Steve Webb explores Exodus 5–8, covering the initial confrontation between Moses and Pharaoh and the first four plagues of Egypt. The episode examines the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart and provides a unique commentary on whether the Egyptian sorcerers used illusions or demonic power to mimic God’s miracles. Additional segments include a Verse of the Day from Exodus 6:5 and church history highlights regarding Cyrus McCormick and the first Christian service in Australia.

Magic or Miracle?

How could they do that? That is the question we face today as we see the Egyptian sorcerers duplicating the wonders God performed through Moses and Aaron. From turning staffs into snakes to turning the Nile into blood, the battle of power in Pharaoh’s court was just beginning. Welcome to the Lifespring! One Year Bible Rewind.

Summary

In Exodus 5 through 8, the liberation of Israel begins not with ease, but with increased hardship. After Moses and Aaron deliver God’s message, Pharaoh responds by removing the supply of straw for the Israelites’ brick-making, calling the people “lazy.” As the plagues begin, we witness a supernatural confrontation. The Nile turns to blood and frogs overrun the land. While the Egyptian magicians initially mimic these signs, they eventually reach their limit with the plague of gnats, confessing that it is “the finger of God.”

Entities Mentioned

• Moses: The reluctant leader called by God to demand Israel’s freedom.
• Pharaoh: The ruler of Egypt whose heart was hardened against the Lord.
• Aaron: Moses’ brother and prophet who cast down the staff before the king.
• Egyptian Sorcerers: The wise men and magicians who used secret arts to duplicate signs.
• Cyrus McCormick: The industrialist whose marriage on this date in 1859 led to significant gospel philanthropy.
• Richard Johnson: The chaplain who held the first Christian service in Australia in 1788.

Why This Matters

This passage illustrates the difference between the counterfeit power of the enemy and the sovereign authority of God. It reminds us that while the world may offer illusions or even temporary displays of power, only God has the authority to judge, to save, and to remember His covenants. The hardening of Pharaoh’s heart serves as a warning about the danger of resisting the clear “finger of God” in our lives.

Commentary

Steve shares his lifelong fascination with magic, from mail-order catalogs to the magic shops at Disneyland. He explores the two main possibilities for the Egyptian sorcerers’ success: were they master illusionists using “snake charming” tricks, or were they utilizing actual demonic power? Scripture suggests that while Satan can perform signs and wonders to deceive, his power is always on a leash. He can mimic a plague, but he cannot provide the cure or the grace that only God offers.

Verse of the Day: Exodus 6:5

“Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel whom the Egyptians hold as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant.”

Exodus 6:5 at BibleGateway

On This Date In Church History

• 1859: Cyrus McCormick, inventor of the mechanical reaper, married Nettie Fowler in Chicago. Nettie became a major philanthropist, funding the missions of D.L. Moody.
• 1788: The first fleet arrived in Australia, and chaplain Richard Johnson held the first Christian service on Australian soil, marking the start of organized Protestantism in the South Pacific.

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