Exodus tells us:
For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods. And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said. (Exodus 7:12-13)
This verse contrasts phenomena that are very instructive: real miracles vs. fake miracles. The difference lies in the source of the miracle and the power of the miracle. The first serpent which is a transformed Aaron’s rod comes from a holy and just God, and the latter multiple serpents are a species of “magic” or “black arts” worked by devilish magicians. The former are based on righteousness and goals of love, hope, mercy, and deliverance. The latter are performed to protect a wicked status quo.
Yet, despite the amazing similarity between the two miracles, the serpent of Moses and Aaron swallowed up the other serpents, thereby representing the victory of good over evil, the victory of the true and living God over the false gods of Egyptian polytheism and animism. God’s miracle had power over the pseudo-miraculous work of the magicians, and ate their snakes.
Yet, in an interesting dynamic, after the competing miracles, Pharaoh did not accept Mosaic authority, nor did he even question the authority of his magicians. Instead, his heart was “hardened.” This means that the unbelief he had in the true God not only did not change or even begin to change, but that unbelief deepened. Pharaoh became even more unresponsive to the message from Almighty God.
http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2017/03/fake_news_is_based_on_fake_righteousness.html
For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods. And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said. (Exodus 7:12-13)
This verse contrasts phenomena that are very instructive: real miracles vs. fake miracles. The difference lies in the source of the miracle and the power of the miracle. The first serpent which is a transformed Aaron’s rod comes from a holy and just God, and the latter multiple serpents are a species of “magic” or “black arts” worked by devilish magicians. The former are based on righteousness and goals of love, hope, mercy, and deliverance. The latter are performed to protect a wicked status quo.
Yet, despite the amazing similarity between the two miracles, the serpent of Moses and Aaron swallowed up the other serpents, thereby representing the victory of good over evil, the victory of the true and living God over the false gods of Egyptian polytheism and animism. God’s miracle had power over the pseudo-miraculous work of the magicians, and ate their snakes.
Yet, in an interesting dynamic, after the competing miracles, Pharaoh did not accept Mosaic authority, nor did he even question the authority of his magicians. Instead, his heart was “hardened.” This means that the unbelief he had in the true God not only did not change or even begin to change, but that unbelief deepened. Pharaoh became even more unresponsive to the message from Almighty God.
http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2017/03/fake_news_is_based_on_fake_righteousness.html
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