E Mussar - Sabedoria para o Crescimento Pessoal: SF - # The Blood of the Nile: A Warning Born of Mercy

quinta-feira, 15 de janeiro de 2026

SF - # The Blood of the Nile: A Warning Born of Mercy

In honor of Mr. and Mrs. Naftali Tilson:

With heartfelt gratitude, we wish you and your family bracha, hatzlacha, and abundant nachas!

"By this you shall know that I am HaShem: Behold, I will strike the water that is in the Nile... and it shall be turned to blood." (Shemos 7:17)

When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to liberate the Jewish people, HaShem responded with the Ten Plagues, beginning with the transformation of the Nile into blood. On the surface, this was a rebuke of Egyptian theology. By striking the Nile, HaShem dismantled their primary deity, demonstrating that the very source of their life and economy was merely a tool in the hand of the All-

Powerful, Eternal Creator.

However, the Ohr HaChaim reveals a deeper, more personal message within this miracle. The plague was actually an expression of HaShem’s profound mercy toward Pharaoh. By turning the water to blood rather than Pharaoh’s own veins to water, HaShem was whispering a warning: "If I can transform the object of your worship into blood, I surely have the power to do the same to you. You are an idolater who leads an entire nation astray, yet I spare your life." HaShem struck the "god" to save the man, providing Pharaoh with a window of opportunity to repent before the strikes became more personal.

The Moral: The Patience of the Infinite

Even though HaShem possesses unlimited mastery over His creations, He is never "quick to strike." He is Erech Apayim (Slow to Anger). He first acts with compassion and subtle hints, hoping that the wayward will recognize the "message in the bottle" and choose to return to Him out of love and understanding rather than through devastating force.

Today's Takeaway

Visualize: Envision the vast Nile River and every canal in Egypt shimmering with deep, dark blood. Hear the shock of the Egyptians as they scramble for water. Among the chaos, see the few who stop to think: "What is the Creator telling me?"
Reflect: Look at the challenges or "disruptions" in your own life. Instead of seeing them as mere obstacles, recognize them as HaShem’s compassionate communication. He often "shakes" our external world to wake up our internal soul.
Act: Identify one "message" HaShem might be sending you through a current challenge. Make the necessary correction today, turning that moment of darkness into a source of spiritual light.

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