The Priest: Aaron by Francine Rivers Read Free Book Online Page A

Nile floodwaters, to wash away the blood and fight against the invisible god of the Hebrews who challenged their authority. The priests made offerings and sacrifices, but still the land reeked of blood and rotting fish.
    Aaron had not expected to suffer along with the Egyptians. He had been thirsty before, but never like this. Why, God? Why must we suffer along with our oppressors?
    “The Egyptians shall know that the Lord is God,” Moses said.
    “But we know already!” Miriam paced in distress. “Why must we suffer more than we have already?”
    Only Moses was calm. “We must examine ourselves. Are there any among us who have embraced other gods? We must cast out their idols and make ready for the Lord our God.”
    Aaron felt the heat flood his face. Idols! There were idols everywhere. After four centuries of living in Egypt, they had made their way inside Hebrew households!
    The stench of blood turned Aaron’s stomach. His tongue clove to the roof of his mouth as he stood at the edge of the pit his sons had helped dig. Moisture slowly seeped into cups. The water tasted of silt and sand, leaving grit between his teeth. His only solace was knowing that Egyptian taskmasters and overseers were now suffering the same thirst he had every day he had worked in the mud pits and brick fields.
    The Israelites wailed in despair. “How long, Moses? How long will this plague last?”
    “Until the Lord lifts His hand.”
    On the seventh day, the Nile ran clean.
    But even Aaron’s neighbors talked about which god or gods might have made the waters drinkable again. If not Hapi, then maybe Sothis, god of the Nile floodwaters, or perhaps the gods of each village had joined together!
    “We are to return to Pharaoh.”
    “Signs and wonders,” Moses had said. How many signs? How many wonders? And would Hebrews have to suffer everything the Egyptians suffered? Where was the justice in that?
    A plague of frogs this time, dozens, then hundreds, then thousands.
    Pharaoh was unimpressed. So were his sorcerers, who were quick to point out, “It is a small matter to make frogs come from the river.”
    Aaron longed to call out, “Yes, but can you stop them?” As the barge was poled out from the shore, the magicians and sorcerers remained beside the Nile, casting spells and calling on Heket, the frog goddess, to stop the plague of frogs. The frogs kept coming until they were a hopping, writhing mass along the shores of the Nile. They hopped into courts and houses and fields. They hopped up from streams. They hopped out of pools where no frogs had been. They hopped into kneading bowls and ovens.
    Even in the land of Goshen.
    Aaron could not stretch out on his mat without sweeping frogs away! The croak and rustle were maddening. He prayed as fervently as any Egyptian for respite from this plague, but the frogs kept coming.
    Miriam flung another frog out the door. “Why did God see fit to send these frogs into our house?”
    “I wonder.” Aaron looked pointedly toward their neighbor, shrieking as she beat frogs to death with her statue of Heket.

    Flanked by soldiers, Aaron and Moses were escorted respectfully to the palace this time. Aaron heard Pharaoh before he saw him. Shouting curses, he kicked a frog away from the throne. Croaking and ribbeting echoed in the great chamber. Aaron smiled faintly. Clearly, Heket had failed to recall her frogs to the waters of the Nile.
    Pharaoh glared. “Plead with the Lord to take the frogs away from me and my people. I will let the people go, so they can offer sacrifices to the Lord.”
    Triumphant, Aaron looked at Moses for the words to speak, but Moses spoke this time, quietly and with great dignity. “You set the time!” Moses replied. “Tell me when you want me to pray for you, your officials, and your people. I will pray that you and your houses will be rid of the frogs.”
    “Do it tomorrow!” Pharaoh leaned back in his throne and then jerked forward, snatched a frog from behind him and