Exodus 7 recounts the beginning of the confrontation between Moses and Aaron, God’s chosen messengers, and Pharaoh, the powerful ruler of Egypt. God commands Moses to approach Pharaoh and perform miraculous signs to prove His authority. Moses throws down his staff, which turns into a serpent, but Pharaoh’s magicians replicate the feat, though Moses’ serpent eventually swallows their serpents.
Despite the warning of impending consequences, Pharaoh remains obstinate and refuses to let the Israelites go. Moses and Aaron return to Pharaoh the next morning, as God had commanded, near the Nile River. Aaron stretches out his staff over the waters, and all the water sources throughout Egypt turn into blood. The fish die, and the river becomes undrinkable, causing immense hardship for the Egyptians. Yet, Pharaoh’s heart remains hardened, and he summons his magicians to replicate this plague. The magicians succeed, turning more water into blood, further exacerbating the crisis.
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