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Exodus 7:11: Then Pharaoh also called for the wise men and the sorcerers, and they also, the magicians of Egypt, did the same with their magic arts.

Exodus 7:22: But the magicians of Egypt did the same by their magic arts. So that Pharaoh’s heart continued to be hardened,[1] and he would not listen to them, as Jehovah had said.

[1] This here in 4:21 is simply prophetic, in that God is saying what will happen as the result of his actions. In other words, it is spoken of as though God did something because his actions are what brought about the outcome that he knew would come. Exodus mentions that a heart is hardened or unbending 19 times. (4:21; 7:3, 13–14, 22; 8:15, 19, 32; 9:7, 12, 34–35; 10:1, 20, 27; 11:10; 14:4, 8, 17) It should be noted, Jehovah is the subject of kbd [heart] only once (10:1); all the other times it is the heart of Pharaoh or Pharaoh himself. Since God gives the people advance warnings, it could never be his fault, if they choose to become stubborn. God does not harden hearts against people’s free will, but he does tell us what to expect, and if we stubbornly ignore that loving insight, he does harden our hearts indirectly by his actions, but it came about because of our stubbornness. In Hebrew, the occasion or permission of an event is often presented as if it were the cause of the event. God permitted or allowed Pharaoh to harden his own heart. God gave him Pharaoh the chance of exercising the wickedness that was already in him.

Exodus 8:7: And the magicians did the same by their magic arts and made frogs come up on the land of Egypt.

The Power of Egyptian Magicians: A Biblical Perspective

Divine Sovereignty Versus Demonic Imitation

In the confrontational narrative of Exodus, the power displayed by the Egyptian magicians in duplicating the miracles performed by Moses and Aaron serves as a profound demonstration of the conflict between the sovereign power of God and the limited, imitative powers of Satan and his agents. This phenomenon is not merely a contest of magic or sorcery but a theological exposition on the nature of true divine power versus deception.

The Nature of Egyptian Sorcery

The Egyptian magicians, mentioned in Exodus 7:11 and 8:7, operated under Pharaoh’s command, wielding what appeared to be supernatural powers. These passages highlight an ancient understanding of magical arts, where practitioners engaged in rituals and incantations believed to harness cosmic forces. However, the biblical account makes it clear that any power they exhibited was not divine but demonic in origin. This distinction is crucial for interpreting the magicians’ ability to mimic Aaron’s miracles as an act of spiritual deception rather than a display of genuine divine power.

Theological Implications of Miraculous Imitation

The ability of the magicians to replicate the miracles performed by Moses and Aaron introduces a critical theological point: the existence of spiritual forces opposed to God’s will and capable of performing signs and wonders. Scripture warns of such deceptive powers. For instance, 2 Thessalonians 2:9 speaks of the coming of the lawless one “according to the working of Satan, with all power and signs and lying wonders.” Similarly, Matthew 24:24 cautions against false prophets who “will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.” These passages underscore the biblical understanding that miraculous signs in themselves are not always indicative of God’s approval or presence but can also serve as tools of deception.

Limitations of Demonic Power

While the magicians could mimic some of Aaron’s miracles, their power was inherently limited. When confronted with the plague of gnats, they recognized their inability to replicate it and declared to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God” (Exodus 8:19). This admission marks a turning point in the narrative, highlighting the magicians’ recognition of a power superior to their own. The magicians’ failure to produce the gnats and their incapacity to remove the plagues inflicted by God demonstrate the ultimate impotence of demonic power in the face of divine sovereignty.

The Purpose of Divine Miracles

The miracles performed through Moses and Aaron were not mere displays of power but served multiple divine purposes. They were signs of God’s covenant faithfulness to Israel, instruments of judgment against the gods of Egypt, and demonstrations of God’s unparalleled sovereignty. Each plague was meticulously designed to confront and discredit the pantheon of Egyptian deities, affirming the Lord’s supremacy not only to the Israelites but also to the Egyptians and their magicians.

The narrative thus reveals that true miracles, those performed by God’s command, transcend mere spectacle. They carry profound theological significance, affirming God’s character, His promises, and His redemptive plan for His people. The magicians’ inability to continue matching the plagues and their eventual acknowledgment of God’s superior power underscores the truth that no force, whether human or demonic, can thwart the purposes of God.

In conclusion, the account of the Egyptian magicians in Exodus serves as a compelling illustration of the ongoing spiritual battle between the forces of God and the powers of darkness. It teaches us about the nature of true power, the reality of spiritual deception, and the ultimate victory of God’s sovereign will. Through these narratives, the Scripture assures us of God’s unmatched authority and His faithful commitment to deliverance and redemption.

About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is the CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored more than 220 books and is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).