When God appoints Moses and Aaron to lead the Jews' exodus from Egypt, the brothers are charged with a dual responsibility. On one hand, they must confront and negotiate with Pharaoh to secure the release of their people. On the other, Moses and Aaron must also convince the Jews to accept them as leaders and reliable bearers of God's word.
Through Moses and Aaron, God brings plagues on the Egyptians, and Pharaoh repeatedly refuses to allow the Israelites to leave.
A prophecy of destruction for Egypt.
The Nile River figures prominently in the story of the Israelites in Egypt. In Parashat Sh'mot, Pharaoh decrees that all Hebrew newborn boys be thrown into the river (Exodus 1:2), and Pharaoh's daughter finds baby Moses floating in a basket on the Nile (Exodus 2:6).
In this week's parashah, Vaera, Moses hits the Nile with his staff and it turns to blood (Exodus 7:20). He later hits it again to bring about the plague of frogs (Exodus 8:2).