Moses and Aaron are sent to Pharaoh again, with the reminder that he will not respond favorably, but the Lord will harden his heart so that he may multiply signs and wonders against Egypt and deliver his people by a mighty hand. And yet, as the audience with Pharaoh gives way to the first plague, the Lord attacks the lifeblood of Egypt—the Nile River—by turning the water itself to blood!
What is latent here at the beginning will become clear as we proceed: the Lord is assaulting the idols of the Egyptians, destroying every source of help or aid in which Pharaoh and his people may put their trust, so that all who hear may know that he is the Lord. How will Israel respond? How will Egypt respond? How will Pharaoh respond? And how do we respond, but to place our trust in he who alone does great wonders?
