As G‑d instructed them, Moses and Aaron presented themselves before Pharaoh and his court, demanding that he release the Jews from slavery. Pharaoh requested proof that they were indeed sent by G‑d. As G‑d had instructed him to, Moses told Aaron to cast his staff to the ground, transforming it into a serpent. But Pharaoh was unimpressed by this marvel since his sorcerers were also able to do it. So G‑d told Moses to transform the Nile River’s water into blood, as the first of the ten plagues.
Warmth and Enthusiasm
הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי מַכֶּה בַּמַּטֶּה אֲשֶׁר בְּיָדִי עַל הַמַּיִם אֲשֶׁר בַּיְאֹר וְנֶהֶפְכוּ לְדָם:
(שמות ז:יז)
[G‑d instructed Moses to tell Pharaoh,] “I am now going to strike the water in the river with the staff in my hand, and it will turn into blood.”
Exodus 7:17
The first of the ten plagues was the transformation of cold river water into warm blood, signifying the transformation of cold indifference toward Divinity into warm enthusiasm for it. This had to be the first of the plagues, because indifference would have prevented the Egyptians from being affected by any further demonstrations of G‑d’s power and involvement in life.
A similar lesson applies to anyone striving to leave the slavery of their inner “Egypt” – the tyranny of their material drives and not-yet-refined bodily desires. Our first step in this process is to replace any cold indifference to all things Jewish and holy with warm, passionate enthusiasm for G‑d, His Torah, and His commandments.1
Good 🌻 Morning,
Most people are looking for love in the wrong places. Its abuse tend to make them cold, indifferent, and pessimistic. A young lady thought that she had found someone who truly loved her after the death of her mother. Angry, her father arranged a marriage through a fellow colleague, a minister in another state to free him from any embarrassment. Throughout the marriage, she was connected to a loving community who loved GD, and a gentle man [her husband]. In the beginning, it was hard for her to believe that they wanted the best for her, and was non judgemental. Her husband, his family, and the community loved her to wholeness, joy and happiness, and forgiveness. The young lady's father was a minister, had a congregation, never forgave her, or accepted his grandchild. However, his minister colleague and congregation did with warmth, compassion, love of GD, Torah/Bible, and Commandments. To leave Egypt, we need help and support from loving people. 🕊💜