I have to say, I’m surprised at Aaron’s willingness to orchestrate the creation the golden calf for the children of Israel. They all witnessed God‘s might through many miracles, but didn’t Aaron talk with God along with Moses when they lived in Egypt? Didn’t God assign him and his sons to be the priests for the people? And then, after he was caught, did he really think that Moses would believe the gold miraculously came out of the fire in the form of a calf?

I believe the magicians contributed to Pharoah’s stubborn resistance. The magicians, with their counterfeit wonders, gave Pharoah false confidence to put God’s power on the level of his magicians, and therefore he didn’t believe or fear God as he should have. And I’m sure ego played a part as well...reminds me of the egos of some politicians nowaday.

You could look at Joseph‘s ‘problems’ as simply one path towards his destiny. Once God gave him the dreams, that promise will be fulfilled, even though the entire route cannot be seen or understood by man. Similar to GPS...it may take you different ways due to traffic condition, but the final destination will be sure.