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 To those [earlier] communities - some of whose stories We relate to you - there had indeed come Messengers with clear proofs, but they would not believe what they had once rejected as false. Thus it is that Allah seals the hearts of those who deny the truth. 101 And We did not find in most of them any (faithfulness to) covenant, and We found most of them to be certainly transgressors. 102 After them We sent Moses with Our signs to Pharaoh and his chiefs. But they willfully rejected them. Consider the end of the evil-doers. 103 And Moses said: 'O Pharaoh! I am a Messenger from the Lord of the universe. 104 And it behoves me to say nothing about Allah except what is true. I have come to you with a clear sign of having been sent from your Lord. So let the Children of Israel go with me.' 105 [Pharaoh] said, "If you come with a sign, then produce it, if you are telling the truth." 106 Then he flung down his staff and lo! it was a serpent manifest; 107 Then he uncovered his hand and it appeared sheer white to the onlookers. 108