Exodus 8 – May 16

Today we see ongoing and relentless evidence of God’s power manifested in the plagues sent against the Egyptians. This chapter is overflowing with fascinating detail, but for today let's zone in on three important truths.

The Magicians Were Outmatched

Jannes and Jambres were able to perform a watered-down, off-brand version of turning water to blood and causing frogs to migrate onto land. However, it seems odd that they would want to do that. If they really wanted to do something helpful, they would have reversed the plagues that the Lord sent through Moses and Aaron. All they could do was cheap imitation that made the plight of the Egyptians even worse. By the time we get to just the third plague, the magicians were already outmatched. This was not a prize fight that went to extra rounds. This was a pathetic failure of epic proportions. When the Lord sent gnats (or as some translations say, “lice”), the magicians were unable to imitate. These men who were familiar with the “secret arts” are no longer a factor in the story. Although we will see them surface once more in order to make a point in chapter 9, they are not to be understood as the villain. They are like the animal minions that always seem to accompany a Disney villain. The true enemy on display in these chapters is Pharaoh and his ever-hardening heart.

The Finger of God

When the magicians were unable to replicate the plague of gnats, they said, ““This is the finger of God.” This phrase is a really interesting formulation. The two magicians clearly understood that it wasn’t Moses or Aaron who were making these events occur. They understood that it wasn’t Aaron’s staff that contained some kind of magic. They recognized that the only possible source of these incredible events must be God Himself. We often see the phrase, “the arm of the Lord” in the Bible. We only see this phrase “the finger of God” on a couple of occasions outside of this passage. The next time that it pops up is when God gave Moses the ten commandments. They were written “by the finger of God.” The first occasion it is used to judge God’s enemies, the second is to instruct God’s people.

In the New Testament, Jesus picks up this very same language when He was confronted by people who claimed that Jesus was using the power of demons to cast out the demons. “And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” (Luke 11:19-20) Jesus was speaking sarcastically about their sons casting out demons. His point was, “If your people can do it, then they can speak with authority on this issue. Since they can’t, you should pay attention to the person who can cast them out.” Then, to make it abundantly clear that His power is the genuine article and anyone who is against Him is doing nothing more than a parlor trick, Jesus pulls out that famous line that any good Jew would have known. He claimed that He was doing these things by the finger of God. In other words, His work was the genuine article.

Satanic Compromise

It almost appears that on a couple of occasions Pharaoh’s heart was softening to the command to let God’s people go. However, it quickly becomes clear that he was interested in nothing but a reprieve from suffering. This is a common tactic of those who do not know the Lord. When they experience trials, they will tell God “I will do whatever you want, just get me out of this.” Even worse, they will do what Pharaoh does in vs. 25-32. They will attempt to make a compromise with God. Pharaoh said that he would let the people go for a few days, as long as they didn’t go too far. God was not interested in partial measures. He had demanded unconditional surrender. Anything less was unacceptable. Likewise, God does not want half-measures from us. Becoming a Christian means laying down your own personal agenda and taking up your cross. Following Christ does not mean just doing a few extra “Christian” things and not doing some “worldly” things. It means being made a new creation by the Lord and living out that new life every day.