Exodus 7:8-13

⁸ At that time the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, ⁹ “When Pharaoh tells you, ‘Give for yourselves a miracle,’ then you will say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh, that it may become a serpent.'” ¹⁰ So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the LORD commanded. Aaron threw down his staff before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a snake. ¹¹ Then Pharaoh called the wise men and the ones who practice magic, and they, the magicians of Egypt, also did the same by their secret arts. ¹² Because each man threw down his staff, and they became snakes. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs. ¹³ Still Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the LORD had spoken.

when miracles are insufficient

The sign miracle worked flawlessly, but Pharaoh was still unconvinced. Pharaoh just brought out his own illusionists, who had their bag of tricks. When Aaron’s staff ate up its competition, Pharaoh was still not impressed. His heart was hardened. When a heart is hardened, all the miracles in the world are insufficient. But the LORD will continue to provide them, because this contest is all about rescue. Every act of grace that we experience is more than a power encounter. It is a truth encounter. It is the reputation of our redeemer which is at stake.

LORD, we believe you. We ask for your rescue, not so that we believe, but so that others may believe.