Aaron’s Story, Part Two: “The First of the Plagues of our Lord.”

"Moses, burdened by his own self-doubt, repeatedly questioned his ability to convince King Rameses II to release the Israelites. But the Lord reassured him, reminding him that if our faith remained strong, he and I would find the strength to deliver the Word of God.

For a week straight, Moses and I preached to the Israelites. We spoke of the law, the love of God, and the expectations of the nation of Israel… At first they ignored us, but bit by bit, and say by day, more and more came around, finding comfort in a new found faith in our God.

And so, with faith in our hearts and determination in our souls, we once again approached the Pharaoh's grand palace, ready to confront the hardened ruler, with a renewed sense of determination.

"Mighty Pharaoh," I spoke with conviction, "The Lord, Yahweh, the God of the Israelites, has sent us to deliver upon you, a message. He again demands that you release His people, so they may worship Him in the wilderness."

Pharaoh's eyes narrowed, his face contorted with defiance. "Again, you come here, claiming authority from a god I do not recognize. Fine then, if your god is so great… Perform a miracle to prove your claim," he retorted, testing our resolve.

I looked to Moses, a look of uncertainty on my face; but in return, he only smiled and said, "Trust the Lord God with all your heart, all your mind, all your soul, and all your muchness."

Calling out from my very heart for the Lord's guidance, I stretched forth my hand. Holding the staff entrusted to my brother Moses by Yahweh at the burning bush, I felt it warm up in my hand, and I cast it upon the ground.

As soon as it touched the sand, the staff transformed into a serpent, a slithering embodiment of the divine authority we represented.

The Pharaoh, unimpressed, summoned his own sorcerers and magicians, who performed a similar feat through their secret dark arts. In turn, they too, cast their staves to the ground, and we watched as they turned into serpents as well.

Yet, in a demonstration of the Lord's supremacy, my serpent devoured their serpents, then returned to me, wrapping its way up my body and settling back into a staff in my hand; leaving no doubt of our Lord's Dominion.

But still, the Pharaoh's heart remained unyielding, and he refused to heed our words. Yahweh again spoke to Moses, instructing us to confront King Rameses once more. We found him by the banks of the Nile, a symbol of Egypt's prosperity and power.

"Mighty Pharaoh," Moses declared, "Thus says the Lord: Let my people go, so they may worship me in the Wilderness; lest by my servant's hand, under my authority, the waters of the Nile will be turned into blood. The river will stink of rot and ooze, the fish will die, and the Egyptians will be unable to drink from it, or bathe in its water."

And so, I raised the staff, and as I struck the surface of the Nile, its waters transformed into a thick, putrid, crimson stream. The once-vibrant river became a symbol of death, as its foul odor permeated the land. Yet, despite this undeniable display of the Lord's might, Pharaoh's heart hardened further, and he remained obstinate.

He called upon his wise men and magicians, who were also able to replicate this sign. Unimpressed, Rameses the Great once again scoffed at us and returned to his palace, ignoring the state of affairs, as his people were forced to dig along the banks of the Nile in search of fresh water for 7 days.

Undeterred, we continued to carry out the Lord's will, teaching the Israelites when we weren't dealing with the Egyptians. Next, under the guidance of Lord Yahweh, we unleashed a plague of frogs upon Egypt.

The incessant croaking echoed through the streets, a constant reminder of the Lord's power. In addition, there were many different varying reports of people experiencing delusion or insanity, from the constant droning noise.

Pharaoh, at first defiant and obstinate, commanded his magicians to do the same; an easy task for a seasoned practitioner of the dark arts. Using this as an excuse, and because the Nile had returned to normal after 7 days, he again refused to let the Israelites go.

However, try as they may, his men COULD NOT get rid of the frogs. Desperate for relief, The Pharaoh summoned us and pleaded to my brother, "Pray to your God, Moses, and ask Him to remove this affliction from my land. If you do, I will let your people go to the wilderness and offer sacrifices to the Lord."

With compassion in my heart, I replied, "Pharaoh, this choice lies with you and only you. Name the time when you wish to be relieved of this plague, and we will come to you and pray, and it shall be done."

Pharaoh, hoping for swift deliverance, chose to have us return the following morning. In accordance with the Lord's command, I prayed; and the frogs perished, leaving a land littered with their decaying bodies.

However, as relief from the incessant noise came, and even as the stench of rot filled the air, King Rameses' heart remained calloused, and he went back on his promise to Israel once again.

The plagues continued to unfold, each one more devastating than the last. Gnats infested the land, tormenting both man and beast, and for the first time, the Pharaoh's sorcerers could not replicate the miracles of Yahweh.

Next, swarms of flies engulfed Egypt, save for the small land of Goshen, where at the time, we Israelites resided; highlighting the Lord's distinction between His people and the Pharaoh's.

Throughout this arduous journey, Moses and I remained steadfast in our duty. In our free time we preached to the nation of Israel. In addition, we went back to the palace and confronted the Pharaoh time and again; warning him of the impending calamities if he did not relent, one plague at a time... Yet, with each plague, his heart somehow grew harder, his defiance rising to nearly ungodly levels.

Though the impact of the plagues was immense, their purpose extended beyond mere punishment. They served as a demonstration of the Lord's power, his dominion over all nations, and also served as an opportunity for the Pharaoh and his people to recognize the authority of the one true God.

In time, the final plague would descend upon Egypt; the culmination of a divine plan that would secure our freedom from our spiritual bonds. For now, however, we retreated to Gershon, where we spoke with Yahweh, in order to plan our next steps.