Exo 7:13 | KingComments | STEP | Before the plagues occur, the miracle that Pharaoh asks, gives him as it were a last chance to meet God’s demand. But he doesn’t listen. On the contrary, he wants to destroy the power of the miracle by letting his magicians imitate it. Imitating something that comes from God has always been a success story of satan. Many have already been misled and are still being misled every day. The turning of the staff into a serpent is an introduction to the plagues. This time it is the staff of Aaron which causes this sign for Pharaoh. First it was the staff of Moses, and he used it for the people ( ). Because the staff of Aaron is now being used, the sign has a slightly different meaning. The staff of Aaron will sprout ( ). This is why the power of life from the dead, the power of the resurrection, is attached to his staff. Aaron is a picture of the Lord Jesus as the risen Lord. Aaron comes to Pharaoh as the one in whose hand the staff is. He has, as it were, been given the staff that has returned in the hand of Moses and is now exercising his authority. We see with the Lord Jesus that after His resurrection He says that to Him has been given “all authority … in heaven and on earth” ( ). We do not yet see this in reality, but we do see it by faith ( ). When we look at the world, it seems as if the devil is in control. However, that is in appearance only. The authority is in the hands of the Lord Jesus and He gives it to whom He will ( ; ; ). He is above all authorities and eventually devours all authorities. This introduction to the plagues shows us at the same time the outcome of the plagues: God is victorious, He destroys all opposition. Paul mentions the names of the magicians of Pharaoh. He points to these magicians, because in the lives of certain nominal Christians the same corrupt traits of character are revealed as in these magicians: “Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these [men] also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith” ( ). These are people who discredit the Christian faith, of whom Paul says to Timothy: “Holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power” ( ). The plagues affect Egypt, which represents the world. By mentioning the magicians in 2 Timothy 3 we see that the plagues also relate to professing Christianity. This is because professing Christendom is linked with the world. In this way, professing Christianity shares in the judgment that God makes to come on the world. This is why the call comes to the true Christian: “Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness” ( ; cf. ). We live “in the last days” ( ). These are the days in which the magicians of Pharaoh with their magic try to explain away the power of God’s Word. At this stage there is no distinction between Israel and Egypt ( ), between the world and God’s people. That is why we also have to deal with it.

‏ Exodus 7:13

A Miracle for Pharaoh

Before the plagues occur, the miracle that Pharaoh asks, gives him as it were a last chance to meet God’s demand. But he doesn’t listen. On the contrary, he wants to destroy the power of the miracle by letting his magicians imitate it. Imitating something that comes from God has always been a success story of satan. Many have already been misled and are still being misled every day.

The turning of the staff into a serpent is an introduction to the plagues. This time it is the staff of Aaron which causes this sign for Pharaoh. First it was the staff of Moses, and he used it for the people (Exo 4:1-5). Because the staff of Aaron is now being used, the sign has a slightly different meaning. The staff of Aaron will sprout (Num 17:8). This is why the power of life from the dead, the power of the resurrection, is attached to his staff.

Aaron is a picture of the Lord Jesus as the risen Lord. Aaron comes to Pharaoh as the one in whose hand the staff is. He has, as it were, been given the staff that has returned in the hand of Moses and is now exercising his authority. We see with the Lord Jesus that after His resurrection He says that to Him has been given “all authority … in heaven and on earth” (Mt 28:18).

We do not yet see this in reality, but we do see it by faith (Heb 2:8-9). When we look at the world, it seems as if the devil is in control. However, that is in appearance only. The authority is in the hands of the Lord Jesus and He gives it to whom He will (Rom 13:1; Pro 21:1; Dan 2:21a). He is above all authorities and eventually devours all authorities. This introduction to the plagues shows us at the same time the outcome of the plagues: God is victorious, He destroys all opposition.

Paul mentions the names of the magicians of Pharaoh. He points to these magicians, because in the lives of certain nominal Christians the same corrupt traits of character are revealed as in these magicians: “Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these [men] also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith” (2Tim 3:8). These are people who discredit the Christian faith, of whom Paul says to Timothy: “Holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power” (2Tim 3:5).

The plagues affect Egypt, which represents the world. By mentioning the magicians in 2 Timothy 3 we see that the plagues also relate to professing Christianity. This is because professing Christendom is linked with the world. In this way, professing Christianity shares in the judgment that God makes to come on the world. This is why the call comes to the true Christian: “Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness” (2Tim 2:19b; cf. Rev 18:4).

We live “in the last days” (2Tim 3:1). These are the days in which the magicians of Pharaoh with their magic try to explain away the power of God’s Word. At this stage there is no distinction between Israel and Egypt (Exo 8:22), between the world and God’s people. That is why we also have to deal with it.