The First Plague: Water Turns to Blood
(Exodus 7:14–25)

Pharaoh still refused to listen to God. Even after God allowed Moses’ brother, Aaron, to turn his staff into a snake and swallow the staffs of Pharaoh’s magicians, Pharaoh hardened his heart and would not let God’s people go. So, God told Moses it was time for the first of many powerful lessons for Pharaoh and all of Egypt. God said, “Pharaoh is stubbornly refusing to let the people go.”

God told Moses to meet Pharaoh at the Nile River in the morning. This river was super important to the Egyptians. They thought of it as a god that gave them life and food! God was about to show them who the real God was.

Moses and Aaron went to the riverbank. Aaron held up his staff, the one that had become a snake, and struck the water of the Nile right in front of Pharaoh and his officials. Immediately, something terrible happened! The water in the river turned to blood. Not just the river, but all the water in the canals, the ponds, and even the water that people had collected in wooden bowls and stone jars-all of it turned to blood.

Imagine the smell! The fish in the Nile died because the water wasn't clean anymore. The smell was so awful that the Egyptians couldn't drink the water, and they couldn't even stand to be near the river. For seven whole days, all of Egypt suffered. The only way to find drinking water was to dig holes around the Nile and wait for clean water to seep up from the ground.

But guess what? Pharaoh’s magicians were able to do the exact same trick! They used their secret arts to turn a little bit of water into blood, too. Because of this small trick, Pharaoh thought he was still more powerful than Moses’ God. The Bible tells us that Pharaoh didn't care about the suffering of his people. He just turned around, went back to his palace, and ignored Moses and Aaron completely. He refused to let God's people go free. The king of Egypt had learned nothing yet, but God was not done teaching him!

A Curious Question

The Egyptians worshipped the Nile River as a god, but God showed them He had complete power over the river by turning it to blood. When we are worried or scared, sometimes we trust in things like our toys, our friends, or even our own smartness to save us. What is the one thing we can trust in that is even stronger and more powerful than the Nile River was to the Egyptians?

Jesus Connection

Even though Jesus isn’t named in this story, the plague of blood shows us that God has absolute authority over all of creation, and nothing can stand against Him, not even a mighty river or a powerful king like Pharaoh. God’s judgment fell on Egypt because of their sin and Pharaoh's stubborn heart.

Jesus has the same absolute authority! He proved it when He walked on water, calmed a terrible storm with a word, and turned water into wine at a wedding. Most importantly, God’s judgment for our sin-what we truly deserve-was supposed to fall on us, but God is a loving Father.

The Old Testament often required the blood of an animal to cover people's sins, but this was only temporary. Jesus came as the ultimate sacrifice. He offered His own perfect blood on the cross to take away the judgment that we deserve and give us forgiveness and eternal life. Jesus is the only one who can save us from the judgment of sin.

Discussion Questions

  • Why was the Nile River so important to the Egyptians, and what did God show them by turning it into blood?
  • Pharaoh’s magicians could copy the miracle, but how was God’s power still clearly greater than theirs? (Hint: Think about how long the plague lasted and how much water was affected.)
  • What does this story teach us about God’s patience and His commitment to keeping His promises?
  • Pharaoh hardened his heart and ignored the miracle. What does it mean to harden your heart against God, and what are some things we might do that are like Pharaoh's actions?

“So What” What Can I do?

  • Trust God, Not Things: The Egyptians trusted the river to give them life, but God took that life away. What is one thing you rely on too much-like your phone, a special toy, or maybe your own ability to be good-that you can ask God to help you remember to rely on Him instead?
  • Listen Immediately: Pharaoh stubbornly refused to listen to God. When do you find it hardest to obey your parents or teachers right away? How can you practice having a 'soft' heart that wants to listen and obey God and others quickly?
  • Praise His Power: God’s power is amazing! This week, when you see something beautiful in nature-like a flowing stream, a cloudy day, or a big tree-take a moment to thank God for His incredible power and control over everything.

Memorize God's Word

“The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” (Psalm 24:1)

  • "The earth is the Lord’s," (Point down to the ground with both hands, then point up.)
  • "and the fullness thereof;" (Open arms wide, like you are hugging the world.)
  • "the world," (Circle your hands out in front of you, making a globe shape.)
  • "and they that dwell therein." (Point to yourself, then point to others around the room.)

Praying with Kids

Dear Father, thank You for showing us in Your Word that You are the only true God. You have power over rivers, kings, and everything else in the whole world! Forgive us for the times our hearts are stubborn like Pharaoh’s. Help us to obey quickly and have soft hearts that listen to Your voice. Thank You, Jesus, for shedding Your blood so we can be clean from sin. We love You and want to trust You today. Amen.

Craft or Activity: "Nile River" Red Sensory Jar

Kids will make a sealed jar that changes from clear water to 'blood' with a shake, illustrating God's sudden, powerful miracle and judgment.

Materials Checklist

Instructions

  1. Fill the clear plastic bottle about three-quarters full with water.
  2. Add a few drops of red liquid watercolor paint or food coloring into the water. The water should be pale pink or just barely tinted. This represents the hidden power of God about to be revealed.
  3. In a separate small cup, pour about 1 tablespoon of clear dish soap or glycerin. Add a generous amount of red liquid watercolor paint or food coloring to this cup until it looks like a thick, dark-red gel.
  4. Carefully pour the thick red soap/gel mixture into the bottle of lightly-tinted water. Try to keep the heavy red liquid at the bottom of the bottle as much as possible.
  5. Secure the lid very tightly. Use a piece of duct tape or electrical tape to seal the lid to the bottle (teacher only, for safety).
  6. Tell the children: "This is the Nile before God's judgment." Then, have them shake the bottle vigorously. The red soap will mix with the water, instantly turning the entire bottle a dark, blood-red color, just as God changed the Nile.
  7. (Optional) Have children draw a tiny river fish on the outside of the bottle with a permanent marker and then draw an "X" over it to remember the dead fish in the Nile.

Effective Teaching Techniques

  • Drama Time: Before telling the story, have a volunteer (Pharaoh) sit on a chair (throne). Have two other volunteers (Moses and Aaron) approach the throne and stand tall. Have Aaron hold a simple stick or ruler (staff). This helps the kids visualize the scene at the Nile River.
  • Sensory Cue: When you read the part about the fish dying and the awful smell, have the children dramatically cover their noses and make a "Yuck!" face. Engage their senses to help them remember the severity of God's judgment.
  • Differentiation (Younger Kids): Focus the discussion questions mostly on God's power and Pharaoh's stubbornness. For the craft, the "blood jar" is key. Have them focus on the immediate change in color.
  • Differentiation (Older Kids): Use the curious question to discuss modern-day "idols" (things we rely on instead of God, like money, popularity, or technology). Challenge them to think about how Jesus’ blood cleanses us from the “filth” of our sin, which is much worse than the smelly, polluted Nile.