“Seas, rivers and springs of blood”

2020 “By His Blood” Lent devotion #44

The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing died that was in the sea. The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood. (Revelation 16:3-4)

The idea of all the water being turned into blood is reminiscent of the first plague God sent on Egypt to persuade Pharaoh to let the nation of Israel go free. Pharaoh refused. It would take nine more plagues before he would finally relent and release them. One after another, the Egyptian gods of sun, amphibians, darkness, livestock and rivers would submit to the authority of the one true God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 

The hardest to convert? People. Pharaoh was not about to roll over for a foreign people’s god. In fact, God’s own people of Israel weren’t one hundred percent sure he was the real deal. God sent many of these plagues for the specific reason of showing Israel who he was. Yet even after seeing the plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, manna on the ground and water from a rock, they still wondered if their God was actually capable of caring for them! 

What does it take to move us to submit to God’s authority? How many natural disasters must occur before we turn to him for help? How much must we suffer before we finally repent and turn to him for mercy? 
What do you think is going on when pollution kills sea life? What do you think is happening when toxins show up in our ground water? How many die around the world in places where there is no source of clean water? 
Is somebody trying to tell us something? 

Our God is always trying to tell us something. His word is living and active, proclaiming an eternal gospel. Though everything in this world will pass away, his word will endure forever. 

It’s time to listen!

Lord, I’m listening. Speak to me through your powerful word, and lead me in paths of righteousness. Amen.