Tag: stiff-necked
God’s stiff-necked people!
Scripture reading for January 30: Exodus 32-34
Exodus 32:9 “And the Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people. Now therefore let Me alone, that My wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them, in order that I may make a great nation of you.”
The nation of Israel quickly turned away from their commitment to obey God alone. When Moses was on the mountain in the cloud and fire for 40 days, the people came to Aaron, who was left in charge and asked for gods who would lead them. Aaron gave in quickly and asked for gold earrings and ornaments. From them Aaron fashioned a golden calf as the god that led them from Egypt. They made hasty plans for a festival, built an altar and sacrificed. They bowed down to the calf-god made by Aaron and God’s anger and jealousy was aroused!
God told Moses about the idolatry and His plans to destroy them. God’s verdict–“They are a stiff-necked people.” (Exodus 34:14) God had just written the tablets on which He emphasized with two commands His order to have no gods before Him and to make no idols. (Exodus 20:3-6) Moses smashed the tablets in holy anger indicating the breaking of God’s Word by the very people who had sworn to obey! (Exodus 32:19; Exodus 24:3) Moses, however did intercede with God, asking Him to spare the people. He asked on the basis of God’s reputation and promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These were precious promises that caused these patriarchs to live by faith and walk by faith. God listened but judgment still fell on those who sinned.
Moses called for those on the Lord’s side and the Levites stepped up. They were told to strap on swords and execute those who participated in the idolatry, even if it was their brother, friend or neighbor! (Exodus 33:27-28) Three thousand were executed that day. Sin is deadly, particularly idolatry! God was jealous because Israel was His Bride! The Messiah, God Son, would be born through her.
What forms does idolatry take in our culture today? Why are God’s people sometimes characterized as stiff-necked?’ What does the Levites using their swords to kill the idolater tell you about our response?
Beware of resisting the Holy Spirit!
Scripture reading for April 22nd: 1st Samuel 6-8, Acts 7
Key Scriptures: Acts 7:51-53 “”You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did you fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have not betrayed and murdered, you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.””
Stephen was arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin for preaching the Gospel with powerful signs and wonders. This incensed some of the Jewish leaders and they had him arrested and brought before them. Stephen stood up boldly, in the power of the Holy Spirit, and addressed the same group of Jewish leaders who had crucified Jesus. He called out their hypocrisy and resistance to God. They were doing what their ancestors had done to the prophets who had told of Messiah and His coming. God was using Stephen to give this group another chance to repent. They hardened their hearts further and killed the messenger of God!
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the Righteous One, foretold by the prophets and come in the flesh to save me and all mankind. Empower me to be a strong Spirit-led witness like Stephen to speak plainly to my generation. May none reject You as King! Amen!
1st Samuel 8:6-7 “But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being King over them.””