, its people destitute, its agriculture completely devastated. The Egyptians are living in torment while the Israelites are enjoying God’s favor, His light, and His protection. But Pharaoh is willing to allow Egypt to be reduced to an ash heap as long as he still rules the ash heap. The Egyptians have no peace while the Israelites are experiencing the deep abiding peace of God.

There are times when God grants us peace in the middle of storms. Several years ago, we endured a tribal war. While there were many frightening incidences, God gave us the peace necessary to keep working and expand the services our facility was offering. It’s no exaggeration to say that God built a hospital in the middle of that conflict. We learned that when we are in the center of God’s will for our lives, He gives His peace, no matter what might be happening around us.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to continue to follow Your leading, knowing that You can give deep and abiding peace, no matter our outward circumstances. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.  

Exodus 10 A Plague of Locusts

1Then the Lord said to Moses, “Return to Pharaoh and make your demands again. I have made him and his officials stubborn so I can display my miraculous signs among them. 2 I’ve also done it so you can tell your children and grandchildren about how I made a mockery of the Egyptians and about the signs I displayed among them—and so you will know that I am the Lord.”

All along, God has been demonstrating His mighty power. Many of the Israelites and Egyptians have come to believe in that power; however, some Egyptians and Israelites have continued to doubt whether or not He can really do whatever He chooses. God wants to demonstrate His power so dramatically that the Israelites-and Egyptians-will continue to tell the story for generations to come. Remember that God’s intention is never merely to deliver the Hebrews but also to bring the Egyptians to a saving knowledge of Him. Much of Egyptian agriculture lies in ruins, and now God is about to deal a death blow to that sector.

3 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: How long will you refuse to submit to me? Let my people go, so they can worship me. 4 If you refuse, watch out! For tomorrow I will bring a swarm of locusts on your country. 5 They will cover the land so that you won’t be able to see the ground. They will devour what little is left of your crops after the hailstorm, including all the trees growing in the fields. 6 They will overrun your palaces and the homes of your officials and all the houses in Egypt. Never in the history of Egypt have your ancestors seen a plague like this one!” And with that, Moses turned and left Pharaoh.

7 Pharaoh’s officials now came to Pharaoh and appealed to him. “How long will you let this man hold us hostage? Let the men go to worship the Lord their God! Don’t you realize that Egypt lies in ruins?”

Well, by this time, Pharaoh’s officials are looking around at the wreckage of what was once the most prosperous and powerful country in the Middle East. No matter what Pharaoh thinks, these men realize that the God of the Hebrews is well able to complete the destruction of Egypt. These men are probably on their knees, prostrating themselves in supplication.

8 So Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh. “All right,” he told them, “Go and worship the Lord your God. But who exactly will be going with you?”

9 Moses replied, “We will all go—young and old, our sons and daughters, and our flocks and herds. We must all join together in celebrating a festival to the Lord.”

10 Pharaoh retorted, “The Lord will certainly need to be with you if I let you take your little ones! I can see through your evil plan. 11 Never! Only the men may go and worship the Lord, since that is what you requested.” And Pharaoh threw them out of the palace.

12 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Raise your hand over the land of Egypt to bring on the locusts. Let them cover the land and devour every plant that survived the hailstorm.”

13 So Moses raised his staff over Egypt, and the Lord caused an east wind to blow over the land all that day and through the night. When morning arrived, the east wind had brought the locusts. 14 And the locusts swarmed over the whole land of Egypt, settling in dense swarms from one end of the country to the other. It was the worst locust plague in Egyptian history, and there has never been another one like it. 15 For the locusts covered the whole country and darkened the land. They devoured every plant in the fields and all the fruit on the trees that had survived the hailstorm. Not a single leaf was left on the trees and plants throughout the land of Egypt.

16 Pharaoh quickly summoned Moses and Aaron. “I have sinned against the Lord your God and against you,” he confessed. 17 “Forgive my sin, just this once, and plead with the Lord your God to take away this death from me.”

18 So Moses left Pharaoh’s court and pleaded with the Lord. 19 The Lord responded by shifting the wind, and the strong west wind blew the locusts into the Red Sea. Not a single locust remained in all the land of Egypt. 20 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart again, so he refused to let the people go.

The locusts consume every leaf and every bit of fruit left after the horrible hail storm. The poor Egyptians look around their country and realize that they have nothing left. Finally, Pharaoh relents; however, notice that when Pharaoh is confessing, he makes no promises of releasing the Israelites whatsoever. Pharaoh is still convinced that somehow, he’s going to prove more powerful than the God that is steadily dismantling his country. Pharaoh has been programed to believe in his own divinity, and he’s not about to let go of that fundamental belief. The demons are still whispering lies to Pharaoh.

The Enduring Word Bible Commentary makes these points:

When Moses first came to Pharaoh, Pharaoh said: Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? (Exodus 5:2). The fact that Pharaoh still would not submit to the LORD showed that he didn’t know who the LORD was yet. This was despite the fact that the LORD God had made it clear that He was:

· Greater than the god Khnum (the guardian of the Nile).

· Greater than the god Hapi (the spirit of the Nile).

· Greater than the god Osiris (who had the Nile as his bloodstream).

· Greater than the goddess Heqt (the frog-goddess of fertility).

· Greater than the goddess Hathor (a cow-like mother goddess).

· Greater than the god Imhotep (the god of medicine).

· Greater than Nut (the sky goddess).

· Able to stop the whole worship of the Egyptian gods with loathsome lice and swarms of insects.

Despite all this, Pharaoh showed he still did not know the LORD God. Therefore, God would show him more.

Now the locusts ate every herb of the land and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left: Yahweh showed Himself greater than the Egyptian god Osiris, thought to be the protector of crops.

Enduring Word continues to point out that “God did for Pharaoh what He will do in our lives – expose and topple every false god. When we trust in these gods it hurts to see them fall, but it is always best to have them exposed.”

Where’s the peace in this situation? Of course, the Egyptians have no peace, for their country is in a shambles. But for the Israelites sitting in the Land of Goshen, each time another plague hits only the Egyptians, sparing them, they stand amazed at God’s protection. For 400 years, the Israelites have heard the stories about Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, and frankly, they have assumed these tales were exaggerations. Now they begin to realize that the events in those stories really happened, and the God of their forefathers is the same God who is helping them now.

God is very economical; He’s always using one action to accomplish the maximum number of results. Look at these plagues: God wants the Egyptians to learn about Him, trusting Him rather than powerless deities. God is also using the plagues to convince the Egyptians to release the Israelites; in fact, eventually, the Egyptians will load the Israelites with all their treasures just to get them out of Egypt. God also is humbling Pharaoh and impacting the economy of Egypt as well as its military power. Who knows what wars of conquest the Egyptians might have embarked on had their economy not been severely damaged? And God wants His people to trust Him and to find their peace in Him, rather than in comfortable surroundings, for God knows the harsh conditions the Israelites will face once they leave Egypt.

As I am writing these meditations, people in America, Canada, and Europe are enduring unimaginable losses due to wildfires. Many have had to flee for their lives, losing everything dear to them apart from their lives. These people might justifiably demand to know where God’s peace is in the midst of these disasters. Yet, God is there and God remains faithful.

Hear God’s promises: Isaiah 43: But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. 2 When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. 3 For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom; I gave Ethiopia and Seba in your place. 4 Others were given in exchange for you. I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you.

Even when things are going wrong, God remains constant, faithful, and all-powerful. May God help us trust Him.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to trust You, even when things are falling apart around us. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 9 A Plague of Hail

13 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh. Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: Let my people go, so they can worship me. 14 If you don’t, I will send more plagues on you and your officials and your people. Then you will know that there is no one like me in all the earth. 15 By now I could have lifted my hand and struck you and your people with a plague to wipe you off the face of the earth. 16 But I have spared you for a purpose—to show you my power and to spread my fame throughout the earth. 17 But you still lord it over my people and refuse to let them go. 18 So tomorrow at this time I will send a hailstorm more devastating than any in all the history of Egypt. 19 Quick! Order your livestock and servants to come in from the fields to find shelter. Any person or animal left outside will die when the hail falls.’”

God is issuing a stern warning to Pharaoh, informing him that God could already have destroyed him. God knows that some Egyptian officials now fear Him, so God gives these people the chance to save their livestock and their servants.

20 Some of Pharaoh’s officials were afraid because of what the Lord had said. They quickly brought their servants and livestock in from the fields. 21 But those who paid no attention to the word of the Lord left theirs out in the open.

22 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Lift your hand toward the sky so hail may fall on the people, the livestock, and all the plants throughout the land of Egypt.”

23 So Moses lifted his staff toward the sky, and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and lightning flashed toward the earth. The Lord sent a tremendous hailstorm against all the land of Egypt. 24 Never in all the history of Egypt had there been a storm like that, with such devastating hail and continuous lightning. 25 It left all of Egypt in ruins. The hail struck down everything in the open field—people, animals, and plants alike. Even the trees were destroyed. 26 The only place without hail was the region of Goshen, where the people of Israel lived.

27 Then Pharaoh quickly summoned Moses and Aaron. “This time I have sinned,” he confessed. “The Lord is the righteous one, and my people and I are wrong. 28 Please beg the Lord to end this terrifying thunder and hail. We’ve had enough. I will let you go; you don’t need to stay any longer.”

Wow! Pharoah sounds repentant. At this point, Moses might be hopeful that this whole ordeal is going to end peacefully.

29 “All right,” Moses replied. “As soon as I leave the city, I will lift my hands and pray to the Lord. Then the thunder and hail will stop, and you will know that the earth belongs to the Lord. 30 But I know that you and your officials still do not fear the Lord God.”

31 (All the flax and barley were ruined by the hail, because the barley had formed heads and the flax was budding. 32 But the wheat and the emmer wheat [spelt] were spared, because they had not yet sprouted from the ground.)

33 So Moses left Pharaoh’s court and went out of the city. When he lifted his hands to the Lord, the thunder and hail stopped, and the downpour ceased. 34 But when Pharaoh saw that the rain, hail, and thunder had stopped, he and his officials sinned again, and Pharaoh again became stubborn. 35 Because his heart was hard, Pharaoh refused to let the people leave, just as the Lord had predicted through Moses.

How unusual was this storm? Guzak tells us, “Rainfall comes so occasionally in Upper Egypt that the prediction of a severe hailstorm accompanied by a violent electrical storm must have been greeted with much skepticism.” (Kaiser)

a. There was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, so very heavy that there was none like it: This was perhaps the most frightening plague thus far. The Egyptians must have believed that the wrath of God was poured down from heaven in all severity.

i. So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail: “A strange mixture; a miracle within a miracle, saith Rabbi Solomon. Fire and water made a peace betwixt themselves, that they might obey the will of their Creator.” (Trapp)

b. The hail struck throughout the whole land of Egypt: This plague was directed against several Egyptian gods. Notable among them was Nut, the sky goddess.

Whether or not Pharaoh respects God at this point, Moses, Aaron, the Israelites, and many of the Egyptians KNOW that this God is far mightier than any of the Egyptian deities. For the Israelites, each time God demonstrates his power over another part of His creation, that respect and awe continue to grow, along with a peace that this God can do anything He desires. The Egyptians, on the other hand, are undoubtedly distraught, for their cherished deities have proven powerless in the face of direct attacks against their attributes. So the Israelites continue to enjoy more peace while the Egyptians become increasingly fearful.

Studying God and His mighty power helps build our trust and leads to a deep abiding peace, the peace that passes understanding. But we need to meditate on God’s Word and His work, for a casual glance between text messages is totally insufficient. May God help us so that we will spend time contemplating God’s handiwork.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to study Your work and meditate on Your Word, for then we will have peace. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 9 A Plague against Livestock

9 “Go back to Pharaoh,” the Lord commanded Moses. “Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: Let my people go, so they can worship me. 2 If you continue to hold them and refuse to let them go, 3 the hand of the Lord will strike all your livestock—your horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, sheep, and goats—with a deadly plague. 4 But the Lord will again make a distinction between the livestock of the Israelites and that of the Egyptians. Not a single one of Israel’s animals will die! 5 The Lord has already set the time for the plague to begin. He has declared that he will strike the land tomorrow.’”

6 And the Lord did just as he had said. The next morning all the livestock of the Egyptians died, but the Israelites didn’t lose a single animal. 7 Pharaoh sent his officials to investigate, and they discovered that the Israelites had not lost a single animal! But even so, Pharaoh’s heart remained stubborn, and he still refused to let the people go.

This time, God warns Pharaoh and all the Egyptians of the next plague, describing it and giving them the time line. God is drawing a line, allowing Pharaoh time to repent and to release the Israelites. If Pharaoh will acknowledge the sovereignty of God over the Israelites and release them, all will be fine. But disaster will overtake Egypt if Pharaoh refuses again. Unfortunately, Pharoah believes that he is divine and refuses to acknowledge that God is much bigger and more powerful than he is. 

Tragically, Pharaoh continues to harden his heart. Why? Pharaohs were raised to believe they were divine. This belief was rooted in ancient Egyptian religion, where pharaohs were seen as intermediaries between the gods and the people. They were thought to embody divine authority on Earth, with their rule legitimized by their connection to gods like Ra and Osiris. After death, pharaohs were believed to become divine themselves, continuing their role in the afterlife. This divine status was crucial for maintaining societal order and reinforcing their power. (AI Summary from internet)

David Guzak tells us: This plague was directed against the Egyptian god Hathor who was thought to be a mother goddess in the form of a cow. In addition, Egyptian religion considered cattle sacred and the cow was often a symbol of fertility. God shows Pharaoh and all of Egypt that He was mightier than this imagined pagan god.

Cole cites an ancient record of a battle the Egyptians lost because their enemies put a herd of cattle in front of their advancing troops. It worked because the Egyptian soldiers would not shoot at the opposing army for fear of accidentally killing what they considered to be the sacred cattle.

The poor Egyptians watch all their beloved animals die before their eyes while the Israelite animals remain healthy. The country of Egypt, once one of the most prosperous and powerful in the Middle East, is falling apart, but Pharaoh remains obdurate, unwilling to see how his people are suffering. And now the Egyptians themselves are about to suffer untold agonies.

A Plague of Festering Boils

8 Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Take handfuls of soot from a brick kiln, and have Moses toss it into the air while Pharaoh watches. 9 The ashes will spread like fine dust over the whole land of Egypt, causing festering boils to break out on people and animals throughout the land.”

10 So they took soot from a brick kiln and went and stood before Pharaoh. As Pharaoh watched, Moses threw the soot into the air, and boils broke out on people and animals alike. 11 Even the magicians were unable to stand before Moses, because the boils had broken out on them and all the Egyptians. 12 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and just as the Lord had predicted to Moses, Pharaoh refused to listen.

Once more, God orders Moses to bring on a plague without any warning. Moses is to throw soot from a brick kiln into the air while Pharoah watches, and boils will break out on people and any animals left after the previous plague.

How bad is this plague? Guzak tells us: a. The magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils: This plague was probably directed against the Egyptian god Imhotep, who was said to be the god of medicine. Even those who were thought to be closest to the Egyptian gods (the court magicians) were stricken with this plague.

b. The LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh: Here, for the first time, it is said that the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh. Previously, God announced that he would harden Pharaoh’s heart (Exodus 4:21, 7:3), and this was the fulfillment of it. Yet it is said at least six times before this that Pharaoh hardened his own heart (Exodus 7:13, 7:22, 8:15, 8:19, 8:32, 9:7). We see that God’s hardening of Pharaoh’s heart was the strengthening of what he already had set himself towards.

i. “This is the first occasion on which this form of words is used after an actual plague. Previously, the position has always been put from the other side: pharaoh has hardened his own heart. The moral would be that God hardens those who harden themselves.” (Cole)

ii. “‘Harden’ is the expression, not of the divine purpose but of the result of disobedience to the divine appeals. As a matter of fact, all the plagues were intended and calculated to soften, if Pharaoh had been willing to yield.” (Thomas)

By this point, Moses and Aaron are beginning to realize that God is bringing all of Egypt to its knees. God continues to systematically unmask the Egyptian deities as powerless, giving Moses and Aaron assurance and peace. The biggest difference in this plague is that God hardens Pharaoh’s heart, adding his influence to the choices Pharaoh has persisted in making.  God is abandoning Pharoah to the results of his disastrous choices.

Pharoah is a tragic figure because at any point up to this time, he might have acknowledged God as sovereign, humbling himself, releasing the Israelites, and delivering his country from total destruction. But a combination of training, cultural imperatives, and personal arrogance are leading Pharaoh to a path that will result in catastrophe.

We read this account and preen ourselves that we would never make the fatal choices Pharaoh is making. But are we hardening our hearts and then making excuses? The path to peace of heart is humbling ourselves before God Almighty, allowing Him to change us into His likeness. When we insist on our individuality, placing more importance on that than on the perfect will of God for our lives, we are hardening our hearts. While God may give us a number of chances for repentance, at some point, God will allow our hearts to remain hard. Not only will we never know peace, but eventually we will be completely cut off from God and wind up in hell.

There’s a cliché that says “Know God, know peace. No God, no peace.” Pharaoh hardened his heart and the results were disastrous. Let’s pray.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, please let all who read these words humble themselves to You allowing You to change them into Your Likeness. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 8 A Plague of Gnats/Lice

16 So the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Raise your staff and strike the ground. The dust will turn into swarms of gnats throughout the land of Egypt.’” 17 So Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord had commanded them. When Aaron raised his hand and struck the ground with his staff, gnats infested the entire land, covering the Egyptians and their animals. All the dust in the land of Egypt turned into gnats. 18 Pharaoh’s magicians tried to do the same thing with their secret arts, but this time they failed. And the gnats covered everyone, people and animals alike.

19 “This is the finger of God!” the magicians exclaimed to Pharaoh. But Pharaoh’s heart remained hard. He wouldn’t listen to them, just as the Lord had predicted.

This time, God doesn’t bother warning Pharaoh; Pharoah has had plenty of warnings and has ignored all of them, so there’s no point. Some versions translate this plague as being lice rather than gnats. Now these insects are covering everybody in Egypt, including the animals. David Guzak in his Enduring Word Commentary points out, “This plague struck at the heart of all Egyptian worship, especially at their priests. The Egyptian priesthood was extremely careful about hygiene and ritual cleansing; an infestation of lice made them unable to worship their gods. The plague of lice was also upon every beast. The gods of Egypt would not receive the sacrifice of lice-infested animals, so this stopped their sacrificial system.” The magicians are stumped and horrified; they immediately warn Pharaoh that they can’t duplicate this plague. Even if Pharaoh is unwilling to acknowledge the power of God, the magicians realize they are up against something far more powerful than any of the demons they have been following. And as the gnats or lice continue to drive the Egyptians and their animals crazy, things are about to get even worse.

A Plague of Flies

20 Then the Lord told Moses, “Get up early in the morning and stand in Pharaoh’s way as he goes down to the river. Say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Let my people go, so they can worship me. 21 If you refuse, then I will send swarms of flies on you, your officials, your people, and all the houses. The Egyptian homes will be filled with flies, and the ground will be covered with them. 22 But this time I will spare the region of Goshen, where my people live. No flies will be found there. Then you will know that I am the Lord and that I am present even in the heart of your land. 23 I will make a clear distinction between my people and your people. This miraculous sign will happen tomorrow.’”

24 And the Lord did just as he had said. A thick swarm of flies filled Pharaoh’s palace and the houses of his officials. The whole land of Egypt was thrown into chaos by the flies.

There’s no agreement on the kind of insects that are coming in swarms; however, it’s likely that at least some of these insects are biting ones, inflicting wounds on all the Egyptians and their animals. Once more, the Egyptians have no means of worshiping, for they cannot offer animals covered with biting flies and bleeding wounds from those flies.

This time, God spares the Israelites, sending the biting flies to bite only the Egyptians and their animals. Has God removed the gnats/lice from the Israelites? Possibly. Now God is drawing distinctions between His people and the Egyptians. The magicians evidently make no effort to copy this plague, indicating that they have reached the end of their powers.

25 Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron. “All right! Go ahead and offer sacrifices to your God,” he said. “But do it here in this land.”

26 But Moses replied, “That wouldn’t be right. The Egyptians detest the sacrifices that we offer to the Lord our God. Look, if we offer our sacrifices here where the Egyptians can see us, they will stone us. 27 We must take a three-day trip into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the Lord our God, just as he has commanded us.”

28 “All right, go ahead,” Pharaoh replied. “I will let you go into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the Lord your God. But don’t go too far away. Now hurry and pray for me.”

29 Moses answered, “As soon as I leave you, I will pray to the Lord, and tomorrow the swarms of flies will disappear from you and your officials and all your people. But I am warning you, Pharaoh, don’t lie to us again and refuse to let the people go to sacrifice to the Lord.”

30 So Moses left Pharaoh’s palace and pleaded with the Lord to remove all the flies. 31 And the Lord did as Moses asked and caused the swarms of flies to disappear from Pharaoh, his officials, and his people. Not a single fly remained. 32 But Pharaoh again became stubborn and refused to let the people go.

Does Pharaoh really intend to keep his promise, or is he simply saying whatever is necessary to get rid of the gnats and flies? Only God knows, but it’s obvious that Pharaoh is still clinging to the idea that he has some kind of power over the Israelites. Obviously, it’s going to take more suffering before Pharaoh finally lets the Israelites go.

What must Moses and Aaron and the Israelites be thinking by this point? “Surely,” the Israelites think, “now Pharaoh is going to relent and let us go.” But Moses has come out of a royal upbringing and he knows how stringently Pharaohs are instructed that they are divine and therefore all their decisions are correct and have no need for change. It’s likely that Moses and Aaron pray and ask God for advice, at which point, God tells them to hang on and keep going. At this point, Moses and Aaron can only cling to the peace through the assurance that God can give them.

Why is God dragging this whole process out rather than simply going straight to the final plague? God is concerned about the Egyptians as well as the Israelites; in fact, God is even concerned about Pharaoh. While we might read these stories and hope that Pharaoh will give his just reward in the end, God wants Pharaoh to repent and humble himself and continues to give him every opportunity to do so.

Where does the peace of God enter in these two plagues? The Israelites can take hope when God protects them from the biting flies, sending that plague only on the Egyptians. From now on, God will protect the Israelites from the remaining plagues, and the Israelites can rest in that protection. Each time God demonstrates more of His mighty power, the Israelites should be learning to trust God even more than they have before. That trust can give peace, even while the situation has yet to be resolved.

Face it, many of us are enduring unresolved situations. We might be struggling to find a new job or struggling with family problems. We hope for God’s intervention but we’re not sure what He will do. Like the Israelites, we can continue to trust God and enjoy the peace of that trust as we wait for God to bring ultimate solutions. What good will it do for us to allow ourselves to descend into fear?

Isaiah 40:28-31 tells us, “Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”

Take heart! God knows your struggles and He wants you to have peace in the midst of them.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to trust You and rest in Your peace, even while we are still waiting for things to work out. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 7:25 Seven days passed from the time the Lord struck the Nile.

Exodus 8: 8 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go back to Pharaoh and announce to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Let my people go, so they can worship me. 2 If you refuse to let them go, I will send a plague of frogs across your entire land. 3 The Nile River will swarm with frogs. They will come up out of the river and into your palace, even into your bedroom and onto your bed! They will enter the houses of your officials and your people. They will even jump into your ovens and your kneading bowls. 4 Frogs will jump on you, your people, and all your officials.’”

5 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Raise the staff in your hand over all the rivers, canals, and ponds of Egypt, and bring up frogs over all the land.’” 6 So Aaron raised his hand over the waters of Egypt, and frogs came up and covered the whole land! 7 But the magicians were able to do the same thing with their magic. They, too, caused frogs to come up on the land of Egypt.

8 Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and begged, “Plead with the Lord to take the frogs away from me and my people. I will let your people go, so they can offer sacrifices to the Lord.”

9 “You set the time!” Moses replied. “Tell me when you want me to pray for you, your officials, and your people. Then you and your houses will be rid of the frogs. They will remain only in the Nile River.”

10 “Do it tomorrow,” Pharaoh said.

“All right,” Moses replied, “it will be as you have said. Then you will know that there is no one like the Lord our God. 11 The frogs will leave you and your houses, your officials, and your people. They will remain only in the Nile River.”

12 So Moses and Aaron left Pharaoh’s palace, and Moses cried out to the Lord about the frogs he had inflicted on Pharaoh. 13 And the Lord did just what Moses had predicted. The frogs in the houses, the courtyards, and the fields all died. 14 The Egyptians piled them into great heaps, and a terrible stench filled the land. 15 But when Pharaoh saw that relief had come, he became stubborn. He refused to listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had predicted.

God has already begun a concentrated attack on Egypt, systematically dismantling Egyptian objects of worship. First, God has attacked the River Nile, which the Egyptian believe is the source of all life and creation. Next, God floods Egypt with frogs, completing two attacks on the water of Egypt. Why frogs? Again, an internet summary yields the following information:

Divine Judgment
The plague is part of God’s judgment against Egypt, specifically targeting their idolatry. Frogs were considered sacred in Egyptian culture, worshipped as symbols of fertility and life. By sending a plague of frogs, God demonstrated His power over the Egyptian gods and highlighted the futility of their worship. David Guzak tells us “God threatened a plague of frogs for a specific reason. The Egyptian goddess Heqet (or, Heket) was always pictured with the head of a frog. Among the ancient Egyptians, frogs were considered sacred and could not be killed. Egyptians worshipped the frog as a female goddess because frogs were common around the Nile, because they reproduced rapidly, and because being amphibians they are part of two worlds, creatures of both land and water.”

Cultural Challenge
The invasion of frogs into every aspect of Egyptian life—homes, beds, and kitchens—served to disrupt daily routines and challenge the Egyptians’ sense of order. This was not merely a physical affliction but a direct affront to their religious beliefs.

Theological Message
Theologically, the plague underscores God’s sovereignty and His desire to free the Israelites from oppression. It marks a pivotal moment in the narrative of liberation, illustrating the lengths to which God will go to fulfill His covenant promises.

Progression of Plagues
The plague of frogs is the second in a series of ten plagues, each escalating in severity and purpose. It sets the stage for subsequent plagues, reinforcing the message of divine authority and the consequences of disobedience.

“The frogs could not be killed because of their sacredness, and yet such large numbers of them would be revolting in their loathsomeness, especially because cleanliness was a particular mark of the Egyptians.” (Thomas as quoted by David Guzak in Enduring Word Commentary) God has a sense of humor! How many Egyptians who formerly worshiped frogs may have changed their minds as they shoveled huge piles of dead frogs? After dealing with all those rotting frog bodies, how willing would the Egyptians be to continue worshiping them? And what would the Egyptians do with all those dead frogs? Should they bury them? Burn them? God must be sitting in heaven chuckling.

While the Egyptian magicians can make frogs appear, indicating evil occultic power, they have no power to make the frogs disappear. But Pharaoh neglects to notice this fact. On the other hand, Moses and Aaron are noting everything. Even though God first spoke to Moses through a burning bush that miraculously was not consumed, neither Moses nor Aaron had any notion of God’s real power. Now as the plagues continue to multiply, the two brothers marvel and revise their concepts of God’s power. As the plagues continue, God’s peace and certainty continue to settle deeper and deeper into Moses’ and Aaron’s spirits. And now God is about to attack Egyptian deities having to do with the earth.

Where is God’s peace in the middle of these plagues? Certainly, there’s no peace for the Egyptians, and very little peace for the Israelites because they are suffering along with the Egyptians. Why is God allowing the Israelites to suffer as well? God knows His people and He knows that if things are the least bit comfortable, they will do everything they can to stay in Egypt. So for now, God is not demonstrating His peace to His people, although those people of faith might continue to trust Him privately.

We are foolish when we demand that God must give us His peace in situations from which He wants to deliver us. Newton’s First Law of Motion, the Law of Inertia, states that an object at rest stays at rest, and an object in motion continues in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by a net external force. This law emphasizes the concept of inertia, which is the tendency of objects to resist changes in their state of motion.  At present, the Israelites are at rest and they would just as soon remain at rest, thank you very much! Or if someone is going to deliver the Israelites, they would like their personal lives to be torn up as little as possible.

God always has several more goals He is accomplishing than we understand. We view everything from our perspective, assuming God is most interested in us. But remember something: Centuries later, Jesus will die for the sins of the whole world. Even now, even in Egypt, God wants those Egyptians to know Him and to worship Him rather than worshiping a river or creatures of darkness and death. While we frequently read the stories of Moses and Aaron and the Israelites only from their perspective, surprise! The Egyptians are just as much God’s children as are the Israelites. God’s heart of love is reaching out to His Egyptians, longing for them to worship Him. How else can God reach the Egyptians if He does not demonstrate His almighty power over the most cherished Egyptian deities?

As we endure difficult times, may God help us to remember that His purposes are always greater than ours.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to realize that Your purposes are the redemption of the whole world and that only when we join with You will we find true peace. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 7 A Plague of Blood

14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is stubborn, and he still refuses to let the people go. 15 So go to Pharaoh in the morning as he goes down to the river. Stand on the bank of the Nile and meet him there. Be sure to take along the staff that turned into a snake. 16 Then announce to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to tell you, “Let my people go, so they can worship me in the wilderness.” Until now, you have refused to listen to him. 17 So this is what the Lord says: “I will show you that I am the Lord.” Look! I will strike the water of the Nile with this staff in my hand, and the river will turn to blood. 18 The fish in it will die, and the river will stink. The Egyptians will not be able to drink any water from the Nile.’”

19 Then the Lord said to Moses: “Tell Aaron, ‘Take your staff and raise your hand over the waters of Egypt—all its rivers, canals, ponds, and all the reservoirs. Turn all the water to blood. Everywhere in Egypt the water will turn to blood, even the water stored in wooden bowls and stone pots.’”

20 So Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord commanded them. As Pharaoh and all of his officials watched, Aaron raised his staff and struck the water of the Nile. Suddenly, the whole river turned to blood! 21 The fish in the river died, and the water became so foul that the Egyptians couldn’t drink it. There was blood everywhere throughout the land of Egypt. 22 But again the magicians of Egypt used their magic, and they, too, turned water into blood. So Pharaoh’s heart remained hard. He refused to listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had predicted. 23 Pharaoh returned to his palace and put the whole thing out of his mind. 24 Then all the Egyptians dug along the riverbank to find drinking water, for they couldn’t drink the water from the Nile. 25 Seven days passed from the time the Lord struck the Nile.

First, God has humiliated the court magicians and the deities they worship. Now God turns His attention to the River Nile. God knows that the Nile is of utmost importance in the religion and culture of Egypt. Just as Pharaoh is about to take his morning bath in the Nile, Moses and Aaron show up, striking the water and causing the water to become blood. Although there are some people who choose to believe that the Nile becomes full of fine red dust, that belief insults the intelligence of the Egyptians. Certainly, these people know blood when they see it!  

An internet summary informs us: Ancient Egyptians held the Nile River in profound reverence, viewing it as a divine entity essential to their civilization.

Religious Significance

• The Nile was considered a gift from the gods, symbolizing life and fertility.
• It was integral to the concept of Ma’at, representing cosmic order and balance.

Cultural Impact

• The river influenced agricultural practices, enabling the growth of crops essential for sustenance.
• It was celebrated in rituals, art, and mythology, often depicted as a source of life.

Spiritual Beliefs

• The waters of the Nile were seen as the breath of the gods, embodying creation and the cycle of life and death.
• Myths surrounding the Nile connected humanity to the divine, reinforcing its sacred status.

The website https://egyptmythology.com/the-sacredness-of-the-nile-in-ancient-egyptian-religion/ gives the following information: In ancient Egyptian mythology, the Nile was not just a physical entity but was personified as a divine force. The river was considered a manifestation of the god Hapi, who represented fertility, abundance, and the annual flooding that brought life to the land.

Key deities associated with the Nile include:

• Hapi: The god of the annual flooding, depicted as a well-fed man with a green or blue skin tone, symbolizing fertility and abundance.
• Osiris: The god of the afterlife, associated with resurrection and fertility, whose myth often intertwined with the cycles of the Nile.
• Khnum: The creator god, believed to mold human beings from the clay of the Nile.

IV. Rituals and Worship Related to the Nile

The ancient Egyptians held numerous festivals and rituals to honor the Nile and its deities, particularly during the inundation period. These events were marked by joy and gratitude for the life-giving waters.

Major religious festivals included:

• The Wepet Renpet: The Festival of the Opening of the Year, celebrating the arrival of the floodwaters.
• The Inundation Festival: A celebration of the Nile’s flooding, featuring processions, music, and offerings to Hapi.

Practices and offerings made to honor the Nile involved:

• Offering food and flowers at riverbanks.
• Creating small boat models to sail on the Nile as offerings.
• Prayers and rituals performed by priests to invoke blessings for a bountiful harvest.

V. The Nile in Ancient Egyptian Cosmology

The Nile also played a significant role in ancient Egyptian cosmology and creation myths. It was often viewed as a source of life and continuity, essential for both physical sustenance and spiritual renewal.

In creation myths, the Nile represented:

• The primordial waters from which all life emerged.
• A connection between the heavens and the earth, symbolizing the cycle of life, death, and rebirth.

The Nile’s waters were seen as a bridge between the mortal realm and the divine, reinforcing its sacred status in the cultural psyche of ancient Egyptians.

While the magicians somehow manage to replicate changing fresh water into blood, they can’t change blood back into fresh water. Now the Egyptians are stuck with digging new wells to get water for drinking and bathing. Moses and Aaron are shocked and impressed, for they have obeyed but even they have been unsure what would happen when that staff would strike the water. While the Egyptians are panic-stricken, Moses and Aaron are encouraged; certainly, a God who can turn the entire Nile River into blood can do what He wants. The brothers enjoy the peace of realizing that God is far more powerful than they have thought.

Sometimes we don’t enjoy the encouragement we might because we fail to notice what God is doing in and around us. We beg God to do a work in us and yet when He does, we don’t realize what has happened. Not sure if God is really working in your situation? Just remember those two old guys standing there by the River Nile with their jaws dropping in shock while looking at that bloody water. The same God who turned the Nile to blood can still work in your life.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to remember that You never change and that You are still demonstrating Your unlimited power. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.  

Exodus 7 A Plague of Blood

14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is stubborn, and he still refuses to let the people go. 15 So go to Pharaoh in the morning as he goes down to the river. Stand on the bank of the Nile and meet him there. Be sure to take along the staff that turned into a snake. 16 Then announce to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to tell you, “Let my people go, so they can worship me in the wilderness.” Until now, you have refused to listen to him. 17 So this is what the Lord says: “I will show you that I am the Lord.” Look! I will strike the water of the Nile with this staff in my hand, and the river will turn to blood. 18 The fish in it will die, and the river will stink. The Egyptians will not be able to drink any water from the Nile.’”

19 Then the Lord said to Moses: “Tell Aaron, ‘Take your staff and raise your hand over the waters of Egypt—all its rivers, canals, ponds, and all the reservoirs. Turn all the water to blood. Everywhere in Egypt the water will turn to blood, even the water stored in wooden bowls and stone pots.’”

20 So Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord commanded them. As Pharaoh and all of his officials watched, Aaron raised his staff and struck the water of the Nile. Suddenly, the whole river turned to blood! 21 The fish in the river died, and the water became so foul that the Egyptians couldn’t drink it. There was blood everywhere throughout the land of Egypt. 22 But again the magicians of Egypt used their magic, and they, too, turned water into blood. So Pharaoh’s heart remained hard. He refused to listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had predicted. 23 Pharaoh returned to his palace and put the whole thing out of his mind. 24 Then all the Egyptians dug along the riverbank to find drinking water, for they couldn’t drink the water from the Nile. 25 Seven days passed from the time the Lord struck the Nile.

First, God has humiliated the court magicians and the deities they worship. Now God turns His attention to the River Nile. God knows that the Nile is of utmost importance in the religion and culture of Egypt. Just as Pharaoh is about to take his morning bath in the Nile, Moses and Aaron show up, striking the water and causing the water to become blood. Although there are some people who choose to believe that the Nile becomes full of fine red dust, that belief insults the intelligence of the Egyptians. Certainly, these people know blood when they see it! 

An internet summary informs us: Ancient Egyptians held the Nile River in profound reverence, viewing it as a divine entity essential to their civilization.

Religious Significance

• The Nile was considered a gift from the gods, symbolizing life and fertility.
• It was integral to the concept of Ma’at, representing cosmic order and balance.

Cultural Impact

• The river influenced agricultural practices, enabling the growth of crops essential for sustenance.
• It was celebrated in rituals, art, and mythology, often depicted as a source of life.

Spiritual Beliefs

• The waters of the Nile were seen as the breath of the gods, embodying creation and the cycle of life and death.
• Myths surrounding the Nile connected humanity to the divine, reinforcing its sacred status.

The website https://egyptmythology.com/the-sacredness-of-the-nile-in-ancient-egyptian-religion/ gives the following information: In ancient Egyptian mythology, the Nile was not just a physical entity but was personified as a divine force. The river was considered a manifestation of the god Hapi, who represented fertility, abundance, and the annual flooding that brought life to the land.

Key deities associated with the Nile include:

• Hapi: The god of the annual flooding, depicted as a well-fed man with a green or blue skin tone, symbolizing fertility and abundance.
• Osiris: The god of the afterlife, associated with resurrection and fertility, whose myth often intertwined with the cycles of the Nile.
• Khnum: The creator god, believed to mold human beings from the clay of the Nile.

IV. Rituals and Worship Related to the Nile

The ancient Egyptians held numerous festivals and rituals to honor the Nile and its deities, particularly during the inundation period. These events were marked by joy and gratitude for the life-giving waters.

Major religious festivals included:

• The Wepet Renpet: The Festival of the Opening of the Year, celebrating the arrival of the floodwaters.
• The Inundation Festival: A celebration of the Nile’s flooding, featuring processions, music, and offerings to Hapi.

Practices and offerings made to honor the Nile involved:

• Offering food and flowers at riverbanks.
• Creating small boat models to sail on the Nile as offerings.
• Prayers and rituals performed by priests to invoke blessings for a bountiful harvest.

V. The Nile in Ancient Egyptian Cosmology

The Nile also played a significant role in ancient Egyptian cosmology and creation myths. It was often viewed as a source of life and continuity, essential for both physical sustenance and spiritual renewal.

In creation myths, the Nile represented:

• The primordial waters from which all life emerged.
• A connection between the heavens and the earth, symbolizing the cycle of life, death, and rebirth.

The Nile’s waters were seen as a bridge between the mortal realm and the divine, reinforcing its sacred status in the cultural psyche of ancient Egyptians.

While the magicians somehow manage to replicate changing fresh water into blood, they can’t change blood back into fresh water. Now the Egyptians are stuck with digging new wells to get water for drinking and bathing. Moses and Aaron are shocked and impressed, for they have obeyed but even they have been unsure what would happen when that staff would strike the water. While the Egyptians are panic-stricken, Moses and Aaron are encouraged; certainly, a God who can turn the entire Nile River into blood can do what He wants. The brothers enjoy the peace of realizing that God is far more powerful than they have thought.

Sometimes we don’t enjoy the encouragement we might because we fail to notice what God is doing in and around us. We beg God to do a work in us and yet when He does, we don’t realize what has happened. Not sure if God is really working in your situation? Just remember those two old guys standing there by the River Nile with their jaws dropping in shock while looking at that bloody water. The same God who turned the Nile to blood can still work in your life.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to remember that You never change and that You are still demonstrating Your unlimited power. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.