Exodus 8:17-19 (NIV) Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by their secret arts: Each one threw down his staff and it became a snake. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs.

When God sent Moses and Aaron to Pharoah to tell him to let the Israelites go, He gave them a staff with which they were to perform miraculous signs so that Pharaoh would know that it was the Lord who sent them. The very first sign they showed Pharaoh was to throw down the staff and have it become a live snake. But Pharaoh's magicians were able to duplicate the sign that God had given Moses and Aaron to show Pharaoh. This lets us know that Satan and his minions do have a certain amount of power. Dark spiritual forces are not to be toyed with and have power to perform some miracles. This particular instance is a case in point. Pharaoh's magicians, who drew their power from demons, were able to do the same thing that Aaron and Moses did with their staff, but they weren't expecting what happened next. Aaron's staff swallowed up the other staffs! I can imagine the look on their faces when Aaron's staff in the form of a snake began to make a meal out of their staffs.

We need to know that spiritual forces have power in this world. We are not wrestling against flesh and blood, but against powers, authorities and the dark spiritual forces of evil that dwell in the spiritual realm (Ephesians 6:12). That would be an ominous thing to have to face...except for the fact that Aaron's staff ate the other staffs. In other words, God's power trumps Satan's power every time! Satan's power, which is formidable when we are facing it by ourselves, is child's play to God. The Lord turns Satan's imitation miracles into cheap magic tricks. There is no doubt about the supremacy of the power of God over all creation, including the evil one and his dark army of demons. That means that you and I do not need to fear the devil or his cohorts. While we do need to stay alert and prayerful and stay connected to Jesus at all times, there is no safer position to be in because of the Lord's awesome and supreme majesty and almighty power. According to the Webster's dictionary, the word “supreme” means “highest in rank or authority.” That means that there is nothing or no one that can come against God, and we happen to be under His loving protection and care. Don't waste time cowering before any forces that come against you but instead, rise up as a child of the Supreme King who has supreme power to keep you from all harm.

Pastor Joey Vazquez