God's Sovereignty and Authority
Exodus 7:1-2 highlights God's declaration to Moses, See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet. This demonstrates God's authority in appointing His servants to carry out His will.

Obedience to God's Command
In verses 6-7, Moses and Aaron did just as the LORD had commanded them. Their obedience is crucial in the unfolding of God's plan.

God's Power Over Nature
The first sign, turning the Nile into blood (verses 14-25), illustrates God's control over creation and His ability to disrupt the natural order to achieve His purposes.

Pharaoh's Hardened Heart
Despite witnessing God's power, Pharaoh's heart remains hardened (verse 13). This sets a pattern of resistance that continues throughout the plagues.Trust in God's Plan
Like Moses and Aaron, we are called to trust and obey God's instructions, even when facing seemingly insurmountable challenges.

Recognize God's Authority
Acknowledge God's sovereignty in our lives and the world, understanding that He is in control, even when circumstances seem chaotic.

Respond to God's Signs
Unlike Pharaoh, who hardened his heart, we should remain open and responsive to God's work in our lives, allowing His signs to lead us to repentance and faith.1. The LORD (Yahweh)
The central divine figure in the narrative, Yahweh is the God of Israel who commands Moses and Aaron to confront Pharaoh. The Hebrew name used is יְהוָה (YHWH), which is often rendered as "LORD" in English translations.

2. Moses
A prophet and leader of the Israelites, Moses is chosen by God to lead His people out of Egypt. In this chapter, he is instructed by God to speak to Pharaoh and perform signs. His Hebrew name is מֹשֶׁה (Mosheh).

3. Aaron
The brother of Moses and his spokesperson, Aaron assists Moses in communicating with Pharaoh. He is also a key figure in performing the signs that God commands. His Hebrew name is אַהֲרֹן (Aharon).

4. Pharaoh
The ruler of Egypt, Pharaoh is the antagonist in the narrative who refuses to let the Israelites go. His heart is hardened, leading to the plagues that follow. The term "Pharaoh" is derived from the Egyptian title for the king.1. Egypt
The central location of the narrative in Exodus 7, where Moses and Aaron confront Pharaoh to demand the release of the Israelites. Egypt, known in Hebrew as "Mitzrayim" (מִצְרַיִם), is the land where the Israelites are enslaved and where God demonstrates His power through the plagues.

2. The Nile River
Although not explicitly named in Exodus 7, the Nile is implied when Aaron stretches out his hand over the waters of Egypt, turning them into blood. The Nile, a critical water source for Egypt, is referred to in Hebrew as "Ye'or" (יְאוֹר), which means "river" or "stream."1. God Commissions Moses and Aaron
God speaks to Moses, telling him that He has made him "like God to Pharaoh," and Aaron will be his prophet (Exodus 7:1). The Hebrew word for "prophet" is נָבִיא (navi), indicating one who speaks on behalf of God.

2. Instructions for Confronting Pharaoh
God instructs Moses and Aaron to speak to Pharaoh and demand the release of the Israelites. God warns that He will harden Pharaoh's heart, allowing Him to multiply His signs and wonders in Egypt (Exodus 7:2-3).

3. God's Purpose Revealed
God declares that He will bring judgment on Egypt and that the Egyptians will know He is the LORD when He stretches out His hand against Egypt and brings the Israelites out (Exodus 7:4-5).

4. Moses and Aaron Obey God's Command
Moses and Aaron do as the LORD commands them. At this time, Moses is eighty years old, and Aaron is eighty-three (Exodus 7:6-7).

5. Aaron's Staff Becomes a Serpent
God instructs Moses and Aaron to perform a miracle before Pharaoh. Aaron throws down his staff before Pharaoh, and it becomes a serpent (Exodus 7:9-10). The Hebrew word for "serpent" is תַּנִּין (tannin), which can also mean a large reptile or sea creature.

6. Pharaoh's Magicians Replicate the Miracle
Pharaoh's magicians, using their secret arts, also turn their staffs into serpents. However, Aaron's staff swallows up their staffs, demonstrating God's superior power (Exodus 7:11-12).

7. Pharaoh's Heart is Hardened
Despite witnessing the miracle, Pharaoh's heart is hardened, and he refuses to listen to Moses and Aaron, as the LORD had said (Exodus 7:13).

8. The First Plague: Water Turned to Blood
God instructs Moses to meet Pharaoh by the Nile River and warn him that the water will be turned to blood if he does not let the Israelites go. Aaron stretches out his staff over the waters of Egypt, and they turn to blood, killing the fish and making the water undrinkable (Exodus 7:14-21).

9. Pharaoh's Magicians Imitate the Plague
The magicians of Egypt replicate the turning of water into blood with their secret arts, further hardening Pharaoh's heart (Exodus 7:22).

10. Pharaoh's Continued Refusal
Pharaoh remains obstinate and refuses to listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had foretold. The Egyptians are forced to dig around the Nile for drinking water (Exodus 7:23-24).Romans 9:17-18
Paul references Pharaoh's hardened heart to illustrate God's sovereign choice and purpose in displaying His power.

Psalm 105:26-36
This psalm recounts the plagues in Egypt, emphasizing God's faithfulness in delivering His people.

Hebrews 3:7-8
A warning against hardening our hearts, encouraging us to listen to God's voice today.Pray for a heart of obedience and trust in God's plan, even when it challenges our understanding.
Ask for the ability to recognize and submit to God's authority in every aspect of life.
Seek a responsive heart that is open to God's signs and willing to change in accordance with His will.
Intercede for those who, like Pharaoh, have hardened their hearts against God's truth, that they may come to repentance and faith.

1. What does God's empowerment of Moses and Aaron reveal about His divine plan for His people's liberation?

2. Why do you think God allowed Pharaoh's heart to harden, and what does this teach us about free will?

3. How does the miracle of Aaron's staff turning into a serpent highlight the superior power of God over Egyptian magic?

4. Why do you think the magicians of Egypt could replicate the miracles performed by Moses and Aaron?

5. How does the first plague of turning the Nile into blood symbolize the impending judgment on Egypt?

6. How does Moses' obedience inspire you in your faith journey?

7. What can we learn from Pharaoh's hardened heart, even in the face of clear miracles and signs?

8. How does the transformation of Aaron's staff into a serpent signify the transformation of Moses' leadership?

9. What would you do if you were in Moses' place, tasked with confronting a stubborn ruler?

10. Why is it significant that the water of the Nile was turned into blood as the first plague?

11. How does the aftermath of the first plague reflect the dire consequences of disobedience to God's command?

12. How does the resilience of the Egyptians in finding alternative sources of water reflect human resistance to recognizing divine signs?

13. What lessons can you apply from this chapter to handle situations of persistent disbelief or opposition in your life?

14. How does this chapter influence your understanding of God's sovereign power over the affairs of nations?

15. How does the story of Pharaoh's stubbornness warn against the dangers of pride and self-sufficiency?

16. How can you apply the lesson of obedience shown by Moses and Aaron in your personal life?

17. Why do you think God chose to perform these miracles before Pharaoh and the Egyptians, and what does it reveal about His character?

18. How does this chapter inspire you to trust in God's plans, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges?

19. How does this chapter enhance your understanding of the struggle between divine power and human resistance?

20. In your present-day life, how would you apply the lessons learned from the consequences of Pharaoh's hardened heart?