Pharaoh’s magicians replicated Moses’ signs to oppose God’s authority and to harden Pharaoh’s heart, reinforcing his resistance to letting Israel go. When Moses and Aaron performed miraculous signs by God’s command, the magicians imitated them through occult practices:
“But Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers; so the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.” (Exodus 7:11)
These magicians were not performing true miracles by God’s power, but counterfeit signs through demons/”>demonic influence. They were able to mimic some of the plagues, such as turning water to blood and bringing forth frogs (Exodus 7:22; 8:7). However, their power was limited.
When Moses struck the dust and it became lice, the magicians could not replicate it:
“Now the magicians so worked with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not… Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, ‘This is the finger of God.'” (Exodus 8:18–19)
Despite this admission, Pharaoh’s heart remained hardened. The magicians’ initial success emboldened Pharaoh, giving the illusion that Moses’ signs were not unique. But as God’s judgments escalated, their impotence became clear.
The purpose of allowing the magicians to replicate some signs was to expose the limits of man’s power and the futility of resisting God. It also magnified the supremacy of the Lord over Egypt’s false gods and occult practices.
Ultimately, Pharaoh’s magicians were part of the spiritual confrontation between God and the pagan world. God used even their rebellion to demonstrate His glory and to accomplish the deliverance of His people.
