Pharaoh called for the magicians to work with their enchantments. They also showed signs and wonders, for Satan came to their aid to work through them. Yet even here the work of God was shown to be superior to the power of Satan, for the magicians could not perform all those miracles which God wrought through Moses. Only a few of them could they do. The magicians’ rods did become serpents, [See Appendix.] but Aaron’s rod swallowed them up. After the magicians sought to produce the lice, and could not, they were compelled by the power of God to acknowledge even to Pharaoh, saying: “This is the finger of God.” Satan wrought through the magicians in a manner calculated to harden the heart of the tyrant Pharaoh against the miraculous manifestations of God’s power. Satan thought to stagger the faith of Moses and Aaron in the divine origin of their mission, and then his instruments, the magicians, would prevail. Satan was unwilling to have the people of Israel released from Egyptian servitude that they might serve God. The magicians failed to produce the miracle of the lice, and could no more imitate Moses and Aaron. God would not suffer Satan to proceed further, and the magicians could not save themselves from the plagues. “And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boil was upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians.” Exodus 9:11. {1T 292.1}

Farao tilkaldte sine troldmænd for at udrette deres trylleri. De viste også tegn og undere, for Satan kom til deres hjælp og arbejdede gennem dem. Alligevel viste Guds arbejde at være Satans kraft overlegen, for koglerne kunne ikke udføre alle de mirakler, som Gud havde udrettet gennem Moses. Kun nogle få af dem kunne. Troldmændenes staver blev til slanger,* men Arons stav opslugte dem. Efter koglerne havde forsøgt at fremkalde myg og ikke kunne, var de tvunget af Guds kraft til erkendelse og sagde til Farao: »Det er Guds finger!« Satan arbejdede gennem koglerne på en måde så den tyranniske Faraos hjerte blev forhærdet overfor Guds kraft. Satan ville ryste Moses og Arons tro, i deres missions guddommelige oprindelse og så ville hans redskaber, koglerne, få overhånd. Satan ville ikke have Israels folk befriet fra det ægyptiske slaveri så de kunne tjene Gud. Koglerne svigtede og kunne ikke udføre myggenes mirakel og ikke længere efterligne Moses og Aron. Gud ville ikke lade Satan gå videre og koglerne kunne ikke redde sig selv fra plagerne. »Og koglerne kunne ikke holde stand over for Moses på grund af betændelsen, thi betændelsen angreb koglerne såvel som alle andre ægyptere.« 2 Mos 9,11.