Have you ever wanted that Butterfinger or Snickers when you knew you shouldn't eat it? Have you ever wanted someone's affection and desire so much you found yourself doing odd things to get it? Have you ever wanted a new car or dress or computer software so much you had to have it right now and so put yourself in debt for it?
Have we not got world leaders and groups of people today who seem to believe they can do anything they want to get what they want, no matter the costs or chance of success?
I agree with several of the previous posts--Ar-Pharazon, the most powerful (at least he had no reason to doubt it based on his track record) king in ME is seeing the end of his days approaching
and listening to the subtle & logical lies of Sauron. I don't think Ar-Pharazon was ever noted for his great wisdom and powers of foresight, Numenorean though he was.
It doesn't matter whether he believed he could achieve his goal by eating anything or forcing the Valar to his will. (Although eating something wouldn't seem such a hard thing to do, would it? I can just see him visualizing the "archipelago" of armed ships behind him as he held out a sword in one hand, an apple in the other, and with one eye cocked at Manwe as he bit into a tomoato!)
He continued to act in accordance with what Tolkien called "the fall," that began with the Valar--which, if I understand it correctly, involves not trusting a higher power's power and plan as well as thinking one can usurp that higher power's power, however innocently (Aule) or not (Melkor).
Ar-Pharazon had absolute power in his neighborhood. He was afraid. He desired something very, very much. He listened to rationalizations. "Those who will not learn from history . . . "