Is it not a lesson for the successors of the past generations that had We wanted, We could have punished them for their sins, sealed their hearts and deprived them of hearing? 100 Unto those [earlier] communities - some of whose stories We [now] relate unto thee - there had indeed come apostles of their own with all evidence of the truth; but they would not believe in anything to which they had once given the lie: thus it is that God seals the hearts of those who deny the truth; 101 We did not find most of them true to their covenants; indeed We found most of them to be transgressors. 102 Then We sent, after them, Moses with Our signs to Pharaoh and his Council, but they did them wrong; so behold thou, how was the end of the workers of corruption! 103 Moses said: "O Pharaoh, I have been sent by the Lord of all the worlds; 104 duty-bound to say nothing about God but the truth, and I have brought you a clear sign from your Lord. Let the Children of Israel go with me." 105 He said: if thou hast brought a sign, forth with it then, if thou art of the truth-tellers. 106 Thereupon Moses threw his rod, and suddenly it was a veritable serpent. 107 And he drew forth his hand, and lo! it was white to the beholders. 108