How did Pharaoh's magicians turn their staff into a snake?

We didn't know so we found this on the web:

Here’s how it could have been done. Susan Schaffer, a reptile curator at the San Diego Zoo, explained that to measure the length of a snake, she takes a tightfitting tube and coaxes the snake into it, as snakes like dark, tight-fitting environs. To replicate the illusion of changing a rod into a snake, a telescopic shell must be constructed to house the snake. Given the materials available during that time period, such as a piece of pliable papyrus, this could easily be made. With the snake concealed inside the “staff,” the magician would simply have to pass his hand over the shell, collapsing it at the same time, leaving the snake in its place. This action could be covered by the motion of throwing the staff to the ground, creating the illusion that the staff visibly changes to a snake.

Why was Joseph Jacob's favourite son?

Jacob had two wives, Rachel and Leah but he loved Rachel more than Leah. Leah then had lots of children and Rachel didn't have any. Finally Rachel gave birth to Joseph and so Jacob loved him more than all the others because he was the son of his favourite wife. Later on Rachel had Benjamin and he was also loved very much by Jacob.

Why aren't all people Christians?

When Adam and Eve turned their back on God sin entered the world. What is sin? Sin is the desire in men and women, boys and girls to run their own lives they want to without God. That is the state that everyone is in when they are born. However if people turn to God and ask for forgiveness they can be his friends. God wants us to make our own decisions and he won't force anyone to turn to him against their will. That means that people who are not Christians have chosen to keep their backs turned to God.

Why didn't God just open up the Red Sea himself and instead give Moses the power from his staff?

1. By telling Moses to use his staff the people would give him respect and follow up.
2. Moses is God's mouthpiece. God speaks to Moses and then Moses speaks to the people. God had to explain what he was doing so that the people would know it wasn't a fluke.