Where's the Mirrors?

Magicians are highly skilled in the art of illusion. From Jannes and Jambres, Pharaoh’s sorcerers, to Harry Houdini, people have been simply captivated by anything out of the ordinary. It shouldn’t surprise us that Pharaoh’s magicians could perform a trick or two. After all, who were “they” serving? When God told Moses and Aaron to see Pharaoh and tell him to release the Israelites in captivity they went.

God told them that Pharaoh will ask for a miracle. God told Moses and Aaron exactly what to do. When Pharaoh sought a miracle, Aaron threw down his staff and it became a snake! Pharaoh brought in his magicians and they did the same thing by their secret arts. Each one threw down a staff and their staffs also turned into snakes! Then something only a “Higher Power” could accomplish without any smoke and mirrors. All who saw it were amazed.

“Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs.” Exodus 7:12

God had ten plagues lined up for Pharaoh and the people of Egypt. After several plagues Pharaoh’s magicians gave up and told the mighty Pharaoh that these plagues were actions of “the finger of God”! He refused to listen and hardened his heart even more.

Finally after the tenth and last plague, the death of Egypt’s firstborn, Pharaoh capitulated and told the Israelites they could leave Egypt. You may wonder how Pharaoh could be so foolish as to see God’s miraculous power and still not listen to Moses. Pharaoh had his mind made up long before the plagues began. He couldn’t believe that someone was greater than he. This stubborn unbelief led to a heart so hard that even a major catastrophe couldn’t soften him. Finally, it took the greatest of all calamities, the loss of his son, to force him to recognize God’s authority. But even then he just wanted God to leave, not to rule his country. And he still didn’t really believe. His heart wasn’t thoroughly changed, after a few days he sent his army to bring the Israelites back. Apparently, temporary suffering of the heart wasn’t enough to change the heart of Pharaoh. Those used to dealing with smoke and mirrors rarely recognize the hand of God at work.

“…behold, now [is] the accepted time; behold, now [is] the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2

Bottom line

We must not wait for great calamities to drive us to God, but open our hearts and minds to his directions now. Right now!