LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL
By Pastor Mensa Otabil
 
Tuesday 14th April 2026
 
A DANGEROUS IMITATION
 
Scripture Reading: Exodus 7
 
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
 
The Pharaoh’s court had various levels of courtiers. The passage speaks of three groups of people who served the throne of Egypt. They were the wise men, sorcerers and magicians.
 
The Hebrew term translated as ‘wise men’ refers to royal advisors. These were the Pharaoh’s political advisors. The term translated as ‘sorcerers’ is also used to refer to one who concocts potions from herbs and plants. Magicians were people who had mastered the art of reciting spells for the gods to act.
 
All these people had the charge to secure the Pharaoh’s throne and ward off any threat to the king’s power.
 
Pharaoh did not seem surprised by Aaron’s rod turning into a serpent. The king of Egypt was probably used to seeing all kinds of magical ‘displays’ in his court. It is likely that his magicians routinely competed with each other by producing various acts to court the king’s favour. Pharaoh summoned his sorcerers to counter what Moses had done.
 
There are important lessons to learn from this encounter with the Pharaoh’s courtiers.

There is a counterfeit to God’s power.

A lifeless rod does not simply turn into a living snake. This was a supernatural feat. Though Pharaoh did not worship the one true God, his servants, by some power, were able to work a similar miracle to what Moses and Aaron had done. 

Not all supernatural acts are of God.

We must not be enticed by every demonstration of supernatural power or ability. Not all supernatural works are divine. Though we may hear a prediction that comes true or witness some naturally impossible occurrence, we must be vigilant to validate by what power the feat is worked. Was it of God or was it by an enchantment?
 
Seek God’s help in discerning the acts you see and hear about.  

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, help me to rightly discern when a spiritual manifestation is from you or not from you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.