Exodus 7:11-13 But Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers; so the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. For every man threw down his rod, and they became serpents. But Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods. And Pharaoh's heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, as the Lord had said. NKJV
Messing With The Marabouts
One of the dominant characteristics of Islam in Medieval North Africa and Algeria in particular, was the cult of holy men, or maraboutism.
The Marabouts were believed to possess ‘baraka,’ that is, divine grace, (sounds like a president) and this was reflected in their amazing ability to perform miracles! Recognized as being both just and spiritual men, these Marabouts often had extensive followings both locally and regionally and therefore great influence along with it! To that end, when Algeria was under the domination of French colonialism, it was these same Marabouts, who using their great influence and backing up their spiritual rhetoric and liberation theology with signs and wonders, almost stirred the region up a bloody uprising. I say almost, because France averted the uprising with some other signs and wonders.
In 1856, the French response to such ‘revolution’ was not in terms of military might, but in the sending in a simple person called Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin, a well known magician from the city of Blois.
When Robert-Houdin met the Marabouts, his magical ability was simply that much more better than the ‘signs and wonders’ of the Algerian ‘holy men,’ and with their magical might now put to open shame and in subjection to the more powerful French Magician and Magic, the Marabouts lost their influence and thus the uprising was quelled without a single shot. (Well actually it was quelled with one shot and with Robert-Houdin catching it in his teeth, but that’s another story for another night!).The kingdoms of this world can be that much more easily overcome, if the conquerors of those lands, possess simply a better box of tricks. You might carry that box of tricks in a the back of a wagon, or carry them hid up your sleeve or even buried in the bowels of a Tomahawk Missile but they are still tricks! Yes, nice or incredibly nasty, they remain still nothing but tricks to mock and to subjugate inferior and frightened folk.
We can be so impressed by the power that these boxes of tricks seem to offer us that we might even want to get some ourselves! Maybe even change our name in honour of the great trickster, say from Erik Weisz to Harry Houdini and then set up our own impressive travelling show and put the wind up a few other feeble and frightened folk impressed by tricksters.
Ungodly rulers always have counterfeit power, always have a better box of tricks to dupe the people into following their will. When the real and God appointed leaders turn up, all they have is a shepherd's staff and that alone will swallow up all the snakes and part all the rivers into the promised land. Don’t be impressed by boxes of tricks.
Listen: - "Return, O backsliding children," says the Lord;"for I am married to you. I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion. And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding. Jeremiah 3:14-15 NKJV.
Pray:- Lord, though they be so very impressive, help us discern the charlatan. Then Lord, send us leaders, gifts from on high, endued with power from high, to lead us into Beulah land. In Jesus name I pray, amen.
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