Pharaoh desired to justify his stubbornness in resisting the divine command, and hence he was seeking some pretext for disregarding the miracles that God had wrought through Moses. Satan gave him just what he wanted. By the work that he wrought through the magicians he made it appear to the Egyptians that Moses and Aaron were only magicians and sorcerers, and that the message they brought could not claim respect as coming from a superior being. Thus Satan's counterfeit accomplished its purpose of emboldening the Egyptians in their rebellion and causing Pharaoh to harden his heart against conviction. Satan hoped also to shake the faith of Moses and Aaron in the divine origin of their mission, that his instruments might prevail. He was unwilling that the children of Israel should be released from bondage to serve the living God.

Farao ønskede at retfærdiggøre sin hårdnakkede kamp mod Guds befaling og søgte derfor et påskud til at tilsidesætte de mirakler, Gud havde udført ved Moses. Satan gav ham netop, hvad han ønskede. Ved de tegn, han udførte gennem troldmændene, bibragte han ægypterne det indtryk, at Moses og Aron kun var troldmænd og besværgere, og at det budskab, de bragte, ikke kunne anses for at komme fra et højere væsen. Således opnåede Satan ved sit bedrag at gøre ægypterne dristigere i deres oprør og at få Farao til at forhærde sit hjerte, så at han ikke lod sig overbevise. Satan håbede også at kunne rokke Moses og Arons tro på, at de var sendt af Gud, for at hans håndlangere kunne sejre. Han ville ikke gå med til, at Israels børn blev befriet fra slaveriet, så de kunne tjene den levende Gud.