Exodus 7-11 dives in to the plagues brought by God to free His people, the Israelites. Before these plagues, Aaron threw down his staff. It became a serpent. Pharoah called upon the magicians of Egypt. They also threw down their staffs, they also became serpents. God was performing miracles on their level for now, but He let them know how it would end. Aaron’s swallowed the others.
During the first plague, the water in the Nile turned to blood. This killed the fish and the drinking source in one stretch of staff in hand.
During the second plague, everything was overran by frogs. Need to cook? Frogs. Want to sleep? Frogs. Want to complain to higher authorities about frogs? More frogs. The magicians were right there to counter. Lick for lick. Blood for blood, frog for frog.. against their own people.. to show power. They were standing on their own to bring destruction, but there was only one Power that could take it away.
“So the LORD did according to the word of Moses. And the frogs died out of the houses, out of the courtyards, and out of the fields.” Exodus 8:13 NKJV
The third plague came. Some translations say lice, some say gnats. Regardless, tiny little bugs are enough to bring even the biggest of people to the brink of insanity. The magicians tried to keep up again. This time, they could not match the power of God and acknowledged Him (Exodus 8:18-19).
The fourth plague was flies. If you’ve ever had just one in your house, you know they have the ability to have you one footed hopping off a rickety chair with a flip flop, fully risking your own wellbeing. Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron. He wanted them gone, and knew it had to be the power of God.
The fifth was the death of livestock. We’re talking livelihoods. Moses made the point that the Lord would make a distinction between the livestock of the Israelites and Egyptians. This is the first time they were specifically mentioned to be separated.
Then there were boils. We were now to a place that the Israelites were separate and all other powers could, not only no longer keep up.. They couldn’t even try! “And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils were on the magicians and on all the Egyptians.” -Exodus 9:11
Life had been so bad for the Israelites. They needed deliverance. God brought them through some extremely difficult times after their already difficult life to get them there. He showed me something in that sixth plague. He brought them so far out that the powers of the enemy couldn’t touch them. I’m sure it got unimaginably heavy at times… but now the magicians couldn’t do a thing. The Israelites were fully under the power of God Almighty. A plague or two out of reach.
The Egyptians endured hail, locust, darkness, and even death. The Israelites were called to obedience and trust. God walked them out of Egypt. The enemy wanted them back, but he couldn’t get to them.
Life has a way of going from bad to worse. You think things are terrible, then they get down right unlivable. You hit rock bottom, but wait! The bottom opens, there’s a whole new bottom. You are past running on empty and fully borrowing strength from God. You truly cannot see the light anymore, and have no idea how God is going to work it out. God brings us so far for a reason. Sometimes it’s so we’re out of reach of the powers of this world, and His power is fully on display.
My pastor just so happens to be my father. He always knows when to speak just enough and leave it to do what you need. I’ll leave you the singular mind blowing question Pastor Dad left me with when I was talking to him about my thoughts. “What if one of the magicians is your mind?”
Seventh In Ramah 
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