There is more going on than meets the eye. God called and empowered Moses and Aaron to display signs and wonders to convince Pharaoh to let the Israelites go from captivity.
"So Moses and Aaron came to Pharaoh, and thus they did just as the LORD had commanded; and Aaron threw his staff down before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent. Then Pharaoh also called for the wise men and {the} sorcerers, and they also, the magicians of Egypt, did the same with their secret arts. For each one threw down his staff and they turned into serpents. But Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs." (Exodus 7:10-12)
Did you catch that? "the magicians of Egypt, did the same with their secret arts". Not only that, Moses turned the Nile to blood and later produced a plague of frogs and "the magicians of Egypt, did the same with their secret arts" (Exodus 7:17,22;8:7). It was later, after Moses turned dust into gnats and "The magicians tried with their secret arts to bring forth gnats, but they could not" *(Exodus 8:18) that they conceded, "This is the finger of God" (Exodus 8:19).
Ultimately the power of God through Moses proved to be superior, but the "dark side" power of the Egyptian magicians was a force to be reckoned with.
There is danger in being overly curious and even fascinated by the "secret arts" that belong to the domain of the enemy, but there is wisdom in understanding how formidable a foe our enemy really is. This is the reality which the Apostle Paul addressed when he stated,
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12)
Only a fool would enter a battle unprepared. Soldiers on the battlefront wear helmets, flack jackets, and rugged boots. There is still risk but the risk is minimized through protective equipment and mental "battle readiness".
No Christian dares face the daily battle unprepared. Ephesians 6 specifies certain pieces of armor to be worn. Each piece must be carefully and prayerfully put on daily if danger and disaster is to be averted.
The ultimate victory of the Kingdom of God is assured, but there are daily battles to be fought which can won or lost. "Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm" (Ephesians 6:13)
Steve
"So Moses and Aaron came to Pharaoh, and thus they did just as the LORD had commanded; and Aaron threw his staff down before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent. Then Pharaoh also called for the wise men and {the} sorcerers, and they also, the magicians of Egypt, did the same with their secret arts. For each one threw down his staff and they turned into serpents. But Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs." (Exodus 7:10-12)
Did you catch that? "the magicians of Egypt, did the same with their secret arts". Not only that, Moses turned the Nile to blood and later produced a plague of frogs and "the magicians of Egypt, did the same with their secret arts" (Exodus 7:17,22;8:7). It was later, after Moses turned dust into gnats and "The magicians tried with their secret arts to bring forth gnats, but they could not" *(Exodus 8:18) that they conceded, "This is the finger of God" (Exodus 8:19).
Ultimately the power of God through Moses proved to be superior, but the "dark side" power of the Egyptian magicians was a force to be reckoned with.
There is danger in being overly curious and even fascinated by the "secret arts" that belong to the domain of the enemy, but there is wisdom in understanding how formidable a foe our enemy really is. This is the reality which the Apostle Paul addressed when he stated,
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12)
Only a fool would enter a battle unprepared. Soldiers on the battlefront wear helmets, flack jackets, and rugged boots. There is still risk but the risk is minimized through protective equipment and mental "battle readiness".
No Christian dares face the daily battle unprepared. Ephesians 6 specifies certain pieces of armor to be worn. Each piece must be carefully and prayerfully put on daily if danger and disaster is to be averted.
The ultimate victory of the Kingdom of God is assured, but there are daily battles to be fought which can won or lost. "Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm" (Ephesians 6:13)
Steve
posted by steve @ 10:24 AM
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