There’s an interesting account in the book of Exodus that took place after Moses and his brother Aaron were commissioned by God to lead the Israelites out of slavery. Having been oppressed and abused for 400 years by Egyptian officials, the Lord heard the cries of His people and put a plan into action to deliver them. He called Moses to guide them, and He appointed Aaron to be a prophet to speak on His behalf. Promising to work through both of them to display His might to the most powerful ruler in the world, they went before Pharaoh, and when God instructed Aaron to throw his staff down, it immediately turned into a snake. While this would have been enough to get my attention, it didn’t seem to phase the prideful king, who summoned his own wise men and sorcerers. They were able to replicate the supernatural occurrence with no problem; however, the snakes that came from the Egyptian’s staves were immediately eaten up by the one from Aaron’s staff. While this display of divine power was intended to soften Pharaoh’s heart, there’s a bigger-picture lesson to be learned from it. Knowing that the serpent is synonymous with evil, it points to the truth that Almighty God is greater than any other supernatural power. While the devil does have influence on the earth, what he offers is only a dim counterfeit that partially reflects the surpassing greatness of the Lord Himself. Though Satan can appear mighty, his fate is sealed and the best he can do is temporarily deceive people by taking on the appearance of importance.

My friend, even though the devil and his demons slither into your life looking for ways to attack, the God who lives within you stands ready to swallow them up. Whether the enemy bites with marital discord, financial hardship, grief, loss, or addiction, your triumphant Savior has purchased the victory that sets you free. Yes, you may have to endure the sting of Satan’s venom, but the Great Healer will bind your wounds with supernatural strength and dispense the perfect dose of overcoming grace to carry you ahead to glory. As you keep your eyes fixed on Him, you can walk daily in His peace and live abundantly, in spite of what’s happening around you.