Exodus 7: Signs, Serpents, and Blood

Short answer: Exodus 7 records God commissioning Moses and Aaron to speak to Pharaoh, the sign of the rod becoming a serpent, and the first plague of water turning to blood. It shows God's power over Egypt and Pharaoh's stubborn refusal to listen.

What Exodus 7 says

The chapter opens with God speaking to Moses, promising to make him like God to Pharaoh and Aaron his prophet. Moses is to speak all that God commands, and Aaron will relay the words to Pharaoh so that Israel may go free. God declares that He will harden Pharaoh's heart and multiply signs and wonders in Egypt. Even though Pharaoh will not listen, God will bring Israel out by great judgments, and the Egyptians will know that He is Yahweh. Moses and Aaron obey, and the text notes their ages, eighty and eighty-three, when they first speak to Pharaoh. This opening sets the stage for a contest between God's word and Pharaoh's resistance, with obedience as the mark of God's servants.

God then instructs Moses and Aaron about the first sign. When Pharaoh demands a miracle, Aaron is to cast down his rod, and it will become a serpent. They do so, and the rod becomes a serpent. Pharaoh summons his wise men and sorcerers, and they replicate the sign with their enchantments, each rod becoming a serpent. But Aaron's rod swallows up their rods. Despite this, Pharaoh's heart remains hardened, and he does not listen, just as God had said. The narrative emphasizes that even when confronted with a superior sign, Pharaoh's resistance persists. The swallowing of the rods shows God's power exceeding that of Egypt's magicians, yet it does not soften Pharaoh.

God next sends Moses to meet Pharaoh by the river in the morning, taking the rod that had become a serpent. Moses is to announce that Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, has sent him, demanding that Pharaoh let the people go to serve Him in the wilderness. Because Pharaoh has not listened, God declares that He will strike the waters of the river with the rod, and they will turn to blood. The fish will die, the river will become foul, and the Egyptians will be unable to drink from it. This is the first plague, a direct assault on the Nile, which Egypt depended on. The sign is not merely a wonder but a judgment, and it is announced in advance so that Pharaoh might know that Yahweh is the Lord.

Moses and Aaron obey, and in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, Aaron lifts the rod and strikes the waters. The river turns to blood, the fish die, and the land is filled with blood, even in vessels of wood and stone. The magicians of Egypt duplicate this feat with their enchantments, and Pharaoh's heart remains hard. He turns and goes into his house, not taking it to heart. The Egyptians dig around the river for drinking water, and seven days pass after the river is struck. The chapter ends with Pharaoh unmoved and Egypt suffering, highlighting the cost of resisting God's command. The plague is comprehensive, affecting all water sources, yet Pharaoh's stubbornness continues.

Verses that carry the chapter

• “Yahweh said to Moses, “Behold, I have made you as God to Pharaoh; and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet.” (Exodus 7:1) — This verse establishes the unique role God gives Moses, making him like God to Pharaoh, and Aaron as his prophet. It sets the pattern for how God's word will be delivered to the king.
• “For they each cast down their rods, and they became serpents; but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.” (Exodus 7:12) — Aaron's rod swallowing the rods of the magicians demonstrates God's superiority over Egypt's enchanters. It is a clear sign that God's power cannot be matched, yet Pharaoh still refuses to yield.
• “Yahweh says, “In this you shall know that I am Yahweh. Behold: I will strike with the rod that is in my hand on the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood.” (Exodus 7:17) — God declares that by striking the river, Pharaoh will know that He is Yahweh. This verse ties the plague directly to revelation, showing that the judgments are meant to reveal God's identity.
• “The magicians of Egypt did the same thing with their enchantments. So Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he didn’t listen to them, as Yahweh had spoken.” (Exodus 7:22) — The magicians replicate the plague, and Pharaoh's heart remains hardened. This verse underscores that even undeniable displays of power do not guarantee repentance when the heart is set against God.

Gospel connection

Exodus 7 begins the great contest between Yahweh and the gods of Egypt, a theme that runs through the plagues and culminates in the exodus. The hardening of Pharaoh's heart and the signs performed by Moses and Aaron prefigure the greater deliverance that God would accomplish through Jesus Christ. Just as God brought Israel out of Egypt by great judgments, so He delivers His people from sin and death through the judgment that fell on Christ. The blood of the plague points forward to the blood of the covenant, and the demand to let God's people go so they may serve Him anticipates the freedom believers have to worship. The chapter shows that God's purposes prevail even over the stubborn resistance of rulers, and that His signs are meant to lead to knowledge of Him.

Application

Readers are invited to consider how they respond to God's clear displays of authority. Pharaoh saw undeniable signs yet refused to take them to heart, and his hardness serves as a warning. The chapter calls for a soft heart that listens to God's word, even when it confronts our own power or comfort. It also encourages trust in God's timing: Moses and Aaron obeyed despite Pharaoh's resistance, and God's plan moved forward. Believers can ask whether they are serving God in the wilderness, as He demanded of Israel, or clinging to old loyalties. The plague of blood shows that God takes His people's freedom seriously, and He will act to deliver them.

Biblical fidelity check

The chapter does not explain how the magicians performed their enchantments, nor does it describe the interior thoughts of Pharaoh beyond what is stated. It does not claim that the magicians created life or that their power was equal to God's; it simply says they did the same with their secret arts. The text does not say that Pharaoh repented or that the Egyptians all recognized Yahweh at this point. It does not give the exact location of the river meeting or the duration of the plague beyond seven days. It also does not specify how the blood appeared in vessels of wood and stone, only that it did. The narrative remains focused on the signs and Pharaoh's response, leaving many details unstated.

Questions for study

1. What does it mean for Moses to be made like God to Pharaoh, and how does Aaron function as his prophet?
2. Why do you think the magicians were able to replicate the sign of the serpent and the plague of blood, and what does that suggest about the nature of their power?
3. How does the hardening of Pharaoh's heart fit with God's command to let the people go? What does this reveal about God's sovereignty and human responsibility?
4. What is the significance of the Nile turning to blood for the Egyptians, and how might it challenge their trust in their own gods?
5. In what ways does Pharaoh's refusal to take the plague to heart serve as a warning for us today?

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Related studies: Exodus 1 Bible Study, Exodus 10 Bible Study, Exodus 11 Bible Study, Exodus 12 Bible Study.

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FAQ

Why did God harden Pharaoh's heart?

The text states that God would harden Pharaoh's heart so that He could multiply His signs and wonders in Egypt. This serves to demonstrate God's power and bring Israel out by great judgments, as verse 3 and 4 indicate.

What was the first plague and what did it affect?

The first plague was the turning of the waters of Egypt into blood. It affected the river, streams, pools, and ponds, and even water in vessels of wood and stone, causing the fish to die and the water to become undrinkable.

Did Pharaoh believe after seeing the signs?

No, Pharaoh's heart remained hardened. Even after the magicians replicated the plague, he did not listen, and he went into his house without taking it to heart, as verses 22 and 23 show.