Daily Devotions
Psalms
Psalm 78:44a "Turned their rivers into blood..."
Day 141 – Psalm 78
“Turned their rivers into blood…” Psalm 78:44a
REVELATION OF GOD’S PLANS
Moses was given an intimation of God’s plans for the redemption of Israel (Exodus 3).
1. For Israel’s learning
The children of Israel would learn the following lessons:-
a) God had seen their oppression (Exodus 3:7).
b) He had heard their cry (Exodus 3:7).
c) He had known their sorrows (Exodus 3:7).
d) He had come to deliver them (Exodus 3:8).
2. For Moses’ learning
a) He will be the deliverer (Exodus 3:10).
b) He will have God’s Presence (Exodus 3:12).
c) He will be especially empowered to perform signs and wonders (Exodus 4:1-9).
3. For Pharaoh’s learning
a) He will of course resist but he will also know that his resistance would be in vain.
b) He will be humbled by the many signs and wonders God would perform through Moses.
THE SIGN OF TURNING RIVERS INTO BLOOD
The first sign alone ought to have caused Pharaoh to yield to God’s demand to release the children of Israel from tyranny.
“Turned their rivers into blood,
And their streams, that they could not drink.”
Psalm 78:44 (Cf. Exodus 7:14-25)
1. Rivers were one of the major means of transport for commercial purposes.
2. Streams provided necessary water for domestic purposes.
If both systems were polluted and they became unusable, many aspects of life would be severely affected. The Egyptian deity Hapi who supposedly ruled the River Nile and all streams could do nothing against the God of the children of Israel! If this was the finger of God, then appropriate responses ought to be sought. It would seem that only Moses, who performed this miracle, learned God’s intended lesson(s).