For God's Glory

I think Pharaoh gets the shaft most of the time. Sure, he was a dick to Moses and the Israelites but God, admittedly, hardened his heart to do so.

But I love what God says about Pharaoh.

"For by now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with a plague that would have wiped you off the earth. But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." (Exodus 9:15, 16 NIV)

"Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials so that I may perform these signs of mine among them that you may tell your children and grandchildren how I dealt harshly with the Egyptians and how I performed my signs among them, and that you may know that I am the Lord .” (Exodus 10:1, 2 NIV)

God is using Pharaoh so his glory can be seen and his name glorified. Pharaoh, despite being a major pain in Moses and the Israelites butt, is still being used by God to further His purposes.

It's an extremely encouraging passage of Scripture. Even when life seems like a pain in the neck and nothing seems to be working in your favor, God is at work. And there's no situation that he can't use to bring His name Glory.