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Patriarchs and Prophets
when Christ should appear, mighty miracles would be wrought as an
evidence to the world that God had sent Him. Satan trembled for his
power. By counterfeiting the work of God through Moses, he hoped
not only to prevent the deliverance of Israel, but to exert an influence
through future ages to destroy faith in the miracles of Christ. Satan is
constantly seeking to counterfeit the work of Christ and to establish
his own power and claims. He leads men to account for the miracles
of Christ by making them appear to be the result of human skill and
power. In many minds he thus destroys faith in Christ as the Son of
God, and leads them to reject the gracious offers of mercy through the
plan of redemption.
Moses and Aaron were directed to visit the riverside next morning,
where the king was accustomed to repair. The overflowing of the
Nile being the source of food and wealth for all Egypt, the river was
worshiped as a god, and the monarch came thither daily to pay his
devotions. Here the two brothers again repeated the message to him,
and then they stretched out the rod and smote upon the water. The
sacred stream ran blood, the fish died, and the river became offensive
to the smell. The water in the houses, the supply preserved in cisterns,
was likewise changed to blood. But “the magicians of Egypt did so
with their enchantments,” and “Pharaoh turned and went into his house,
neither did he set his heart to this also.” For seven days the plague
continued, but without effect.
Again the rod was stretched out over the waters, and frogs came
up from the river and spread over the land. They overran the houses,
took possession of the bed chambers, and even the ovens and kneading
troughs. The frog was regarded as sacred by the Egyptians, and they
would not destroy it; but the slimy pests had now become intolerable.
They swarmed even in the palace of the Pharaohs, and the king was
impatient to have them removed. The magicians had appeared to
produce frogs, but they could not remove them. Upon seeing this,
Pharaoh was somewhat humbled. He sent for Moses and Aaron, and
said, “Entreat the Lord, that He may take away the frogs from me, and
from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice
unto the Lord.” After reminding the king of his former boasting, they
requested him to appoint a time when they should pray for the removal
of the plague. He set the next day, secretly hoping that in the interval
the frogs might disappear of themselves, and thus save him from the
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