What can we learn about God's judgment from the magicians' inability to stand? The Immediate Scene “ The magicians could not stand before Moses, for the boils had afflicted them and all the Egyptians.” (Exodus 9:11) What the Magicians’ Collapse Reveals about God’s Judgment • Divine judgment is unmistakable—no sleight of hand can mimic it. • God targets every layer of resistance; even Egypt’s spiritual elite fall. • Judgment reaches the body as well as the pride: their boils remove both health and dignity. • The inability to “stand” signals total defeat before God’s holiness, not merely physical weakness. Tracing the Pattern in Earlier Plagues • Exodus 8:18-19 – When the magicians fail with the gnats, they admit, “This is the finger of God.” The final collapse in 9:11 confirms their earlier confession. • Exodus 7:11-12 – Their rods become serpents, but Aaron’s rod swallows them; from the outset God shows superiority. False Powers Exposed and Silenced • 2 Timothy 3:8 points back: “Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses… they are men of depraved mind.” God’s judgment unmasks deception. • Malachi 3:5 lists sorcerers among those God will judge; Exodus 9 demonstrates it visibly. Personal, Physical, and Unstoppable • Pharaoh’s magicians cannot medicate or counteract the boils; God’s judgment touches skin deep. • Even proximity to God’s servant (standing before Moses) becomes impossible—holiness repels impurity. Who Can Stand? • Nahum 1:6 – “Who can withstand His indignation? Who can endure the heat of His anger?” • Psalm 1:5 – “Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.” • Revelation 6:17 – “For the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to withstand it?” Exodus 9:11 anticipates the final verdict: only those shielded by God’s mercy will remain upright. Takeaways for Life Today • Do not overestimate human or demonic power; God alone rules every realm. • When judgment exposes idols, humble repentance is the wisest response. • Physical well-being is not ultimate security; right standing with God is. • God’s warnings escalate—heed them early rather than face the point where resistance collapses. |
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