4 Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?”
2 Then the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?”
“A staff,” he replied.
3 The Lord said, “Throw it on the ground.”
Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it. 4 Then the Lord said to him, “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail.” So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand. 5 “This,” said the Lord, “is so that they may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has appeared to you.”
6 Then the Lord said, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” So Moses put his hand into his cloak, and when he took it out, the skin was leprous—it had become as white as snow.
7 “Now put it back into your cloak,” he said. So Moses put his hand back into his cloak, and when he took it out, it was restored, like the rest of his flesh.
8 Then the Lord said, “If they do not believe you or pay attention to the first sign, they may believe the second. 9 But if they do not believe these two signs or listen to you, take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground. The water you take from the river will become blood on the ground.” Ex 4:1-9.
God describes the battle between good and evil––God and Satan Gen 3:15. Jesus will defeat Satan by dying for humanity’s sins and freeing man from Satan’s power (crush your head Heb 2:14,15) while Satan will inflict pain on Jesus at the Cross Isa 52:14 yet not be able to take His life, as Jesus willingly laid it down Jn 10:18 (strike his heel).
Jesus, the Good Shepherd of His flock Jn 10:11 is represented by the staff, which Moses, a representative of God holds (the power of God Ex 4:17; which for New Testament believers is the Gospel Ro 1:16). Jesus’ enemy, Satan, is the deadly snake Rev 12:9. Pharaoh, who was Moses’ foe, wore on his forehead a cobra symbol (Uraeus, the serpent goddess). His crook/sceptre represented his authority of government leading his people. Jesus’ representatives have authority over Satan Mt 28:18,19,20; Mt 18:18, as seen by Moses picking up the snake by the tail Dt 28:13 and seeing it turn back into a staff (victory over Satan Rev 12:4; 1 Co 15:57).
Moses’ hand inside his cloak represents man’s heart, which when revealed is evil Mt 15:19. But, when Moses returned his hand back inside his cloak (submission to God Gal 2:20), then when taken out again, was healed––made righteous and so are we, who believe Isa 53:5; Ro 13:14; 2 Co 5:21.
If the Israelites do not believe these two first signs, then only judgment is left Heb 10:26,27 (water representing physical and/or spiritual life Jn 3:5,6; Jn 4:13,14; which turned into blood on the ground; representing judgment Gen 4:10,11. If we continue in unbelief, judgment remains on us Jn 3:18,36.
SUMMARY:
God desires everyone to believe the Gospel 2 Pe 3:9, as Jesus came to give life but Satan’s goal is to kill, steal and destroy Jn 10:10. To receive salvation repent of your sins Ac 2:38 and die to self Ro 6:4, (allow Jesus to be Lord of your life Gal 2:20). If you refuse, judgment will be executed at the Great White Throne Rev 20:11,12,13,14,15.