Exodus 7:6-13

Aaron's stick becomes a snake

6 Moses and Aaron obeyed all the commands of the Lord. 7 Moses was 80 years old and Aaron was 83 years old when they spoke to Pharaoh.

8 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 9 ‘Pharaoh will say to you, “Show me a miracle.” Then say to Aaron, “Take your stick and throw it down in front of Pharaoh.” When Aaron does that, his stick will become a snake.’

10 So Moses and Aaron went to see Pharaoh. They did everything that the Lord had commanded them. Aaron threw down his stick in front of Pharaoh and his officers. And the stick became a snake! 11 Then Pharaoh called for his wise men and his magicians to come to him. The Egyptian magicians did the same thing as Aaron. They used their secret magic to do it. 12 Each of them threw down his stick and it became a snake. But Aaron's stick ate all their sticks! 13 But Pharaoh's mind was hard and he refused to listen to Moses and Aaron. That was what the Lord had said would happen, and it did!

7:12A magician uses magic to do strange, powerful things. The Egyptians were afraid of snakes and they worshipped them. But Aaron's stick ate the magicians' sticks. God was showing them that he is more powerful than magic.