And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh's heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go. Get thee unto Pharaoh in the morning; lo, he goeth out unto the water; and thou shalt stand by the river's brink against he come; and the rod which was turned to a serpent shalt thou take in thine hand. And thou shalt say unto him, The LORD GOD of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee, saying, Let My people go, that they may serve Me in the wilderness: and, behold, hitherto thou wouldest not hear.
And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood. And the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt. And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the LORD had said. And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he set his heart to this also. And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river. (Exo 7:14-16, 20-24)
The Lord sent Moses down to the Nile, to once again show Himself strong on behalf of His people. He knew that Pharaoh would harden his heart toward the Lord and toward Moses, partly because his own magicians could also duplicate this 'trick' as he saw it. Because he could explain it as a trick, he could deny the Lord, and resist the command to release the Hebrews.
Because GOD is showing Himself as GOD alone, He is denying the power and existence of all of Egypt's idols and false gods, we will see that it will take ten plagues to overcome Egypt and deliver the Israelites. God is faithful and will carry out everything He promised to Moses and the Israelites. Here He witnesses against their belief that life came from the Nile, for GOD says that life is in the blood. While the Nile may have watered their crops, GOD is the one who gives the increase, and provides life to all. He also testified to them of their bloody practice of sacrificing to the 'Nile' as a god, and what it really cost them, for the Nile was a place of death, not life.
Just as He showed the Egyptians of their false beliefs, GOD will work in our lives as well. He will show us things from His Word that we may correct our lives and be more like Him. But, He is not only working conform us to His dear Son, but He left His Church on this earth to minister to those around us, and to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are to be as obedient as Moses, to go where we are sent, and say what GOD would have us to say, so that He is glorified, and His Word is proclaimed to this lost and dying world.
GOD wants His people to be on mission for Him, to minister to the hurting and meet their needs according to GOD's provision. He commands the Church to disciple one another in love and His Word that they may grow thereby. He has commissioned, and He will equip us for the task, to go and proclaim the Good News of Salvation to those who hear. As we go, we tell them of faith in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary for forgiveness and reconciliation with GOD, that those who believe might have life in His Name.
For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. Just as GOD called on Pharoah to repent and release the Hebrews, GOD calls you to trust what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. Just as He provided deliverance to Israel, He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD with forgiveness and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new heart in Christ. Don't harden your heart as Pharoah did, but turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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