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Spiritual Gifts, Volume 3
Pharaoh declared that Moses and Aaron were impostors, and could
accomplish no more than his magicians. Said Moses and Aaron to
Pharaoh, That Jehovah whom thou pretendest not to know, will con-
vince thee that he is more powerful than all gods. They informed
him that God would yet perform greater wonders, which would leave
him without excuse, and which would be perpetual monuments of his
providence and power in behalf of Israel.
“And the Lord said unto Moses, Pharaoh’s heart is hardened. He
refuseth to let the people go. 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. And thou shalt say unto him, The Lord God of the
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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. 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. And
the fish that is in the river shall die, and the river shall stink; and the
Egyptians shall loathe to drink of the water of the river.”
Pharaoh would not listen to Moses and Aaron, but despised their
words; yet he had no power to harm them. “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.” For seven days the plague upon the waters continued. Yet the
king humbled not himself, but hardened his heart. Moses and Aaron
were commanded, first, before bringing the plagues, to faithfully relate
to Pharaoh the nature of each plague which was to come, and the effect
of the plague, that he might have the privilege of saving himself from
it if he chose, by letting the children of Israel go to sacrifice unto God.
But if the king should refuse to obey the command of God, then would
he still visit him with judgments.
“And the Lord spake unto Moses, Go unto Pharaoh, and say unto
him, Thus saith the Lord, Let my people go, that they may serve me.
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And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all thy borders
with frogs.”
“And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and
the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt. And the magicians