Often we hear how the magicians duplicated Moses' first wonder, namely, turning Aaron's staff into a snake. The magicians were able to do the same, even though their snakes were swallowed up by Aaron's staff-turned-snake. But they were also able to duplicate the next two wonders as well. They were able to turn water into blood. They were also able to make frogs come out of the water.

Why did God allow this?

I think it is the same reason that he hardened Pharoah's heart. It was to magnify His wonders even more.

I remember doing a martial arts demonstration one time at the Fort Worth Rodeo. One of the things I did was a flying jump side kick, where I would jump over five people hunched over to break three boards. Now, having practiced this often, I could normally break it on my first try; however, I deliberately missed the first two times. Why? Because it heightened the intensity of the demonstration. If I broke it right away, it would seem easy, and people might think that even their grandma could do as much. But by the third attempt there was absolute silence, and when I totally shattered the boards on that attempt, there was a great "Hurrah!" from the crowd.

Notice that even though the magicians were somewhat able to duplicate the plagues, they could not stop them or outdo them. And each wonder became progressivly greater, so that the magicians were even forced to confess that it was by "the finger of God" that the wonder was performed. Every plague added to the amazement of all the people. This was by God's design:

For by now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with a plague that would have wiped you off the earth. But I have raised you upfor this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth (Exodus 9:15-16).

In the future, when your son asks you, “What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the Lord our God has commanded you?” tell him: “We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. Before our eyes the Lord sent signs and wonders—great and terrible—on Egypt and Pharaoh and his whole household (Deuteronomy 6:20-22).

It is very possible that the magicians were simply doing tricks to imitate the wonders done by Moses; however, it is also possible that God enabled them to do what they did in order to add intensity to the situation and to contrast the true and awesome power of God with what was weak and counterfeit.

Today, many people seem to be chasing manifestations of all sorts, including healings, prophecies, and other unusual displays of power; however, while I welcome a true manifestation of God's power, I cannot help thinking that what goes for the "power of God" today are weak and counterfeit compared to what we find in the Scriptures. The "healings" are always something less than what Jesus and the apostles' did. The "prophecies" are often inaccurate or false. The unusual displays are quite frankly just that, unusual, even unusual to what one might expect from the Holy Spirit of the Bible.

It is the devil and pagans that abide in the realm of counterfeit signs and wonders. Since such things are all the rave today in certain circles, Christians would do well to be wary and discerning.