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Ten Plagues of Egypt
163
Pharaoh Could Yet Save Egypt
Moses was informed that the monarch would not give in until
God would bring judgments on Egypt and bring out Israel by the
dramatic display of His power. Before each plague came, Moses
was to describe what type of plague it would be and what its con-
sequences would be so that the king might save himself from it if
he chose. Every punishment that was rejected would be followed
by one more severe, until his proud heart would be humbled and he
would acknowledge the Maker of heaven and earth as the true and
living God. The Lord would punish the people of Egypt for their
idolatry and silence their boasting so that other nations might trem-
ble at His mighty acts and His people be led to turn from idolatry
and offer Him pure worship.
Again Moses and Aaron entered the lordly halls of the king of
Egypt. There stood the two representatives of the enslaved race,
surrounded by tall columns, glittering adornments, amid the rich
paintings and sculptured images of heathen gods. The king de-
manded a miracle as evidence of their divine commission. Aaron
now took the rod and threw it down before Pharaoh, and it became a
serpent. The monarch then sent for his “wise men and the sorcerers,”
and “every man threw down his rod, and they became serpents. But
Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.” The king, more determined
than before, declared that his magicians were equal in power with
Moses and Aaron. He accused the servants of the Lord as being
impostors, yet was kept back by divine power from hurting them.
[127]
Satan’s Counterfeits
The magicians did not really cause their rods to become serpents,
but by magic, helped by the great deceiver, they were able to produce
this appearance. The prince of evil possesses all the wisdom and
might of a fallen angel, but he has no power to create or to give
life—this is God’s right alone. Satan produced a counterfeit.
To human sight the rods had changed to serpents. This is what
Pharaoh and his court believed them to be. Though the Lord caused
the real serpent to swallow up the false ones, Pharaoh did not regard