Day 44

Blood and Frogs in Egypt

Exodus 7:14–8:15

God told Moses, “Pharaoh has a hard heart. He still won’t let the people go. Take the staff that turned to a snake. Go to the Nile River. Tell Pharaoh that the Hebrews’ God says, ‘Let my people go.’ Then hit the water with the staff. It will turn to blood. Do this so Pharaoh will know that I am God.”

Moses and Aaron did this and the Nile River turned to blood. It smelled terrible and all the fish died. There was blood everywhere and no water to drink. But Pharaoh’s heart was still hard.

Seven days later, God sent Moses and Aaron back to Pharaoh. “God says, ‘Let my people go,’ ” they told him. But he wouldn’t do it. So Aaron held his staff over the river. Frogs came up and covered Egypt. They even got into people’s beds and ovens.

Pharaoh called to Moses, “Ask God to take away the frogs. Then I’ll let Israel go.” Moses did this and all the frogs died in one day. They were piled up in heaps and smelled terrible. But Pharaoh hardened his heart again. He didn’t let the people go.

Questions: Why did God make the river turn to blood? Why did God take away the frogs?