Quote (njaguar @ Jul 13 2011 05:23am)
I think there are a few ways this can be interpreted, especially since there are different ways those passages are translated, and not all allude to supernatural powers (NKJV uses enchantments for instance).
First: It clearly labels them as magicians, and if you compare them to a modern day magician, such feats could be performed by someone that knew how to perform such tricks.
Second: It does not state that God did not grant them the powers to do these things, only that God told Moses to perform these actions and these results would occur. If these other people did those same actions and got the same results, isn't it plausible that God allowed that to occur? (See below)
The message you are missing is that God continually hardened the pharaohs heart. Did he literally go down and take away his free will, or did he allow his own servants to perform the same actions as Moses as a means to the end?
This sorta reminds me a little of the book of Job, where God allowed Satan to test Job by doing various things to him. There is probably more going on behind the scenes than what is alluded to in this relatively short section of Exodus.
Very well explained my friend. But at the same time it's hard to imagine 3 men just having snakes on them to throw out. And as for the blood I guess that could be easily deceived. But what is this secret knowledge? Could it be the magic trick?