Did Pharaoh's Magicians Really Change Their Rods into Real Serpents?

[Scripture More Accurately]

Exodus 7:11 Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. 12 For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.

Do you believe that Pharaoh's magicians were actually able to change their rods into real serpents or do you think that there was some kind of deception in what they did?

 

[SavedByGrace]

Exodus 7:11 Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. 12 For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.

Do you believe that Pharaoh's magicians were actually able to change their rods into real serpents or do you think that there was some kind of deception in what they did?

The Bible's account is very clear here. Pharaoh's magicians cast down their rods, and these rods "became serpents", which was witnessed by Moses and Aaron. Unless we are expected to doubt the Word of God's accuracy, then this DID take place. How they were able to do this, we are not told, so to speculate is unwise. The same could be asked for the other Signs that God did through Moses, that these "magicians", were able to "copy"!

 

[Scripture More Accurately]

The Bible's account is very clear here. Pharaoh's magicians cast down their rods, and these rods "became serpents", which was witnessed by Moses and Aaron. Unless we are expected to doubt the Word of God's accuracy, then this DID take place. How they were able to do this, we are not told, so to speculate is unwise. The same could be asked for the other Signs that God did through Moses, that these "magicians", were able to "copy"!

I am interested in seeing not just how different believers answer my question but also how they approach answering the question that I posed. Your approach is one possible approach. I would like to see what others have to say.

 

[Lodic]

Pharaoh's magicians also used their enchantments to turn waters into blood (Ex. 7:22) and bringing forth frogs (Ex. 8:7). However, when they worked with their enchantments to bring forth lice (Ex. 8:18-19), they were unable. At this point, they told Pharaoh "this is the finger of God". I believe the power the magicians used was occultic. Even the magicians recognized the divine source of the plagues they imitated.

 

[Aaron]

Satan was not bound before he was bound by Christ. Men did not worship idols and entities because they were the products of their imaginations. They saw power. They feared the entities that revealed themselves.

 

[kyredneck]

Satan was not bound...

...at that time. Key to understanding this imo.

 

[kyredneck]

I believe the power the magicians used was occultic.

Agree!.

 

[Aaron]

I might add, that demons have no creative power and cannot give life. Though it says their rods "became serpents," I think what is being described is the reorganization and animation of matter (remember that Satan was not bound in the sense that he is under this New Testament) Their rods did not become living and breathing snakes, but they did change in their appearance and were made to move.

 

[Scripture More Accurately]

Satan was not bound before he was bound by Christ. Men did not worship idols and entities because they were the products of their imaginations. They saw power. They feared the entities that revealed themselves.

Where does Scripture teach that Satan was bound by Christ?

 

[Scripture More Accurately]

I might add, that demons have no creative power and cannot give life. Though it says their rods "became serpents," I think what is being described is the reorganization and animation of matter (remember that Satan was not bound in the sense that he is under this New Testament) Their rods did not become living and breathing snakes, but they did change in their appearance and were made to move.

I think that the devil can give life to an inanimate object if God chooses to allow him to do so.

 

[canadyjd]

They could have been occult.

I believe it is more likely it was a trick, a slight of hand. The serpents were real, but the conjuring was a trick.

peace to you

 

[Aaron]

Matthew 12:29

 

[Scripture More Accurately]

Matthew 12:29

How do you determine what "binding" you think this passage means concerning what Satan can or cannot do?

 

[Aaron]

How do you determine what "binding" you think this passage means concerning what Satan can or cannot do?

One way is by noting passages like the very one you're questioning. That you might even entertain the possibility that the wonder performed by Pharaoh's sorcerers was mere slight-of-hand is pretty strong evidence that the kind of demonism described is no longer commonplace.

The prophets of Baal accepted Elijah's challenge.

A serpent spoke to Adam and Eve.

Balaam wasn't sought out for his card tricks, and he wasn't astonished when his ass spoke.

When ('if', rather) you go into the streets to witness, do you come back saying, "Wow. Even the devils are subject to us?" like the seventy that Christ commissioned? Do you even expect to come across one? Pshaw! So many Baptist missionary conferences are so lame and focused on how to present the Gospel in ways to be more appealing to people, because, frankly, the devils aren't gadding about as they did in those days.

Yes, there are pockets of demonism here and there, and some people who dabble in the occult get some scary visitors and face some terrors which can only be dispelled in the name of Jesus, but, by and large, the world has been disenchanted, and that is because Christ bound Satan so that the Gospel could go forth and spoil his house.

 

[SavedByGrace]

because Christ bound Satan so that the Gospel could go forth and spoil his house.

really? what Bible verse tells you this? the way you say it is though Jesus is quite helpless with the devil being around, and had to "bind" him so that the Gosple could go out to the world! such is know as speculation theology as it is NOT in the Holy Bible!

 

[Scripture More Accurately]

One way is by noting passages like the very one you're questioning. That you might even entertain the possibility that the wonder performed by Pharaoh's sorcerers was mere slight-of-hand is pretty strong evidence that the kind of demonism described is no longer commonplace.

The prophets of Baal accepted Elijah's challenge.

A serpent spoke to Adam and Eve.

Balaam wasn't sought out for his card tricks, and he wasn't astonished when his ass spoke.

When ('if', rather) you go into the streets to witness, do you come back saying, "Wow. Even the devils are subject to us?" like the seventy that Christ commissioned? Do you even expect to come across one? Pshaw! So many Baptist missionary conferences are so lame and focused on how to present the Gospel in ways to be more appealing to people, because, frankly, the devils aren't gadding about as they did in those days.

Yes, there are pockets of demonism here and there, and some people who dabble in the occult get some scary visitors and face some terrors which can only be dispelled in the name of Jesus, but, by and large, the world has been disenchanted, and that is because Christ bound Satan so that the Gospel could go forth and spoil his house.

The only reason I entertained the possibility that it was "mere slight-of-hand" is because I read some commentators who take that position. I personally do not believe for a second that it was any such thing.

It seems that you are basing your understanding on what your personal experience(s) may have been or what you have heard about from others. I do not think that is a valid basis for answering questions about the extent of demonic activity in our day.

I do not find Scripture setting forth a notion that Christ has bound Satan in our day.

 

[Aaron]

The biggest evidence of the binding of Satan? Halloween is fun.

 

[Aaron]

really? what Bible verse tells you this? the way you say it is though Jesus is quite helpless with the devil being around, and had to "bind" him so that the Gosple could go out to the world! such is know as speculation theology as it is NOT in the Holy Bible!

I just posted it, you dolt.

 

[SavedByGrace]

I just posted it, you dolt.

yes, your pure gibberish!

 

[Aaron]

The only reason I entertained the possibility that it was "mere slight-of-hand" is because I read some commentators who take that position. I personally do not believe for a second that it was any such thing.

It seems that you are basing your understanding on what your personal experience(s) may have been or what you have heard about from others. I do not think that is a valid basis for answering questions about the extent of demonic activity in our day.

I do not find Scripture setting forth a notion that Christ has bound Satan in our day.

That's because of your Premillennial reading of the book of Revelation, not because the Scriptures haven't said it.