To suggest that God needs to coierce anyone into doing anything is ludicrous.
Not really: If we have free will and God wants someone to do something that they won't, then he'd have to coerce them.
God brought no tragedies upon Pharaoh until he refused to let them go.
But even after the Pharaoh agreed to let them go, God enacted more plagues because he wasn't done showing off yet. In order to do that, he hardened the Pharaoh's heart so that he would not let them go.
Actually the plauges were not just a demonstration to the children of Israel, they were a way to show Pharoah his patience and longsuffering twords even him.
Wait, wouldn't you show patience by NOT plaguing them? As in, I'll just wait a bit and see if you let them go rather than causing you a bunch of suffering because you won't.
He could as you suggest simply kill him. Why didnt he?
I dunno, the Bible has stories of God doing all kinds of stuff that doesn't make sense. And you could use your argument for anything. He could simply kill them with a snap of his finger,
why did he flood the whole planet?
Why would God need to lie, show off or brag. Such an approach is nonsense
He is a jealous God.
Its simply the usual nonsense of trying to find contradiction where none exist
I'm not trying to find contradiction, and in fact this isn't even a contradiction. You're just unwilling to accept that God removed the Pharaoh's free will when he hardened his heart.
But its plainly apparent from a simple reading of the story. The Lord even detailed his plan before he went through with it.
Good point, now think about it logically. If Sin, which is a product of free will, is so serious, why would God give free will then just pull it away, reguardless of who it is. Judas, Pharaoh or anyone.
Because he was making an example of the Pharaoh. He wanted to show off to the children so they'd know how powerful he was.
the plauges demonstrate his mercy, patience and long suffering
Now
THAT is ludicrous.