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 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! Verily, I am an apostle from the Sustainer of all the worlds, 104 worthy to say nothing regarding God except the truth. I have brought a clear sign to you from your Lord; so send forth with me the Children of Israel.' 105 [Pharaoh] said, "If you come with a sign, then produce it, if you are telling the truth." 106 Then Moses threw down his staff and suddenly, unmistakably, it appeared as a serpent, 107 And he drew forth his hand, and lo, it was white to the beholders. 108