Exodus 7

So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the Lord commanded. Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake. Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by their secret arts: Each one threw down his staff and it became a snake. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs. Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord had commanded. He (Aaron) raised his staff in the presence of Pharaoh and his officials and struck the water of the Nile, and all the water was changed into blood. The fish in the Nile died, and the river smelled so bad that the Egyptians could not drink its water. Blood was everywhere in Egypt. But the Egyptian magicians did the same things by their secret arts, and Pharaoh’s heart became hard; he would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said. ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭7‬:‭10‬-‭12‬, ‭20‬-‭22‬ ‭NIV‬‬

God used Moses and Aaron to perform two miracles here to try to change Pharoah’s mind.  The Egyptian magicians were able to repeat these same miracles, so Pharoah’s heart remained hardened.  These magicians most likely used trickery and illusion or were actually able to use some sort of sorcery.  It is dangerous to rely on miracles to help us prove our faith, because Satan can imitate some of the things that God can do.  If you are ever in doubt about whether a sign or miracle is from God, check to see if it matches up with the principles in the Bible.  We will see many small miracles in our lives, as God works to accomplish His great plan to bring salvation to as many people as possible.  But, we need to be careful that we are not always waiting and looking for a miraculous sign to occur.  Jesus said “A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah” (Matthew 16:4).  What miracles has God done in your life, that you can reflect on and marvel at His greatness?