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Speaker 1: Previously on the chosen people.
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Speaker 2: I do not know this God of yours, who is the lord that I should obey. I am the image of Rah, the Lord of the Nile. The sun rises and sets according to my greatness. I will not let your people go. Moses, I do not acknowledge this God of yours.
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Speaker 3: Treadlightly, Rameses, the God of the Hebrews, will not relent.
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Speaker 2: Is that a threat, Moses?
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Speaker 3: It is not a threat. It is a promise.
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Speaker 4: Pharaoh has refused to respond to me, but he will in time. For now, I shall make you like a god to Pharaoh, an adversary. He can see and hear. Your brother Aaron shall be your prophet. He shall speak and perform wonders on your behalf. He shall tell Pharaoh to let my people go.
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Speaker 5: These mere tricks will not bend my will of Moses. I will not let your people go. Their burdens will continue to increase until their spines shatter and their hope breaks.
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Speaker 6: They will know that I am Pharaoh.
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Speaker 7: Undisputed and unchangeable.
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Speaker 2: My will is final, My bessult.
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Speaker 5: Is as steady as the stones that built my empire.
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Speaker 2: I am my God.
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Speaker 3: I will not be molved. Do not question my power, You only think you have.
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Speaker 8: What will happen now, Moses, What will the Lord do next?
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Speaker 3: Pharaoh's heart is as hard as the stones that build his Nimnire is chosen to defy the Now. The river will run red, Egypt will tremble with the hand of him.
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Speaker 9: The Nile flowed Crimson, and Egypt's illusion of control shattered with the very first plague. Shallo, my friends from here in the Holy Land. Welcome to the Chosen People. I'm ya l Ekstein with the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. Each day we'll hear a dramatic story inspired by the Bible, stories filled with timeless lessons of faith, love, and the meaning of life. Through israel story, we find this truth that we are all chosen for something great. If you haven't yet followed the podcast, be sure to do so now. That way you never have to miss an episode, and that small step helps us tremendously as we try to be discovered by more people so that we can inspire them. If you're interested in finding out more about the prophetic, life saving work of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, you can visit our website at IFCJ. Dot Org Today's stories inspired by Exodus seven fourteen to twenty five. It unfolds in the shadow of an empire, a people once free, now grown under the weight of chains, their backs broken by the taskmasters of Egypt. Pharaoh, the self proclaimed god King, had hardened his heart, tightened his grip on the Israelites. But here, in the tense time between tyranny and liberation, God speaks and pharaoh scoffs. But the battle is just beginning. The waters of the Nile, once the lifeblood of Egypt will turn red with blood. Will Pharaoh bow or will this stubborn pride lead his nation to a deeper judgment.
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Speaker 1: The Nile flowed like a vein of life through the sun drenched heart of Egypt, its waters glimmering beneath the weight of Ra's gaze. The reeds that fringed its banks whispered in the hot wind. On this morning, the court of Pharaoh had assembled upon the river's edge. Their eyes were fixed upon their king. The entire assembly was transfixed by him. Pharaoh, Lord of the Two Lands, son of Ra, stood tall and splendid at the head of the gathering, his skin burnished by the sun gleamed with sacred oils. His eyes coalined and severe, seemed to drink in the world around him, as if he could command the very earth and sky to bow before behind him, Nebermunn and his priests, arrayed in white linen and leopard skins, chanted hymns in the ancient tongue. Their voices rose and fell like the very waters of the Nile, Incense cold in the air, thick with the sense of frankincense, and there it smoke, twisting like serpents, before dissipating into the arid sky. The statues of the gods glared with the cold painted eyes of Eternity, Osiris with his green skin and white crown, Hathor with her horns and sun disk, and Horus, the falcon headed god, who watched with sharp eyes. As the ceremony unfolded, Pharaoh stepped forward, his sandals pressing into the wet earth, and he raised his arms to the heavens. Sweat beaded upon his brow, but he did not waver.
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Speaker 6: Great and mighty Gods, your son, no one who speaks with your tongues, who walks with your feet upon this sacred ground.
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Speaker 1: The priests behind him echoed his words, their voices rising in a powerful wave that swept through the gathered people. The onlookers knelt in reverence, for to see Pharaoh perform the rites was to witness the divine made flesh. Pharaoh was not just a king. He was the living God on earth, the intermediary between the mortal world and the celestial realms. He turned his gaze to the waters of the Nile, the great river upon which all life in Egypt depended. In its currents lay the secrets of death and rebirth, the pulse of a civilization that had thrived for a thousand years.
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Speaker 6: Happy, Great God of the Nile, bringer of life and the bounty.
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Speaker 7: And before you, as your chosen one, as the sun who guards your waters, then honors your floe. Hear me now, and let your blessings fall upon my land. Let your waters rise, Let the flood come in its season, so that Egypt may be nourished, and our granaries may burst with grain and our fields swell with green.
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Speaker 1: Nebermund moved forward, bearing a large golden chalice filled with the blood of a sacrificial bull, an offering to Happy The blood was fresh, still warm, and its scent was coppery and thick in the heat. They handed the chalice to Pharaoh, who raised it high for all to see. His lips moved in silent prayer, his eyes closed in concentration. Then, with a swift motion, he poured the blood into the Nile heart. The crimson liquid splash against the dark water, mingling with the river's flow, as if to bind the gods to his will. A hush fell over the assembly, the air taut with anticipation. The people held their breath, waiting for a sign, a blessing, or perhaps a curse. The Niles waters seemed to ripple more violently for a moment, as if something ancient and unseen stirred beneath its surface. Rameses turned to the crowd, gesturing to the water as if its current was a result of his power. With arrogance dripping from his paws, he regarded.
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Speaker 10: Them, see my people happy excepts my offering. The gods favor me. The river will rise, the fields will prosper, and the people of Egypt will know abundance. Ay, the image Chavas have wield the aspanity of a nation into existence.
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Speaker 1: As the priests sang their praises, the winds shifted, and a sudden chill seemed to pass over the assembly. Then the crowd stirred. Pharaohs sent something, a tremor in the air, a whisper of something that did not belong. His brow furrowed and his smile faded. He turned back to the nile, watching as the waters now swirled with a strange, murky eddy, as if the river itself resisted his command. It was then that the strangers came, a pair of shadowed figures descending the slope toward the other side of the river. Moses, the man who had once been a member of his household, now a shepherd turned desert prophet, and beside him Arrow the brash slay, with eyes gleaming like the edge of a newly forged blade, they walked with a purpose that set Pharaoh's teeth on edge, their steps unhurried, yet filled with an unmistakable sense of destiny. The high priest Nebermund stepped forward.
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Speaker 11: Moses, have you come again to disturb the peace? You were raised in Pharaoh's house? You, of all people should know what it means to cross a king of Egypt. Speak now, and speak wisely.
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Speaker 1: Moses stood at the edge of the river, his face shadowed beneath the folds of his robe. Aaron stood beside him, voice able to boom with authority. The wind carried his commands to Pharaoh and his priests.
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Speaker 8: Pharaoh, thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness. For too long you have kept them in bondage, and too long have you defied the will of the almighty.
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Speaker 1: Neberman's lips curled into a smile, but it was a smile without warmth.
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Speaker 3: Look where you are, slave.
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Speaker 11: You are on the banks of the Nile, where the blood of the gods beats from their hearts to the veins of this great nation. You are a fool to think your God holds any power here. He is but a single voice among many.
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Speaker 4: His voice speaks to you.
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Speaker 8: Now you would be wise to hear him, Thus declares the voice of our God. By this you shall know that I am the Lord. Behold, I will strike the waters of the Nile with the staff in my hand, and they shall be turned to blood.
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Speaker 1: Neberman turned and whispered into Pharaoh's ear.
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Speaker 11: These slaves, dear, challenge you on the banks of the Great Nile.
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Speaker 1: Aaron stepped forward, his expression as hard and unyielding as the ancient stones of the temples. In his hand he held a long, weathered staff that seemed to thrum with a power older than the earth itself. Without a word, he stretched out his hand over the waters of the Nile, and the staff descended with a force as that set the us across the surface. For a heartbeat, there was nothing. Then a tremor ran through the waters, as if the river itself had drawn a deep, shuddering breath. The onlookers gasped as the clear blue green currents of the Nile began to darken. The color shifted deepened, turning from blue to a murky red. The transformation was slow, at first, almost subtle, but then it spread like fire through dry reeds. The river was becoming thick and plotted, a red so dark it was nearly black, like the blood of a freshly slain bull left too long in the sun. The priests and magicians muttered to each other, eyes widening with disbelief. The stench of iron and decay filled the air, and the fish in the river began to thrash wildly, as if possessed by some unseen madness. Some left clear of the water, desperate to escape, only to flop onto the muddy banks, their gills opening and closing in a pitiful struggle, until they lay still, bloated and stinking beneath the sun.
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Speaker 11: You heap thoughts, The Nile is the life source of our children, Oh dear you.
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Speaker 8: Snile ran red with the blood of Hebrew children. Long ago the Lord heard their cris He is not forgotten what Pharaoh did. Let this be a sign to you, and what is to come if you do not relent.
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Speaker 1: Pharaoh's face twisted in fury when he saw the Nile, but he held his ground. He would not show weakness, not before these men, and certainly not before these peasants who watched with wide fearful eyes.
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Speaker 12: Magicians share these Hebrews what it means to challenge the gods of Egypt.
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Speaker 1: Nebermann and the magicians stepped forward, their faces set with a cold determination. They raised their staffs and chanted words of power, invoking the ancient spirits of the river and the hidden gods of the deep. And indeed, by their tricks and arts, they too turned small pots of water to blood, smirking as they did so, their eyes darting to Pharaoh for approofal, but the river the Great Nine itself remained a rolling torrent of.
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Speaker 3: Dark, foul blood.
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Speaker 1: The magician's eyes flickered with uncertainty, and their hands trembled upon their staffs, and the people began to murmur and fear to the root where arrogance had once rained. Moses stepped closer and raised his voice.
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Speaker 12: Don't you see, Rancys, the gods of Egypt have no power before the Lord. Look?
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Speaker 3: Look are they leave? This is but the first of many signs. Let my people go, that they may serve him your land greatly.
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Speaker 12: You may have your tricks, Moses.
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Speaker 2: But I will not be moved by them. Nancys, are you blind?
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Speaker 3: Look look at what's happened.
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Speaker 12: Silence, traitor.
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Speaker 2: I shall add to the river with your blood.
00:16:03
Speaker 1: Moses watched Pharaoh's gaze turn from anger to hatred. He wondered why Rameses hadn't yet commanded his men to seize him, But then he realized that Pharaoh must have feared what the Lord would do if he harmed Moses. Pharaoh played the part of the god, but he was beginning to realize who he was dealing.
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Speaker 2: With wild.
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Speaker 3: Rub lands.
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Speaker 12: Your people will feel my heel dig further into their throats. What my people lose, and these sources will be taken from Goshian.
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Speaker 1: Pharaoh spun on his heel, his red and white crown catching the sun as he stormed away from the river, his priests and courtiers trailing behind him like a shadow. The air was thick with tension, the stench of blood, and the whispers of something far older than Egypt. The people lingered, afraid to leave, afraid to stay, watching as the Nile ran red with death. Moses and Aaron remained by the riverbank, watching Pharaoh depart. They knew what was coming, and they knew this was only the beginning. The Lord had spoken, and his words were as inexorable as the rising of the sun. Judgment had come to Egypt, and its king would soon learn that no crown could shield him from the wrath of the almighty.
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Speaker 9: The Nile. It wasn't just water flowing through Egypt. It was the heart of the nation, the source of life itself. Without it, Egypt's fields would dry up and its cities would crumble. It was no mere river. It was a god in Pharaoh's empire. The Egyptians believed the Nile's waters were divine, a gift from their gods to sustain their empire, their crops, their wealth. Pharaoh himself was seen as the master of this river, ruling over it as a living embodiment of Egypt's divinity. And what does God do? He turns that river to blood. The message is sharp, decisive, God, the creator of all life, strikes at the very symbol of Egypt's supposed strength. The Nile, which had nurtured to civilization, is now a river of death. Its waters, once worshiped as divine, are now undrinkable, poisoned, cursed. But this is no random act of destruction. In addition to forcing Pharaoh to free the enslaved Chosen people, the plagues were really an educational process for both Pharaoh and the ancient Egyptians. Jewish trade teaches that one of the main purposes of the plagues was to demonstrate to Pharaoh that the Nile was not a god but just a river, and that the God of the universe, who is in charge of everything, could turn its life giving waters to blood.
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Speaker 3: But there's more.
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Speaker 9: Jewish tradition also suggests that after the previous signs Moses had shown him. Pharaoh still believed that Moses was just a really good magician. In fact, our tradition finds Pharaoh saying sarcastically to Moses, what are you bringing straw to Ephraim? In Bible times, Ephrian was a place known for its straw, so Pharaoh was an effect scoffing, oh, you're bringing magic to Egypt, the world's expert in magic. So it was necessary for God to smite the Egyptian's Nile River God and show them that only God is the ruler of the universe, the same God who will take the chosen people out of slavery in Egypt. As we've seen so far in the Bible, blood isn't just a sign of death, it's the essence of life itself. In Genesis, when Cain killed Abel, God told him, quote, your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground. End quote. Blood speaks, it calls for justice, It demands to be heard. So when the Nile turned to blood, a God spoke saying, quote, I am the God of life, the God of creation, and you, Pharaoh, are nothing but a man. The Nile. Once Egypt's lifeline was now a witness to the God of Israel, a testimony to his justice, his power, his sovereignty over all of creation. And the message was clear, God alone is the soul of life. This story shows just how fragile the illusion of power really is. Pharaoh thought that he was untouchable and that the gods of Egypt would protect him. But the God of Israel isn't just a name. He's not one god among many. He's the creator of heaven and earth. Isn't that both terrifying and humbling. No matter how strong or in control we think we are, all it takes is one word from the God of our ancestors, and everything can change in an instant. What rivers in life? Do we trust in too much? The story isn't just about Pharaoh, It's about all of us. The plagues were an invitation to Pharaoh, and they are an invitation to us. The choice is always there, harden your heart or open your heart to God. When we see things happening, we have to wake up and remember that God's judgment isn't an end, Rather, it's a beginning.
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Speaker 1: You can listen to the Chosen People with Isle Eckstein ad free by downloading and subscribing to the Prey dot Com app today. This Prey dog comproduction is only made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Gattina, Max Bard, Zach Shellabager and Ben Gammon are the executive producers of The Chosen People with Yile Eckstein. Edited by Alberto Avilla, narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are voiced by Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvato, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwold, Sylvia Zaradoc and the opening prayer is voiced by John Moore. Music by Andrew Morgan Smith, written by Bree Rosalie and Aaron Salvato. Special thanks to Bishop Paul Lanier, Robin van Ettin, kayleb Burrows, Jocelyn Fuller, and the team at International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. You can hear more Prey dot Com productions on the Prey dot Com app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. If you enjoyed The Chosen People with Yile Eckstein, please rate and leave a review,