According to Kristi, this passage is a problem because it challenges the notion of humans having free will. If God has complete control over whether or not a person will be stubborn, then how can it, also, be true that we have free will? And if we don't have free will, then how can God hold us accountable for things, of which, we have no control? Isn't that unloving?
At first glance, it appears that Kristi is right. It seems as if she's uncovered a reality, in which, God isn't loving, and that he's quite sinister. However, it doesn't take long to recognize that, the only thing that this passage reveals, is God's divine perspective; which is something that's, often, beyond our comprehension. Although, in this case, the reality isn't beyond human comprehension. It just isn't readily obvious.
So, let's try to look at this passage from God's perspective; who is unlimited.
As humans, some things are quite binary. Either humans have free will, or we don't. God controls our minds, or he doesn't. To us, both, simply, can't be true, at the same time.
However, if you're God, and you know everything, then you know the fate of everyone. And if you have control over all things, then you have control over a person's fate. And if you can do anything, then you can make it so that a person has free will.
So, when God creates a person, he makes them unique, with free will. They're going to choose something, with their free will, and God knows what it is. If he makes them slightly different, they may choose something different. However, he'd know that, too. Regardless of how they are made with their free will, God knows what each person will do, with their free will, since he's the one who created them, and he knows all things. So, in that sense, God has control over what people do, despite the fact that we all have free will. So, it's true, when he says that he made the king of Egypt stubborn.
From the human perspective, this should lay to rest the idea that we humans, have absolutely no control of our destinies. We have control, and God has given us that control. However, because he's God, he already knows who's going to choose what, and he knows where we'll all end up. He's, also, in control of all of these things. We have control, while God is, also, in control. We choose, while God has, also, already chosen.
What's striking, to me, is how sad, tragic, and dangerous, this situation is. Kristi, is convinced that her knowledge, and understanding, are infallible. She says, with complete confidence, that, either, people have free will, or God controls people. She's absolutely certain that both can't be true. She stakes her eternal destiny on it. Yet, here we are. It's only after enough careful examination, that we're able to see how both are true. Her assessment is wrong, even though she seems completely certain, that she can't be wrong.
Based on her flawed assessment, Kristi has chosen to stop following Christ. It's a decision that impacts her entire eternal destiny; which is what makes her approach so dangerous.
So, what is Kristi's approach? Her approach is to rely on her own knowledge, intellect, and understanding, rather than recognize the limitations of her own mental capability.
The Bible talks about the importance of trusting God, rather than placing complete trust in our own intellect. Proverbs 3:5-6, reads as follows:
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know. Remember the Lord in everything you do, and he will show you the right way."
-Proverbs 3:5-6
This verse is extremely simple, yet, it contains wisdom that affects a person's eternal destiny.
We now see how God is able to control people, while we, still, have free will, at the same time. It's a concept that's not beyond human comprehension. However, this isn't always the case. There are some things about God, and about reality, that are beyond us. This is because human comprehension, continues to have limits.
God has attributes that are unlimited. At times, we're just too limited to completely understand him. He's even told us this. In Isaiah 55:8-9, God has explained that humans are unable to completely comprehend him. That passage reads, as follows:
"'My thoughts,' says the Lord, 'are not like yours, and my ways are different from yours. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways and thoughts above yours.'"
-Isaiah 55:8-9