God told Moses to go to the river’s edge and wait for Pharaoh to come down. There Moses was to warn him of the judgment which God was going to bring upon Egypt, but Pharaoh refused to listen. He still hardened his heart, so Moses took his rod and smote the rivers so that they became blood. All the fish in the rivers died and a terrible odor came over the land. Even the water in the pails and jugs turned into blood, so that the Egyptians began to dig new wells in order to get water to drink. This has a lesson for us, too. How many are digging in this world trying to find refreshment? It is a scene of death, represented by the blood. It has nothing for you; only the Lord can bring you any real or lasting happiness. Notice, too, that the magicians could turn the water into blood, but they could not turn it back into water again. Satan had the power of death, but he cannot deliver anyone from its power. Only the Lord can do that, for He is the resurrection and the life (John 11:2525Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: (John 11:25)).
This terrible plague lasted seven days, but Pharaoh refused to humble himself and give in. How stubborn he was. Are you still rejecting the grace of God while He waits in long suffering patience to save you? Why not yield your heart to the Lord Jesus today?
The Plague of Frogs
When Pharaoh still refused to let the people go, God sent another plague. He sent frogs throughout the whole land. This would remind us very forcibly of the power of Satan which will be felt in all its horribleness after the Lord has come and taken His church to heaven (Revelation 16:1313And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. (Revelation 16:13)). These frogs went through the whole land, even going into their bedrooms, their ovens, and into everything they had. It must have been an awful plague; but how much worse it will be for this whole world in the future when Satan is cast down having great wrath (Revelation 12:7-127And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 11And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. 12Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. (Revelation 12:7‑12)). Satan’s power is bad enough today, but in that day his terrible activities will be unhindered by the presence of the Spirit of God, who will have gone back to heaven with the church (John 14:1616And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; (John 14:16), 2 Thessalonians 2:6-76And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. (2 Thessalonians 2:6‑7)). Satan will be able to deceive the lost at his pleasure. Men and women little realize how quickly the storm clouds are gathering, and how soon judgment is going to fall on this Christ-rejecting world.
Once again the magicians imitated Moses. They, too, brought up frogs upon the land, but, as before, they were powerless to remove the plague. Pharaoh, feeling how horrible these frogs were, called for Moses and promised to let the people of Israel go if God would remove them. How often we see things like this today! When people are made to feel the sorrows which their sins bring, they cry to God to deliver them, and make all kinds of pledges and promises to live a different life. But when God hears their cry and delivers them, they soon go back to their old ways again. Not being the result of true conviction of sin before God, the results are never permanent. Promises of living differently are useless — new birth is what is needed. “Ye must be born again” (John 3:77Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. (John 3:7)). Those who are born again will show good works, without those pledges and promises which an unsaved man cannot carry out anyway.
Further Meditation
1. What does the plague of blood show us about this world?
2. In other passages of Scripture, how did Satan use his power to bring death and destruction?
3. There are some wonderful stories of true repentance in the book Jimmy Moore of Bucktown.