Magicians and Miracle Workers

“Daam—blood, tzfardeiah—frogs, keeneem—lice, ahrov—wild beasts…” we recite at our Passover seders as we take a drop of wine from our glasses. Curiously, the Egyptian magicians can repeat the first of these wonders and likewise turn water into blood and also bring frogs. (They turn a staff into a snake as well.) The Torah reports, “When the Egyptian magicians did the same with their spells, Pharaoh’s heart stiffened.” (Exodus 7)

When God performs these wonders, they are called miracles. When the magicians do the same, they are termed magic. What is the difference between magic and miracles? A Hasidic comment suggests magic tricks astonish the audience. Miracles, on the other hand, awe even those who perform it. In both instances the water turns red and there were frogs here, frogs there, frogs were jumping everywhere.

Is the difference only a matter of perspective? Is history indeed written by the victors? In the five books of Moses pulling a frog out of a hat is deemed an everyday magic trick and the ten plagues are evidence of God’s miraculous powers. Is that all there is to it? This is our book and our story and so it affirms our biases. The Torah confirms our faith.

Then again, Pharaoh’s magicians cannot remove the frogs. They can only bring more frogs (apparently that is an easy magic trick) And by doing so they make matters worse. By trying to prove their magical powers, they add to the Egyptians’ woes. The magicians were so worried about trying to match God’s miracles that they lose sight of their sacred task. Leaders are meant to assuage people’s anxieties and help lift their burdens.

Difficulties are made more unbearable when leaders worry more about their own power rather than lightening the burdens of those they lead. Magicians focus on wowing the audience and impressing people with their greatness. Too often they make people’s burdens more unbearable. They pull so many things out of their hats that the land becomes flooded with even more problems.

How often are our problems compounded by gossip? How often are our disagreements exacerbated by social media?

Remember this. When magicians hear the audience’s applause they think of their majestic might. They see these cunning tricks as evidence of their prowess. Miracle workers recall they are mere emissaries, and their hands are instruments of an even greater power. They remain forever awed by God’s majesty. They do not praise themselves but instead offer blessings of God.

Everyone has the capacity to be a miracle worker. It’s a matter of remembering who we serve.

Each of us can be servants of the divine.