A snake charmer's basket

Today I had a picture of a basket such as might be used by a snake charmer which has led me on to thinking of the magicians in the court of the Egyptian Pharaoh when God's people were his slaves. Moses is sent by God to have his people released but the Pharaoh stubbornly refuses so God sends a series of increasingly devastating plagues upon Egypt. The court magicians were able to emulate Moses with the first 2 plagues of changing the water in the River Nile to blood and then creating swarms of frogs but after that they were defeated in copying the following 8 plagues. (See Exodus 7-12). The devil has power but he is no match for God. God wants to bring salvation and, indeed, the Pharaoh did agree to setting the slaves free (though unsuccessfully tried to get them back). Meanwhile, the devil's full intent is to steal, kill and destroy (see John 10:10). Don't be impressed by ungodly power. Instead, be united with God.