The Sign of the Sepent (Ex 7:8-13)

3/26/2008 10:47 AM
SPIRITUAL DIARY
My Worship Time  Focus:  First Sign:  Moses’ Serpent
Bible Reading & Meditation  Reference:  Exodus 7:8-13
 Message of the verses:  “8 ¶  Now the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 9  "When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, ‘Work a miracle,’ then you shall say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh, that it may become a serpent.’"  10  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.  11  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.  12  For each one threw down his staff and they turned into serpents. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs.  13  Yet Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not listen to them, as the LORD had said.”
 This is the first sign that God had Aaron perform before Pharaoh, and he was able to do the same thing through his magicians, who probable did these things in the power of Satan.  Snakes were part of the religion in Egypt in particular the cobra, which was a symbol of immortality.  The first three sign that were done in the presence of Pharaoh were duplicated by his magicians so Pharaoh was not as impressed as he should have been and he hardened his heart.
 “Satan is a counterfeiter who ‘plants’ imitation Christians in this world.  Paul called them ‘false brethren’ (2Cor. 11:26).  Satan has an imitation gospel (Gal. 1:6-9), a counterfeit righteousness (Rom. 10:1-2), and even counterfeit ministers who spread his lies (2 Cor 11:13015).  Satan will one day produce a false Christ who will deceive the whole world (2 Thes. 2:1-12).”
 “Satan opposes God’s work by imitating it, and in this way he mimeses the power and glory of God.”
 Spiritual meaning for my life today:   I have been taught in my study God’s Word that Satan is a powerful being and that he can do even false miracles to impress people.  He is a liar and is the father of lies and so it is best for me to know about him so that I do not fall into the traps that he sets for me as a believer.  By God’s grace and the Spirits power He will keep me from doing that.