Exodus 8
ScriptureExodus 8:19…the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart was hard and he would not listen, just as the Lord had said.Observation - What does it say?The magicians spoken of here are not like many of those performing in Vegas today who use illusion and slight of hand to wow people. Pharaoh's magicians used 'secret arts,' and were summoning other spiritual powers to produce counterfeit miracles. Up until this point the magicians had attempted to recreate the same miracles of God by their ‘secret arts’ and been somewhat successful. I say somewhat because their staffs turned into snakes but were eaten by Aaron’s, and they were able to make frogs come up out of the Nile but they couldn’t make them leave! By the time the plague of gnats came, they couldn’t produce gnats and they finally realized, “This is the finger of God!” They recognized a greater power. And from this moment forward, they gave up trying to see if the demonic powers they were tapping into were as powerful as the God of Moses and Aaron.Understanding - What does it mean?Pharaoh is a picture of our enemy the Devil. He tries to keep God’s people in slavery, close to him, so they can’t go worship God. Despite witnessing all the beauty and greatness and wonders of God, he is incapable of repentance. His heart will always remain hard toward God and he will always seek to keep people in bondage. However…Those who serve Satan are capable of recognizing the power of God and giving him glory.After this exclamation of the magicians, we don't read of any more attempts to use their secret arts. They seem to have given up once they recognized the activity of God among them.
Acts 8:9-13 records the story of a man named Simon the Sorcerer. With his sorcery, he amazed all the people and had a great following. But Phillip, a follower of Jesus, came to town preaching about Jesus and many believed and were baptized, including Simon.
Acts 8:13 Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.Many of those who get involved in demonic stuff (psychic powers, summoning the dead, witchcraft, the occult, etc) are drawn in by the power in the spiritual realm and often the sense of control it gives them over people. But I have heard of many stories of these people giving their lives to Christ. When God moves in power through his followers, these people are astonished by the great signs and miracles, recognize a greater power at work, renounce their ways and turn to Jesus!Life ApplicationPray for those modern day ‘magicians’ to recognize a greater power and to turn to Jesus!
Father, you are the Almighty God! Thank you for choosing to move in power through us your servants. Fill us with increased faith that we may witness an increase in great signs and miracles. God, reveal yourself, your power and great love, to those serving Satan. We know you love all men and desire that none should perish but all come to repentance. Help us not to fear those who serve Satan, but to love them as you do and to pray for their salvation. Amen.
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