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their appearance to distinguish them from the serpent produced by Moses。
Though the Lord caused the real serpent to swallow up the spurious ones； yet
even this was regarded by Pharaoh； not as a work of God's power； but as the
result of a kind of magic superior to that of his servants。
Pharaoh desired to justify his stubbornness in resisting the divine command；
and hence he was seeking some pretext for disregarding the miracles that God
had wrought through Moses。 Satan gave him just what he wanted。 By the work
that he wrought through the magicians he made it appear to the Egyptians
that Moses and Aaron were only magicians and sorcerers； and that the message
they brought could not claim respect as coming from a superior being。 Thus
Satan's counterfeit accomplished its purpose of emboldening the Egyptians in
their rebellion and causing Pharaoh to harden his heart against conviction。
Satan hoped also to shake the faith of Moses and Aaron in the divine origin
of their mission； that his instruments might prevail。 He was unwilling that
the children of Israel should be released from bondage to serve the living
God。
But the prince of evil had a still deeper object in manifesting his wonders
through the magicians。 He well knew that Moses； in breaking the yoke of
bondage from off the children of Israel； pre…figured Christ； who was to
break the reign of sin over the
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human family。 He knew that when Christ should appear； mighty miracles would
be wrought as an evidence to the world that God had sent Him。 Satan trembled
for his power。 By counterfeiting the work of God through Moses； he hoped not
only to prevent the deliverance of Israel； but to exert an influence through
future ages to destroy faith in the miracles of Christ。 Satan is constantly
seeking to counterfeit the work of Christ and to establish his own power and
claims。 He leads men to account for the miracles of Christ by making them
appear to be the result of human skill and power。 In many minds he thus
destroys faith in Christ as the Son of God； and leads them to reject the
gracious offers of mercy through the plan of redemption。
Moses and Aaron were directed to visit the riverside next morning； where the
king was accustomed to repair。 The overflowing of the Nile being the source
of food and wealth for all Egypt； the river was worshiped as a god； and the
monarch came thither daily to pay his devotions。 Here the two brothers again
repeated the message to him； and then they stretched out the rod and smote
upon the water。 The sacred stream ran blood； the fish died； and the river
became offensive to the smell。 The water in the houses； the supply preserved
in cisterns； was likewise changed to blood。 But 〃the magicians of Egypt did
so with their enchantments；〃 and 〃Pharaoh turned and went into his house；
neither did he set his heart to this also。〃 For seven days the plague
continued； but without effect。
Again the rod was stretched out over the waters； and frogs came up from the
river and spread over the land。 They overran the houses； took possession of
the bed chambers； and even the ovens and kneading troughs。 The frog was
regarded as sacred by the Egyptians； and they would not destroy it； but the
slimy pests had now become intolerable。 They swarmed even in the palace of
the Pharaohs； and the king was impatient to have them removed。 The magicians
had appeared to produce frogs； but they could not remove them。 Upon seeing
this； Pharaoh was somewhat humbled。 He sent for Moses and Aaron； and said；
〃Entreat the Lord； that He may take away the frogs from me； and from my
people； and I will let the people go； that they may do sacrifice unto the
Lord。〃 After reminding the king of his former boasting； they requested him
to appoint a time when they should pray for the removal of the plague。 He
set the next day； secretly hoping that in the interval the frogs might
disappear of themselves； and
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thus save him from the bitter humiliation of submitting to the God of
Israel。 The plague； however； continued till the time specified； when
throughout all Egypt the frogs died； but their putrid bodies； which
remained； polluted the atmosphere。
The Lord could have caused them to return to dust in a moment； but He did
not do this lest after their removal the king and his people should
pronounce it the result of sorcery or enchantment； like the work of the
magicians。 The frogs died； and were then gathered together in heaps。 Here
the king and all Egypt had evidence which their vain philosophy could not
gainsay； that this work was not accomplished by magic； but was a judgment
from the God of heaven。
〃When Pharaoh saw that there was respite； he hardened his heart。〃 At the
command of God； Aaron stretched out his hand； and the dust of the earth
became lice throughout all the land of Egypt。 Pharaoh called upon the
magicians to do the same； but they could not。 The work of God was thus shown
to be superior to that of Satan。 The magicians themselves acknowledged；
〃This is the finger of God。〃 But the king was still unmoved。
Appeal and warning were ineffectual； and another judgment was inflicted。 The
time of its occurrence was foretold； that it might not be said to have come
by chance。 Flies filled the houses and swarmed upon the ground； so that 〃the
land was corrupted by reason of the swarms of flies。〃 These flies were large
and venomous； and their bite was extremely painful to man and beast。 As had
been foretold； this visitation did not extend to the land of Goshen。
Pharaoh now offered the Israelites permission to sacrifice in Egypt； but
they refused to accept such conditions。 〃It is not meet；〃 said Moses； 〃lo；
shall we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes； and
will they not stone us？〃 The animals which the Hebrews would be required to
sacrifice were among those regarded as sacred by the Egyptians； and such was
the reverence in which these creatures were held； that to slay one； even
accidentally； was a crime punishable with death。 It would be impossible for
the Hebrews to worship in Egypt without giving offense to their masters。
Moses again proposed to go three days' journey into the wilderness。 The
monarch consented； and begged the servants of God to entreat that the plague
might be removed。 They promised to do this； but warned him against
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dealing deceitfully with them。 The plague was stayed； but the king's heart
had become hardened by persistent rebellion； and he still refused to yield。
A more terrible stroke followedmurrain upon all the Egyptian cattle that
were in the field。 Both the sacred animals and the beasts of burdenkine
and oxen and sheep； horses and camels and asseswere destroyed。 It had been
distinctly stated that the Hebrews were to be exempt； and Pharaoh； on
sending messengers to the home of the Israelites； proved the truth of this
declaration of Moses。 〃Of the cattle of the children of Israel died not
one。〃 Still the king was obstinate。
Moses was next directed to take ashes of the furnace； and 〃sprinkle it
t