The Bloody River: God as the ultimate source of life

Sims

God at War: The Plagues of Egypt • Sermon • Submitted 5 years ago

Exodus 7:14–25

First plague: the waters of Egypt turn to blood

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The Lexham Bible Dictionary Nile River

Background

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Pentateuch

Meyers points out that in Egyptian lore, a bloody Nile was an omen warning the people of impending disasters (Meyers, Exodus, 81). In this manner, the transformation of the Nile into blood both poisoned Egypt’s lifeline and foreshadowed that the worst is still to come (Trevisanato, The Plagues of Egypt, 17).

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Other Old Testament References

The Nile is also connected to the wealth of the people, since most Egyptians’ income relied on the waters. For example, Isa 19:5–10 portrays the damaging effects of the Nile drying up, stating how the failed crops affect flax and cotton workers and the dead fish affect fishermen.

The longest river in Africa, forming where the Blue Nile meets the White Nile in the Sudan. It continues through the entirety of Egypt to the Delta, flowing into the Mediterranean Sea. Although the river is mentioned in a number of biblical texts, it plays an important role in the book of Exodus. The civilization of ancient Egypt owes its very existence to the Nile.[1] The Nile is central to understanding Ancient Egyptian geography and culture. Ancient Egyptians relied on the river for agriculture, culture, and economic prosperity (Gemmill, “Egypt is the Nile,” 295). Evidence of this is seen throughout much of Egypt’s history. Gemmill notes, “It was the Nile that enabled the Egyptians to supply the tribes of ancient Judaea with grain in time of scarcity. It was the Nile that made Egypt the granary of needy peoples in later times” (Gemmill, “Egypt is the Nile,” 295). The water is the source of life, agriculture, and a means of survival. No agricultural industry could exist within Egypt without the river. Indeed cereal grains, flax, beans, and cotton production occured where the waters of the Nile flowed. For this reason the Egyptians built complex canals, basins, and irrigation systems to spread the flood waters of the Nile throughout the land.[2] The Nile was the most important source of water in Egypt.

The Nile River plays an important role in the Exodus narrative. In chapter one it is employed as an instrument of death (). In chapter two it becomes the means by which Moses is saved from death. In general, the Egyptians considered the Nile River a source of life and death and a god. In summary, any action taken against the Nile would be a very serious matter.

[2] Ibid

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Agriculture

The Nile defines the geography and culture of Egypt, whose inhabitants depend on the river for agriculture, culture, and economic prosperity (Gemmill, “Egypt is the Nile,” 295). This dependency is a pattern that can be followed throughout much of Egypt’s history. Gemmill notes, “It was the Nile that enabled the Egyptians to supply the tribes of ancient Judaea with grain in time of scarcity. It was the Nile that made Egypt the granary of needy peoples in later times” (Gemmill, “Egypt is the Nile,” 295). The water is the source of life, agriculture, and a means of survival. All agricultural industries within Egypt—including cereal grains, flax, beans, and cotton—could only exist where the waters of the Nile flowed. As a result, the Egyptians built complex canals, basins, and irrigation systems to spread the flood waters of the Nile throughout the land.

God’s Unchanging Demand

Verses 14 - 16: Pharaoh’s heart is unresponsive to the revelation of God and His power. The nature of Pharaoh’s heart is such that He fails to give God His due worship. Pharaoh refuses to do what he should, what was required of him. Instead he goes, we think, to take a bath.[3] It is also possible he was going to worship the gods of the Nile. [4] This plague, along with the fourth and seventh, take place outside. It is designed to be seen by all, so the people can see their gods defeated. You may ask: ‘what was he supposed to do?’ The answer is simple: the LORD through Moses had sent a message to Pharaoh: Let my people go that they may worship me. This had not changed. It was not going to change. The creator and sovereign of the universe wasn’t going to negotiate with His creation. He does not have to. He has the right the command and we have the obligation to obey. There are not acceptable counteroffers. This is why the gospel is so offensive. It declares our guilt, our need to repent, and Christ as our only hope. It declares our inability to please God with our works or require that He accepts what we decide to offer. It is we as creatures who must fall in line and not the other way around. God will not negotiate His majesty, glory, law, or holiness. We must obey or we will stand in His wrath and judgment.

Stuart, D. K. (2006). Exodus (Vol. 2, p. 198). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.This plague, along with the fourth and seventh, take place outside. You may ask: ‘what was he supposed to do?’ The answer is simple: the LORD through Moses had sent a message to Pharaoh: Let my people go that they may worship me. This had not changed. It was not going to change. The creator and sovereign of the universe wasn’t going to negotiate with His creation. He does not have to. He has the right the command and we have the obligation to obey. There are not acceptable counteroffers. This is why the gospel is so offensive. It declares our guilt, our need to repent, and Christ as our only hope. It declares our inability to please God with our works or require that He accepts what we decide to offer. It is we as creatures who must fall in line and not the other way around. God will not negotiate His majesty, glory, law, or holiness. We must obey or we will stand in His wrath and judgment.

God’s Warning of Judgment

Verses 17 - 18: Because Pharaoh refused to give heed, the LORD was going to perform His first great sign and it would strike at the heart of Egyptian life. Notice that Pharaoh is warned about what will happen before it does. He is told what the consequences of his disobedience would in advance. The LORD gives exact detail so as the eliminate all surprises. This is the grace of God. Before God judges He warns. He sends His message with His message to all nations to turn from their way and experience His grace and mercy. Today this role belongs to all believers. The sinner in rebellion against God is in grave danger because of his / her refusal to listen to the gospel until now. Like Moses we must fail to give that message and give it passionately. As Pharaoh will soon see, it is a matter of life and death. Given the importance of the Nile, Pharaoh should have fallen on his face and begged God to turn from His wrath. Sadly, this wasn’t and wouldn’t ever be the case until after the last sign. What was about the happen was God’s glorification on the earth via His judgment over the gods of Egypt.

I stated previously that the striking of the Nile would represent an inconvenience for the Egyptians. I am going to revise that now. In light of what we have discussed the striking of the Nile represented an upending of Egyptian life. It meant lost profits and a threat to their survival. The message is simple. The God of the Hebrews has power over the source of life. He is the ultimate source of life for all nations, including Egypt.

Given the importance of the Nile, Pharaoh should have fallen on his face and begged God to turn from His wrath. Sadly, this wasn’t and wouldn’t ever be the case until after the last sign. I stated previously that the striking of the Nile would represent an inconvenience for the Egyptians. I am going to revise that now. In light of what we have discussed the striking of the Nile represented an upending of Egyptian life. It meant lost profits and a threat to their survival. The message is simple. The God of the Hebrews is greater than [placeholder for gods of Egypt]. He alone has power over the source of life. He is the source of life for all nations, including Egypt.

God’s execution of Judgment

Verses 19 - 21: This was the same staff what became a snake and then a staff again. It was God’s chosen means of demonstrating His power, it had no power within itself, and would later be placed in the ark of the covenant. I stated previously that the striking of the Nile would represent an inconvenience for the Egyptians. I am going to revise that now. In light of what we have discussed the striking of the Nile represented an upending of Egyptian life. It meant lost profits and a threat to their survival. The most important asset of Egypt became unusable, unable to provide for the Egyptians. As commentator Philip Ryken states: “With one single blow he gave them a water and food shortage, a transportation shutdown, a financial disaster, and a spiritual crisis.[5] All Egypt, and Israel, saw this demonstration of power. The message is simple. The God of the Hebrews is greater than Hapi (god of the inundation), Osiris (resurrected out of Nile), and Nun(represents water of Nile and creation). He alone has power over the source of life. He is the source of life for all nations, including Egypt.

Apologetics point: As with many other aspects of Exodus, the historicity of the plagues is subject to question. The easiest and laziest claim is they never happened. We mentioned a few weeks ago that some, including some Christian scholars, have sought or argued for some sort of natural explanation. They would argue that God was using these means. Explanations for this first plague include: They river only looked like blood as opposed to turning to blood, 2) red sediment came into the Nile Delta from heavy rain fall leading to an oxygen imbalance and stinky smell, or 3) a bloom of reddish algae or microorganisms. Some of these scholars will concede that it was still an act of God. He was operating through natural means. The issue with these application are many: They don’t explain why all the fish died, 2) They don’t explain why the blood wasn’t confined to the Nile, 3) They don’t explain how fungus could suddenly appear at the strike of Moses, and 4) They contradict what the texts actually says happened.[6] A word study on the Hebrew word translated “turned” means to change the essence of something to a different thing. The word used for "blood" almost always refers to blood. We must also add the other Biblical writers later refer to the first plague as a literal event.

A counterfeit that falls short

Verse 22a: It is important to note here that while the magicians were able to counterfeit the turning of water to blood, they couldn’t undo what Yahweh did. Their “power” fell far short. They couldn’t compare to the One who causes things to be. It is an open question as to where the water came from. The point is they managed a cheap imitation but also showed their inability to mount a credible challenge.

A heart still hard

Verses 22b - 25: Because of the magicians ability to counterfeit, Pharaoh did not budge in his refusal to give heed to Moses. The magicians didn’t solve the problem. The Nile was still blood. Yet Pharaoh drew enough comfort from it to continue his disobedience. He, and the Egyptians, would rather live with the inconvenience then bow to the God of their slaves.

Verse 21: The most important asset of Egypt became unusable, unable to provide for the Egyptians.

Verse 22: Because of the magicians ability to counterfeit, Pharaoh did not budge in his refusal to give heed to Moses.

Practical Application

Chapter 8: The Lord brings Frogs from the Nile. While the magicians are able to duplicate, Pharoah recognizes a significant difference and call for Moses to pray to the Lord for Mercy. The Lord grants relief but upon doing so Pharaoh digs in further.

Scripture is clear that all we have comes from the Lord. It is because of Him the rain falls and the crops grow. It is because of Him the see and feel the light of the son. It is because of Him we can move (). This does not diminish our productive labor. It does recognize that it is God’s blessing of our work to brings things about.

Pharaoh didn’t want to submit to God but also didn’t want to suffer the consequences of refusal. He was ungrateful and ignored the purpose of God showing mercy, an opportunity for repentance (). As Paul warns, Pharaoh is strengthening the case for his just judgment.

Gospel Application

We can’t rely on our money, power, wealth, or even natural resources. All these things can pass away. There are not reliable or ultimately controllable. Anything we are trusting in other than the one true God is an idol of our making which means it’s only as dependable as well are, or our friends and power structures are. In the end they will fail and come to nothing and we will remain without hope. It doesn’t have to be this way for Jesus Christ came to save sinners. Repent and believe the gospel today.

[1] Guerriero, N. M., & Treadway, L. M. (2016). Nile River. In J. D. Barry, D. Bomar, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, D. Mangum, C. Sinclair Wolcott, … W. Widder (Eds.), The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Stuart, D. K. (2006). Exodus (Vol. 2, p. 198). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

[4] Philip Graham Ryken, Exodus: Saved for God's Glory, (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2005), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 217.

[5] ibid. page 221

[6] ibid. page 219

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