Exodus 8:1-7: a reflection

1The LORD spoke to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh, and tell him, ‘This is what the LORD says, “Let my people go, that they may serve me. 2If you refuse to let them go, behold, I will plague all your borders with frogs. 3The river will swarm with frogs, which will go up and come into your house, and into your bedroom, and on your bed, and into the house of your servants, and on your people, and into your ovens, and into your kneading troughs. 4The frogs shall come up both on you, and on your people, and on all your servants.”’” 5The LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Stretch out your hand with your rod over the rivers, over the streams, and over the pools, and cause frogs to come up on the land of Egypt.’” 6Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt. 7The magicians did the same thing with their enchantments, and brought up frogs on the land of Egypt.

When God sends the plague of frogs upon Egypt through Aaron, Pharaoh's magicians respond in a telling way: The magicians did the same thing with their enchantments, and brought up frogs on the land of Egypt. They could imitate the plague, producing more frogs; but notice what they could not do, and what only God could do. They could add to the affliction, but they could not remove it; only God, entreated, could take the frogs away. The counterfeit could imitate the sign, but it could not undo or heal; that power belonged to God alone.

Notice the limit of the counterfeit: it could imitate the plague, but not remove it. The magicians could produce frogs, mimicking the sign; but their power went no further. They could add to the trouble, but not relieve it; they could imitate God's work, but not undo the affliction or heal it. Only God could take the frogs away, relieving the plague; the counterfeit could copy the sign, but had no power to heal or save. The imitation could mimic, but it could not do the one thing that mattered: relieve and heal.

That is worth taking to heart, for the counterfeits and imitations around us may mimic much, but cannot heal or save. There are things in the world that imitate God's works, that mimic power or wonder or promise; but like the magicians, they may be able to copy the sign while having no power to heal, to relieve, to save. The counterfeit can imitate, but it cannot do the one thing needed. Do not be deceived by counterfeits that imitate God's works but cannot heal or save; only God can truly relieve and save, as only he could take the frogs away. Look to God, not to the counterfeits that can imitate but cannot heal, for the relief and salvation you need, as the magicians could produce frogs but could not remove them; for the counterfeit may mimic God's works, but only God can truly heal and save, and to him alone we must look for what only he can do.

Lord, when you send the plague of frogs upon Egypt through Aaron, Pharaoh's magicians respond in a telling way: the magicians did the same thing with their enchantments, and brought up frogs on the land of Egypt. They could imitate the plague, producing more frogs; but notice what they could not do, and what only you could do. They could add to the affliction, but they could not remove it; only you, entreated, could take the frogs away. The counterfeit could imitate the sign, but it could not undo or heal. Show me the limit of the counterfeit: it could imitate the plague, but not remove it. The magicians could produce frogs, mimicking the sign; but their power went no further. They could add to the trouble, but not relieve it; they could imitate your work, but not undo the affliction or heal it. Only you could take the frogs away. The imitation could mimic, but it could not do the one thing that mattered: relieve and heal. Take that to my heart, for the counterfeits and imitations around me may mimic much, but cannot heal or save. There are things in the world that imitate your works, that mimic power or wonder or promise; but like the magicians, they can copy the sign while having no power to heal or save. Keep me from being deceived by counterfeits that imitate your works but cannot heal or save; only you can truly relieve and save, Lord. Help me look to you, not to the counterfeits that can imitate but cannot heal, for the relief and salvation I need.