In Exodus 7 to 9, we see the narrative of the plagues of Egypt and the direct confrontation between the power of God and the illusion of human power. Pharaoh, hardened in his heart, believed he could resist the Lord, and his magicians tried to replicate the signs performed by Moses.
For a time, it seemed they could imitate, but soon it became evident that only God had the true power. This story reminds us that, in our lives, the world may seem to offer strength, stability, or solutions similar to God’s, but nothing compares to the sovereignty of the Lord.
Unsustained imitation
“Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by their secret arts. Each one threw down his staff and it became a snake…”
Exodus 7:11
The magicians managed to reproduce some of Moses’ signs, like turning the staff into a snake or imitating the initial plagues. This shows that the world may offer alternatives that resemble God’s work: riches, power, pleasure, and even a false spirituality. However, this imitation cannot last long, for it lacks the true source. Human power, limited as it is, always tries to compete with God, but it is empty before His greatness.
How many times, in our daily lives, are we tempted to believe that immediate and superficial solutions are enough? The world tries to imitate peace by offering distractions, tries to imitate joy by offering fleeting pleasures. But none of this lasts. Only the Lord can give abundant life, something that can be sustained across generations.
Just like the magicians before Moses, everything the world offers is but a shadow, an imperfect copy that will soon be destroyed. God calls us not to be deceived by appearances, but to trust in the One who has the true power to sustain our lives.
Swallowing false power
“…But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs.”
Exodus 7:12
When Moses and Aaron threw down the staff before Pharaoh, it turned into a snake. The magicians did the same, but God’s snake swallowed the others. This scene is a clear picture: God’s victory is not only greater, it swallows up and nullifies any opposing power.
In our walk, we often face situations where evil seems stronger. Sin, temptation, or circumstances may appear greater than our faith. However, the same God who showed His power in Egypt is the One who fights for us today. He shares His glory with no one (Isaiah 42:8).
The victory of Aaron’s staff reminds us that God does not just win, He eliminates the illusion of the enemy’s power. What once seemed great disappears before the majesty of the Lord. The Christian must rest in this truth: nothing can rise against God’s power without being defeated.
The work that comes only from God
“When Aaron stretched out his hand with the staff and struck the dust of the ground, gnats came on people and animals. All the dust throughout the land of Egypt became gnats. But when the magicians tried to produce gnats by their secret arts, they could not… The magicians said to Pharaoh, ‘This is the finger of God.’…”
Exodus 8:17-19
At a certain point, even the magicians recognized their inability. Faced with the plagues, they had to admit: “This is the finger of God.” The enemy may try to deceive, but the moment will always come when the truth is revealed: only the Lord has the real power to act.
This acknowledgment is an invitation to our faith. Instead of hardening our hearts like Pharaoh, we are called to surrender to the sovereignty of God. To believe that, even when we do not understand the process, He remains in control and His power is incomparable.
Many times, it is at the limit of our strength that we will see God’s work clearly. When the world can no longer imitate, when human resources fail, it becomes evident that only God can act, that His snake will swallow all others. It is in this moment that His glory is revealed, and our trust grows, knowing that His power is absolute.
