Breaking Idols

This exploration of Exodus 7 takes us into one of the most dramatic confrontations between divine power and human rebellion. We witness Moses and Aaron standing before Pharaoh, armed not with their own confidence or abilities, but with God's authority alone. What's striking here is that God doesn't remove Moses' insecurities or limitations—He doesn't magically fix Moses' speech impediment or give him supernatural charisma. Instead, God teaches Moses to place confidence not in himself, but in the One who sends him. As we follow this narrative, we discover that the plagues aren't arbitrary displays of power, but surgical strikes against Egypt's false gods. The Nile River, worshiped as the lifeblood of Egyptian civilization and connected to multiple deities, becomes the first target. When it turns to blood, God systematically dismantles the idols that have captivated an entire nation. Yet even in judgment, we see mercy—God is revealing Himself to both Hebrews and Egyptians, opening eyes to the reality that He alone is the true living God. The most challenging question this passage poses to us is deeply personal: what are the idols in our own lives? Not everything we value is inherently bad, but when anything—success, relationships, comfort, status—begins to replace or challenge God's rightful place, it becomes an idol. The invitation here is clear: identify and surrender these counterfeits before God, in His love, has to remove them through harder circumstances.