|
Bible Study Online ArticleLocated at the Bottom of Page In the last article we learned that God had used Moses and his older brother Aaron to deliver a plague against Egypt that had turned the Nile River into blood.
And although this would be the first recorded plague against Egypt when it comes to "Exodus record", it would also be the second blow that God delivers against the Egyptians and the "false gods" that they were serving. Know that this blow would be more deadly than the first, and the drawing of blood would be evident of that fact. But keep in mind that it wouldn't be just the "Nile" that would be affected by this plague... for we also find, that it didn't matter where the Egyptians had turned and looked, they simply weren't able to find relief from the "bloody plague" that the One True God had just wrought upon them. And to make matters worse, all the fish that were to be found in the Nile - had died as well: "The fish that were in the river died, the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink the water of the river. So there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt." -- Exodus 7:21 God wanted to make sure that the Egyptians couldn't deny what had taken place between Moses and their Pharaoh. And the mere fact that all the fish had died, proved just how toxic the water had become. And you would think that this would be more than enough to get Pharaoh to release the Israelites so they can go and worship their God - but as we would soon learn, this wasn't the case. For we will soon discover that the Sacred Record reveals that Pharaoh would instead, accept God's challenge by calling his magicians to come forth: "Then the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments; and Pharaoh's heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, as the Lord had said." -- Exodus 7:22 And although the magicians were able to appear to do the same - and even though his heart was hardening with pride, Pharaoh could still see, that when compared to what God had just done, the magicians and their magic show (trickery) simply couldn't measure up. Now it would have been one thing if the magicians were able to reverse what God had just done, that would have been impressive, and it would've given Pharaoh something to boast about. But the magicians weren't able to do this, and because of this, Pharaoh departed: "And Pharaoh turned and went into his house. Neither was his heart moved by this." -- Exodus 7:23 Now personally I find it interesting that Bible scholars would make the claim that Pharaoh did not pay this event any mind. And I'm aware that the Sacred Record revealed that "Neither was his heart moved by this." But just because his prideful heart wasn't moved by this, and he didn't let the Israelites go, doesn't mean that the "bloody plague" that was wreaking havoc upon his land wasn't weighing heavy on his mind. I mean after all, a person could actually know that they're in way over their head when it comes to a particular situation, or circumstance - and until they experience their breaking point, their pride will keep them from bailing out and admitting defeat, or failure. Understand that Pharaoh hadn't yet reached that breaking point, but rest assured that he knew what was at stake. He knew that this divine challenge that had been put forth by the One True God wouldn't just embarrass the "false gods" that the Egyptians were serving, but this "divine challenge" would also place Pharaoh in a position of being known as that Egyptian ruler who had lost it all, and to make matters worse, he'd lost it all to a slave. The esteem reputation that the "Egyptian Family Dynasties" had built up throughout the centuries would now be at stake. I mean after all, will this be the Pharaoh who had to yield and give in to a slave? Will this be the Pharaoh who will bring shame upon the family name and his country by doing so? Make no mistake, all the things that Pharaoh knew when it came not only to his country, but when it came to himself, was now at risk. And although his heart might not have been moved enough, that it would have caused him to change course, rest assured, his mind was not at peace. Know that for seven days this "bloody plague" would last, and for seven days Pharaoh would have to endure the cries of his people as they searched for clean water to drink: "So all the Egyptians dug all around the river for water to drink, because they could not drink the water of the river." -- Exodus 7:24 But Pharaoh was found to be helpless, while he hid in his palace, away from the turmoil that his people were now enduring throughout the land. But this is brought upon Pharaoh's own doing, for he'd called out the One True God and mocked His followers. He increased their workloads and punished them for not meeting their daily quotas: "And you shall lay on them [Israelites] the quota of bricks which they made before. You shall not reduce it. For they are idle; therefore they cry out, saying, "Let us go and sacrifice to our God." Let more work be laid on the men, that they may labor in it, and let them not regard false words.'" -- Exodus 5:8,9 Pharaoh's forefathers oppressed and made the Israelites build temples unto their "false gods": "Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh supply cities, Pithom and Raamses." -- Exodus 1:11 His forefathers also killed the Israelites newly born sons: "Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of one was Shiphrah and the name of the other Puah; and he said, "When you do the duties of a midwife for the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthstools, if it is a son, then you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live." -- Exodus 1:15,16 Know that Pharaoh time is up and God has handed him over to a depraved mind, and now he must reap what the earlier actions of forefathers had sown, he must reap from the things that he had done as well. But God will not use this "bloody plague" to break him, no not just yet. For this "bloody plague" would be used to get Pharaoh's attention, being that God had just bested another one of his "precious deities" within a matter of days. So God would not break him at this time, but he would have to endure this "bloody plague" for seven days: "And seven days passed after the Lord had struck the river." -- Exodus 7:25 For seven days the "Nile" would once again be cut off from the Egyptians, and for seven days the Egyptians would suffer and be afflicted by the very same God that had once rewarded them for following Him through His servant Joseph. For there was a time, were God had cut the Egyptians off from the very same "Nile" for a period of seven years. And this had happened back when God had released the deadly "seven year famine" upon the land, which forced to the Israelites to come down to Egypt in the first place. But Egypt would still prosper in spite of, and they would grow in power and reputation, for they were "that nation" that thrived during the "seven year famine". But this was made possible through the One True God and His servant Joseph. Being that the Egyptians had enough wisdom and sense at the time to follow Joseph's advice, and so therefore they were rewarded. But now things have changed, and the Egyptians have forgotten who was truly responsible for getting them to the position of power and prosperity that they now enjoyed. And know that it wasn't the "false gods" that they insisted on giving credit to, no my friend, it was the One True God, the God of Israel that made this possible, all for the sake of the Israelites. But that was then, and this is now, and if the Egyptians didn't know the God of Israel before, as they claimed, they will surely know Him soon, if not already. In the next article we will learn about God's next divine challenge when it comes to the Egyptian gods. Will this god be able to stand against the One True God? Will the magicians do a better job of representing the "deities" that they serve? Will Pharaoh finally yield to Moses and the Israelites?
**YOUR CURRENT BIBLE STUDY ONLINE SERIES WOULD BE HERE**
156) Pharaoh Makes the First Move Against God 157) The Egyptian Deities that Reaped the Wrath of God 158) Pharaoh the Unjust & Unreasonable 159) Moses Has a Talk with God 160) What's Going On God 161) Moses Know that I Am Jehovah 162) Moses And The Desolate Souls 163) Moses Do You Know Who You Are? 164) Moses the God amongst the Egyptians 165) The Battle for the Souls of Humanity 166) Moses & the Egyptian Magicians 167) God vs. Hapi the Water god 168) <-CURRENT BIBLE STUDY ONLINE PAGE-> 169) God vs. Heket the goddess of Fertility 170) God vs. Geb the Earth god 171) God Releases the Swarms of Flies 172) Israel Set Apart 173) How Far Are You Willing to Go 175) Although Exempted - The Israelites Still Had to Endure 176) Go & Serve Your God - Wait A Minute... 177) The God of Israel vs The Egyptian Bull Cults 179) The Plague of Boils 181) God tells Pharaoh - You Owe Me Everything! 
|
