And you have not answered whether God was toying with the Israelites. Here I go.
Man has a free will..he may do what he wills at all times..the question at hand is why do some will to follow Christ and some not??
Because they are free. God does not compell anyone to follow... He invites, but leaves the decision to us.
Do you believe in original sin?
Of course. Just not in the Calvinist "total depravity" corruption of it. The nature is damaged, not destroyed. Bent, not broken. Sick, not dead.
Is mans will stronger than Gods? Who is God then?
It is not a test of wills. The same God whom you believe lowered himself to become man, allows His Creation to be truly free. God allows man to be free, so that man can freely love God.
SD
We both thought of the same analogy. Scary, huh? ;o)