Exodus 7:10-12 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the LORD commanded. Aaron cast down his staff before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent. Then Pharaoh summoned the wise men and the sorcerers, and they, the magicians of Egypt, also did the same by their secret arts. For each man cast down his staff, and they became serpents. But Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs.
Before Moses and Aaron are to appear before Pharaoh, God commands them: “And the Lord spoke unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying: ‘When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying: Show a wonder for you; then thou shalt say unto Aaron: Take thy rod, and cast it down before Pharaoh, that it become a serpent’” (Exodus 7:8-9).
The Miracle
God knows in advance that the Egyptian ruler will demand to be shown a “wonder” (mofet, in Hebrew) that will prove the validity of the message that is being delivered to him.
A “wonder” is a small miracle. Aaron throws down his staff at Pharaoh’s feet and the staff turns into a serpent. On seeing this wonder, Pharaoh responds with a wonder of his own: “Then Pharaoh also called for the wise men and the sorcerers; and they also, the magicians of Egypt, did in like manner with their secret arts. For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents” (Exod. 7:11-12). Pharaoh’s magicians are apparently capable of conducting such a metamorphosis and transforming a rod into a serpent. So, Pharaoh scores a tie in the first quarter of this game.
The victory
Since the serpents metaphorically confront each other and since the power of Aaron’s wonder seems to have been equaled by that of the magicians’ counter-wonder, the matter seems to be settled according to the rules of the game established by Pharaoh. Now, however, the paradigm is shattered: “but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods” (Exod. 7:12).
While Aaron’s serpent “follows” the very rules of the game that Pharaoh thinks he has dictated (according to which, each serpent expresses or reflects the power of its owner’s words), the tables are actually turned on Pharaoh: The moment the wonders are essentially balanced out, their significance as embodiments of power is canceled and they become representations of their respective owners.
The scene then shifts from a display of wonders to the manifestation of a mythological power struggle between Pharaoh and God. God wins!
What was the significance of Aaron’s rod?
In ancient Israelite culture, a rod was a symbol of authority. Shepherds used rods to guide and correct their flocks (Psalm 23:4). When God called the shepherd Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, He demonstrated His power by performing miracles using Moses’ rod (Exodus 4:1–5; Numbers 20:11.
There are many other miracles performed with this rod. Today we only mention the miracle of the serpent at Pharaoh's confrontation. Hebrews 9:4 tells us that Aaron’s rod remained in the Ark of the Covenant as a testimony of God’s choice of Aaron and Moses to lead His people.
