Giving us what we want.
On the surface who wouldn't agree that Pharoah had it all...wealth, power, and all the fineries thereunto. His people worshipped him as divine. It's easy to see why Pharoah would not have a need for God. He had everyone since his birth telling him that HE was divine. Have you ever met someone who appeared to have no need for God? They don't want to admit that they have any needs, weaknesses, and they certainly don't need the God crutch do they?
One thing that really struck me when reading about the Exodus was how the Bible refers several times to God hardening Pharoahs heart. I have read a lot about this because it is confusing that God would cause someones heart to harden. But this is not necessarily interferring with Pharoahs free will, because 1) he wanted it. 2) he had been warned that God would make a spectical of him.
If you have kids it's easier to understand how God could do this. Sometimes kids are so stubborn in having there own way that you have to tunr them over to it, even if it causes them pain in order to get them back.
It will be difficult for us to tell who is on the self destructive path. But they are out there. The guy who is wrecking his family while building his business. The addicted, the prideful, sometimes I feel like I am one bad day away from that.
I need to take inventory and see where my heart is hard. I am sure it is there. And while I'm at it; what has God warned me about? I gotta go...got some thinkin and prayin to do.
How about you?