Pharaoh is an interesting dude. It must have been a pride thing. It's like when one of my kids decides for whatever reason he doesn't like dinner even though I know its something they would like. But no amount of convincing will change their minds and within minutes it becomes a matter of pride, a battle of wills, and no longer has anything to do with the original issue. This is what it must have been like. Pharaoh probably was thinking that he would be the first king of Egypt to bow down to another. He probably figured his life was over either way, either a despondent and weak ruler who would go down in history as the biggest schlub in what at the time he probably thought to be the greatest nation in the world. I feel the same sorts of feeling sometimes. Pride is a terrible thing and is difficult to let go. Though I'm not the king of egypt, I'm the king of my own little world and face pressures that often feel just as big as what pharaoh must have been feeling. I think the lesson is for me is to be conscious that pride has consequences that can be severe and unexpected.

Interesting discussion guys. I think Tony that there is wisdom in what you are saying about only being able to rely on the holy spirit. It's the only way I can reconcile the idea that the Bible God's revelation to all people at all times... because of course we all have had different study resources over the centuries. Additionally it is virtually impossible for us to read any or study any part of scripture without interjecting our own personal bias and experience. But at the same time... there has to be just one truth buried at the center right? Throughout time God has been using people to show and tell the story. A ton of what we believe and trust in comes from Paul writing letters to people he thought needed guidance right? Are people who write devotionals, blogs, etc just following his lead?

At first I couldn't figure out why Pharoah wouldn't let them go. But at its core Pharoah is hanging on to his lifestyle. Don't we do the same? Don't we make a million justifications in our minds and convince ourselves that we shouldn't let go of the money or the job that makes our life easier?