At Least the Diet Pepsi was Unharmed
Exodus 7: 14-24


So God sends Moses and Aaron to meet Pharoah at the banks of the river demanding that he release the Israelites so they can worship in the desert. He takes the snake/staff with him- this staff seems to be symbolic and plays a large role in the Moses story. Perhaps it serves as a reminder of the mighty works that have already been done. Perhaps it simply symbolizes power or leadership- but for whatever reason, Moses has it and is ready for action.

He strikes the water with the staff and the water changed to blood- the fish die, the river stinks- and people are getting thirsty. Aaron is told to take his staff and stretch his hand over the waters of Egypt- and all the water gets nasty...ponds, streams, canals, reservoirs- even water in buckets and jars is contaminated.

But the magicians can mimick him. This puzzles me for a couple of reasons. First, just like last time, where does the power come from, and second- what water are they turning to blood? If Moses and Aaron have already turned Egypt into a vampire's fantasy, where is this water that the magicians are turning into blood?

Regardless of where the water comes from, their ability to "match" the dynamic dupowith their secret arts is enough to make Pharoah unimpressed. The Egyptians were forced to dig along the Nile for drinking water. I'm guessing this didn't create a boon for tourism.

Finally an odd observation: Moses doesn't seem to speak for God...instead he seems to speak AS God. God tells him to tell Pharoah, "by this you will know that I am the LORD: With the staff that is in my hand I will strike the water of the Nile..." There seems to be no difference between God and Moses so far as this Phaoroaic conversation is concerned.

Maybe it's unimportant, or shows just how little we know about the nature of God or how he manifests his spirit in us- or even about the natrure of His inspiration- but the bond with Moses is to a level that he goes beyond spokesman or representative- God speaks through him- if not literally than all but.

That's pretty cool- to be that close, that in tune, that connected to God to literally be His channel.

I'm not sure how that happens today- but I do know that the closer I get to Him, the more He'll shine through me.

Snakes on the Plain

Exodus 7:8-13

So God instructs Moses and Aaron to go before Pharoah and if you're challenged for a miracle, throw down your staffs- and when you do, they'll turn into snakes. This seems like a pretty good trick- except that when Pharaoh calls on his own magicians, they can do the same thing.

This is a little puzzling to me- where does the magician's power come from? And does that same power exist today? Does it suggest that fortune tellers, diviners, sooth sayers, and other dabblers in the dark arts have power from another source?

Granted, much charlatanry exists and occurs on a regular basis. People learn how to read other people and use non verbal feedback to suggest supernatural things. Slight of hand and suggestion do much to decieve people into believing that something powerful is at work. But are there really people out there who can "turn the staff into a snake" and get their power from some dark and sinister outlet?

I'm not a boycot Harry Potter, refuse the fortune cookie, picket the comic book store kind of guy. But I do think that there is a realm of power that surrounds the "dark arts"- there's something out there that God doesn't want us to mess with- something that frankly scares me to death.

And maybe that's what we see here. God gives Moses and Aaron power- and he allows the magicians to do their thing. But ultimately, God lets everyone see where the real power lies as Moses' and Aaron's snakes eat the magic snakes. Yeah, there's power there- but nothing compared to God's power.

Despite it all...Pharoah is unmoved.