What is the meaning of Exodus 7:11? But Pharaoh • Pharaoh’s reaction is immediate resistance. He will not bow to the God who confronts him (Exodus 5:2). • His heart is already hardened (Exodus 7:13), revealing the ongoing clash between the LORD and the self-deified ruler of Egypt (Romans 9:17). • Every subsequent move he makes—including summoning occult specialists—is aimed at preserving his power over Israel. called the wise men and sorcerers • These “wise men” mirror the court advisers who failed to interpret dreams for an earlier Pharaoh (Genesis 41:8). • Sorcerers appear throughout Scripture as enemies of God’s revelation—think of the Chaldeans in Daniel 2:2 or Balaam in Numbers 22–24. • By calling them, Pharaoh attempts to match miracle with miracle, trusting human (and demonic) resources rather than submitting to divine authority. and magicians of Egypt • Egyptian magicians were known for ritual texts and practices intended to control spiritual forces—an ancient blend of science and superstition (see Exodus 8:18–19 when their limits become clear). • Their presence highlights the battle line: Yahweh versus the gods of Egypt (Exodus 12:12; Numbers 33:4). • The New Testament later names two of these magicians—Jannes and Jambres—as examples of men who “resist the truth” (2 Timothy 3:8). and they also did the same things • The staff-to-serpent sign (Exodus 7:10) is counterfeited, showing that supernatural manifestations are not automatically divine (Matthew 24:24). • God allows a temporary imitation to expose both Pharaoh’s stubbornness and the impotence of evil when faced with true power (Exodus 7:12; 8:18). • Scripture warns that last-days deception will feature “counterfeit miracles, signs, and wonders” (2 Thessalonians 2:9–10). by their magic arts • The term points to occult power, condemned elsewhere in God’s Law (Leviticus 19:26, 31). • Similar sorcery opposes the gospel in Acts 8:9–11 (Simon) and Acts 13:6–12 (Elymas), yet each time God’s authority prevails. • Revelation 13:13–14 portrays a future global replay of such tricks, underscoring the timeless battle between truth and deception. • While the magicians mimic the sign, they cannot reverse judgment, protect Egypt, or stop the plagues—only God can. summary Exodus 7:11 shows Pharaoh marshaling every earthly and occult resource to challenge the LORD. His magicians can copy the surface miracle, but imitation is not liberation. The episode underscores God’s unrivaled supremacy, the reality of demonic counterfeits, and the futility of resisting divine authority. |
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