Exodus 8:24

Exodus 8 describes the first of 10 plagues that God inflicted on Egypt in order to induce Pharaoh into letting the Israelites go into the wilderness so that they could hold a feast to God (Exodus 5:1). This particular plague caused all water in streams, rivers, ponds, pools, vessels of wood, and vessels of stone to turn to blood.

The interesting thing about today’s passage is that God, in His grace, provided a way for the Egyptians to obtain water. God, even in exacting His judgment, revealed His grace to the Egyptians. He would have relented after the first plague had Pharaoh acquiesced, but God, knowing the end from the beginning, knew that Pharaoh was not going to comply.

God’s grace is such that He wants all to come to a saving knowledge of Him. He wants all to come to repentance rather than perish (2 Peter 3:9). Praise God for the grace that He has demonstrated in our lives, especially for the ultimate grace of salvation through Jesus (Ephesians 2:7-8).

Jeff Mericle