31 Preface وَأَن أَلقِ عَصاكَ ۖ فَلَمّا رَآها تَهتَزُّ كَأَنَّها جانٌّ وَلّىٰ مُدبِرًا وَلَم يُعَقِّب ۚ يا موسىٰ أَقبِل وَلا تَخَف ۖ إِنَّكَ مِنَ الآمِنينَYusuf Ali“Now do thou throw thy rod!” but when he saw it moving (of its own accord) as if it had been a snake, he turned back in retreat, and retraced not his steps: O Moses!” (It was said), “Draw near, and fear not: for thou art of those who are secure.1The verbal meaning is: 'you have nothing to fear from what appears to be a snake: it is a snake, not for you, but for Pharaoh.” But there is a deeper meaning besides. Moses had now been called to a higher and spiritual mission. He had to meet the hatred of the Egyptians and circumvent their trickery and magic. He had now the security of Faith: in all dangers and difficulties God would guide and protect him, for he was actually in God’s service, one of the Elect.