When people get in God’s way, they are unable to stand. They may think that they can stop what He is up to, but nothing on this earth can. People can either be on His side or the other. There is no in between with the Lord. As His ways are higher than our own, it is better to just follow Him and do as He says, then do things that bring about God’s wrath. His peace is for everyone that follows in His footsteps. There is also deliverance from the enemy. We are no longer tied down because of bondage, but are set free. This is because God opens the doors for us, that we may escape the temptations of the evil one. The Savior we always needed comes and shields us from harm’s way and leads us into His magnificent light. This person is Jesus and everyone that follows Him shall no longer fear, but have His strength to carry them. The same can be said for the children of Israel, of old. They were in bondage and because of their cries to God, He came and sent Moses and Aaron to rescue them from the hands of the Egyptians. God even said to Moses, 1“I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.” (Exodus 7:1) The pains and sorrows of God’s people reached up to the heavens and God had mercy upon them. He did this by bringing these men into their land and causing plagues to be upon the wicked, who were the Egyptians. The first sign came before the plagues was Aaron’s rod becoming a serpent, of which swallowed up the magicians snakes. However, the Pharaoh 1“hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said.” (Exodus 7:13) His heart was hardened, and therefore, God’s wrath would be poured upon them in the form of plagues.
The first plague that God had Moses and Aaron perform, in front of Pharaoh, was turning the water into blood. This is what the Lord said to them, 1“in this thou shalt know that I am the Lord: behold, I will smite with the rod that is in mine hand upon the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood. And the fish that is in the river shall die, and the river shall stink; and the Egyptians shall lothe to drink of the water of the river.” (Exodus 7:17,18) However, it gets even worse for the Egyptian people, as God said, 1“take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood; and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 7:19) So they went to the pool of water, where Pharaoh was and Aaron 1“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.” (Exodus 7:20) And although the magicians could mimic the same thing, the blood remained and the rivers stank. It even got to the point where people began digging for water, because they had none. This plague and others were performed by the hand of God, in order for the Pharaoh and others know that God is real. That He has sent his two messengers among the people, in order to free them from bondage. Now, in our day, God is still in control, as He was in the past. Those that are His people are also delivered through Jesus Christ, our Savior. All others are left to suffer in this life and the next. What side are you on? Jesus is waiting to save you.
Let us pray:
Oh Lord, I pray that people of all the earth will make a choice, starting today, to serve You. Will they finally open their hearts and come unto You, who is mighty to Save, or harden their hearts and be denied their salvation? The choice is there’s. I just pray that people will be humble enough to remember what they have heard and have been taught over the years and seek the God of the living. There is true freedom that comes from letting go of our pride and following You. The same can be said for unbelievers and those that say they believe now. Yes, God, I know that many people that say they are Christian only say this in words and not in deeds. Their lifestyle is far from You, which makes them a hypocrite. So come and wake these people up too from their slumber. If they truly desire salvation, then will they take a step forward in faith? You have the power to break them free of all their addictions that hang over their heads. No temptation is stronger than the shield You can put in ever person’s life that trusts in You. As You have spoken, Lord, the Savior has come in Christ Jesus. Deliverance is ready for everyone that believes in You for salvation. No longer do we have to wonder when life will get better, for time is now for the greatest joy of all to enter our lives. Your love is ready to spring forth into every person that obeys Your words. And I know, Lord, that doing as You have taught me is the most important thing to do in life. Where else can I find happiness that never ends. I am strengthened daily through Your words and in prayer. I love Your ways. I want more of You and less of me God. I love You more. I trust in You for salvation. Amen.
Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.
1Exodus 7 (KJV)
1 And the Lord said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.
2 Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land.
3 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.
4 But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.
5 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.
6 And Moses and Aaron did as the Lord commanded them, so did they.
7 And Moses was fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when they spake unto Pharaoh.
8 And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
9 When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Shew a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent.
10 And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the Lord had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.
11 Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.
12 For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.
13 And he hardened Pharaoh’s heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said.
14 And the Lord said unto Moses, Pharaoh’s heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go.
15 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.
16 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.
17 Thus saith the Lord, In this thou shalt know that I am the Lord: behold, I will smite with the rod that is in mine hand upon the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood.
18 And the fish that is in the river shall die, and the river shall stink; and the Egyptians shall lothe to drink of the water of the river.
19 And the Lord spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood; and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in vessels of stone.
20 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.
21 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.
22 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.
23 And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he set his heart to this also.
24 And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river.
25 And seven days were fulfilled, after that the Lord had smitten the river.