How did the Egyptians view the pharaoh?

The Egyptians viewed the pharaoh as the maintainer of ma'at - the Egyptian concept of justice, stability, order, and peace. The pharaoh's role was to serve as a conduit between the supernatural and natural worlds, interacting with the gods in order to bring good fortune to the Egyptians. In that sense, the pharaoh's responsibility lied in his ability to maintain the day-in-day-out functions of the state and to prevent disruptions or chaos.