The First Plague – Water to Blood

When God Strikes at the Heart

What happens when God decides to demonstrate His power by attacking what a nation considers most sacred? What occurs when the Creator confronts the false gods that people worship? This morning we’re walking through one of the most strategic and devastating acts of divine judgment in all of Scripture—verse by verse through Exodus 7:14-25, where God transforms the life-giving Nile River into an instrument of death.

You see, this isn’t just an ancient story about water turning to blood. This is a theological masterpiece that reveals how God establishes His authority over human power, false religion, and the natural world itself. When we examine each verse carefully, we discover profound truths about divine sovereignty that speak directly to our lives today.

Let me set the context for you. Moses and Aaron have already appeared before Pharaoh with their initial diplomatic request: “Let my people go.” Pharaoh’s response was swift and blasphemous: “Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, nor will I let Israel go” (Exodus 5:2). The diplomatic approach failed completely, and Pharaoh actually increased Israel’s oppression.

But here’s what’s fascinating—God wasn’t surprised by this failure. In fact, He had predicted it. Back in Exodus 4:21, God told Moses, “I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go.” The failed diplomacy wasn’t a setback; it was setup. God was preparing to demonstrate His character through a systematic display of supernatural power.

Now, in chapter 7, we see the transition from human methods to divine demonstration. Moses has been appointed as “god to Pharaoh” with Aaron as his “prophet” (7:1). The credential miracle of the staff becoming a serpent has been performed, with Aaron’s staff devouring the magicians’ staffs. But Pharaoh’s heart remained hard, exactly as God predicted.

This brings us to our passage today—the first plague. But here’s the key insight: this isn’t random destruction. As we examine each verse, we’ll see that God doesn’t arbitrarily choose to turn water into blood. This is a precisely targeted theological statement that strikes at the very heart of Egyptian religion, economy, and national identity.

The thesis I want you to grasp this morning is this: God reveals His absolute sovereignty through systematic verse-by-verse judgment that demonstrates divine authority over creation, false gods, and human rebellion.

Exposition: Verses 14-18 – The Divine Commission

Let’s begin our verse-by-verse examination with God’s commission to Moses and the announcement of the first plague.

Verse 14: “Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Pharaoh’s heart is hardened; he refuses to let the people go.'”

The passage opens with Yahweh’s assessment of Pharaoh’s condition. The Hebrew word חָזַק (chazaq) appears here, meaning “hardened” or “strengthened.” This is the third occurrence of this term regarding Pharaoh—we saw it in 4:21 and 7:13—establishing a clear pattern. God isn’t surprised by Pharaoh’s resistance; He’s documenting the fulfillment of His own prediction.

Notice the connection to Exodus 4:21 where God announced this would happen: “The LORD said to Moses, ‘When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go.'” The theological pattern is clear: God announced it, it’s now happening, and it will continue systematically.

Verse 15: “Go to Pharaoh in the morning, as he is going out to the water. And you shall stand by the river’s bank to meet him; and the rod which was turned to a serpent you shall take in your hand.”

Why morning? Why at the water? This isn’t coincidental timing. Ancient sources indicate that Pharaoh likely performed religious rituals at the Nile each morning. The Nile was sacred to Egypt, associated with the god Hapi and considered the source of all life and fertility. By meeting Pharaoh at the Nile during his religious observances, God is staging this confrontation at the very heart of Egyptian worship.

The reference to “the rod which was turned to a serpent” connects this plague to the previous credential miracle. This same staff that demonstrated divine authority over Egyptian magic will now demonstrate divine authority over Egyptian religion. The rod becomes the instrument of judgment.

Verse 16: “And you shall say to him, ‘The LORD God of the Hebrews has sent me to you, saying, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me in the wilderness”; but indeed you would not hear!'”

Notice the covenant name usage here—”The LORD God of the Hebrews.” The Hebrew יְהוָה (Yahweh) is the personal, covenant name of God, while אֱלֹהֵי (Elohei) emphasizes His power as God. This isn’t just any deity speaking; this is the covenant God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob asserting His authority.

The phrase “but indeed you would not hear” uses the Hebrew שָׁמַע (shama), which means more than just auditory hearing—it means to hear with understanding and obedience. Pharaoh didn’t just fail to listen; he refused to acknowledge divine authority. This sets up the necessity for what follows.

Verse 17: “Thus says the LORD: ‘By this you shall know that I am the LORD. Behold, I will strike the waters which are in the river with the rod that is in my hand, and they shall be turned to blood.'”

Here’s the heart of the divine purpose: “By this you shall know that I am the LORD.” The Hebrew word for “know” is יָדַע (yada), which indicates intimate, experiential knowledge. God isn’t just trying to get Pharaoh’s attention—He’s revealing His character through demonstration. The Egyptians claimed to know their gods through the Nile’s blessing. Now they would know the true God through the Nile’s transformation into judgment.

The transformation to blood (דָּם – dam) is theologically significant. In Hebrew thought, blood represents the essence of life itself (Leviticus 17:11). When God transforms life-giving water into blood, He’s creating a powerful symbol—the source of life becomes an instrument of death for those who rebel against the life-giver.

Verse 18: “And the fish that are in the river shall die, the river shall stink, and the Egyptians will loathe to drink the water of the river.”

God announces the comprehensive consequences. The fish will die—destroying a major food source. The river will stink—making the sacred Nile repulsive. The Egyptians will loathe to drink—their most essential resource becomes undrinkable. This isn’t just inconvenience; it’s systematic devastation of everything Egypt depends upon.

Exposition: Verses 19-21 – The Comprehensive Devastation

Now we see the plague executed with devastating thoroughness.

Verse 19: “Then the LORD spoke to Moses, ‘Say to Aaron, “Take your rod and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their streams, over their rivers, over their ponds, and over all their pools of water, that they may become blood. And there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in buckets of wood and pitchers of stone.”‘”

Notice the comprehensive scope: streams, rivers, ponds, pools, even stored water in wooden buckets and stone pitchers. This isn’t limited to the main Nile channel—every water source in Egypt is affected. God’s demonstration is total and inescapable. The Hebrew phrase “throughout all the land of Egypt” emphasizes the universal nature of this judgment.

Aaron’s role here is crucial. As Moses’ “prophet” (7:1), Aaron serves as the spokesman and executor of divine commands. The rod in Aaron’s hand becomes the instrument through which divine power operates, demonstrating that God works through human agents while maintaining ultimate authority.

Verse 20: “And Moses and Aaron did so, just as the LORD commanded them. So he lifted up the rod and struck 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.”

The obedience is immediate and complete: “just as the LORD commanded them.” This phrase emphasizes the perfect alignment between divine command and human response. When Aaron strikes the water, the transformation is instant and comprehensive—”all the waters…were turned to blood.”

The phrase “in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants” is significant. This isn’t a private miracle or a distant rumor. The Egyptian leadership witnesses the transformation firsthand. They cannot claim ignorance or dismiss it as illusion. Divine power operates in full view of human authority.

Verse 21: “The fish that were in the river died, and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink the water of the river. So there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.”

Every consequence God announced in verse 18 is fulfilled exactly. The fish died—destroying a major protein source and creating ecological disaster. The river stank—making the sacred Nile repulsive and unfit for religious ceremonies. The Egyptians could not drink—their most essential resource became unusable.

The final phrase, “So there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt,” emphasizes the totality of divine judgment. This isn’t partial or limited—it’s comprehensive and inescapable. Every Egyptian must confront the reality that their most sacred resource is under the control of Israel’s God.

Exposition: Verses 22-23 – The Magicians and Pharaoh’s Response

Now we see the human response to divine demonstration.

Verse 22: “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.”

Here’s where the story takes a fascinating turn. The Egyptian magicians were able to duplicate this miracle. At first glance, this might seem to diminish God’s demonstration. If the magicians can do the same thing, what makes God’s power superior?

But think carefully about what actually happened. The magicians could create more blood when blood was already the problem. They could duplicate the plague, but they couldn’t reverse it. They could make the situation worse, but they couldn’t provide relief. Their power was real but limited, imitative but not creative, destructive but not redemptive.

This pattern reveals something crucial about opposition to divine authority. Human and demonic power can often mimic divine works to some degree, but they cannot match divine power in scope, purpose, or ultimate effectiveness. The magicians’ success was actually a demonstration of their limitation—they could add to the judgment but couldn’t alleviate it.

The phrase “Pharaoh’s heart grew hard” uses the same Hebrew root חָזַק (chazaq) we saw in verse 14. This fulfills exactly what God predicted, demonstrating that even clear divine demonstration cannot overcome a willfully hardened heart.

Verse 23: “And Pharaoh turned and went into his house. Neither was his heart moved by this.”

Pharaoh’s response is telling. He doesn’t engage with the miracle or seek to understand its implications. He simply turns away and goes into his house. The Hebrew phrase “neither was his heart moved by this” literally means “he did not set his heart to this.” Pharaoh refuses to give serious consideration to what he has witnessed.

This withdrawal into his house symbolizes Pharaoh’s attempt to escape the reality of divine authority. But you cannot hide from God’s demonstration of power. The plague continues whether Pharaoh acknowledges it or not.

Exposition: Verses 24-25 – The Duration and Impact

Finally, we see the lasting impact of divine judgment.

Verse 24: “So all the Egyptians dug all around the river for water to drink, because they could not drink the water of the river.”

The Egyptian people’s response contrasts sharply with Pharaoh’s. While Pharaoh withdraws and hardens his heart, the people acknowledge the plague’s reality and take practical action to survive. They dig around the river seeking alternative water sources, demonstrating that they recognize what has happened.

This creates an interesting dynamic. The people acknowledge the plague’s reality and adapt their behavior, while their leader hardens his heart and refuses to acknowledge divine authority. Sometimes those in positions of power are the last to recognize divine intervention because they have the most to lose by submitting to higher authority.

Here’s what’s remarkable—even in judgment, God’s mercy is evident. The Egyptians could still find water by digging. God’s demonstration was complete but not genocidal. He was revealing His character, not destroying His image-bearers. Even divine judgment serves redemptive purposes.

Verse 25: “And seven days passed after the LORD had struck the river.”

The seven-day duration is theologically significant. Seven is the number of completeness in Scripture, the number associated with divine action and rest. God created the world in seven days; now He demonstrates His authority over creation for seven days. This isn’t hurried judgment—it’s thorough, complete, and perfectly timed divine demonstration.

For an entire week, every Egyptian had to confront the reality that their most sacred resource was under the control of Israel’s God. Every day for seven days, they were reminded that Yahweh, not Hapi, controlled the waters. This wasn’t a momentary miracle that could be dismissed or explained away—it was a sustained demonstration of divine authority.

Theological Synthesis and Application

As we step back from our verse-by-verse examination, several major themes emerge from this passage that speak directly to our lives today.

First, God’s demonstrations serve revelatory purposes. The repeated phrase “by this you shall know that I am the LORD” reveals that signs and wonders aren’t just displays of power—they’re divine communication. God reveals His character through His works, teaching us who He is through what He does.

Second, divine authority supersedes all human power and false worship. By attacking the Nile, God demonstrated that no earthly system, no matter how powerful or sacred it seems, exists outside His sovereign control. We live in a culture that worships economic systems, technological advancement, and natural resources with the same devotion Egypt gave to the Nile. But God’s sovereignty extends over all these things.

Third, opposition to divine truth is real but ultimately limited. The magicians’ ability to duplicate but not reverse the plague shows us that human and demonic power, while real, cannot match divine authority. We face real opposition today from forces that sometimes appear to match God’s power, but like the Egyptian magicians, these powers are ultimately limited.

Fourth, hardened hearts persist even in the face of clear evidence. Pharaoh’s response teaches us that even overwhelming divine demonstration cannot overcome willful rebellion. Sometimes we wonder why God allows opposition to continue, but Exodus 7 teaches us that God’s timing serves revelatory purposes—He’s revealing His character through how He deals with opposition.

What does this mean for us today? When God demonstrates His power and character in our lives, we have a choice. We can respond like the Egyptian people—acknowledging reality and adapting our behavior—or we can respond like Pharaoh—hardening our hearts and refusing to submit to divine authority.

The same divine power that transformed Egypt’s sacred river can transform our hearts, our circumstances, and our eternal destiny. But unlike the judgment that fell on Egypt, God offers us transformation through grace rather than judgment. The God who turned the Nile to blood is the same God who offers us living water through Jesus Christ.

The choice of how we respond to His revelation remains ours.