“Do not now be stiff-necked as your fathers were, but yield to the Lord…” 2 Chronicles 30:8
When I was growing up my older brother had a sheep he was raising as an agriculture project in school, her name was Lucy. I would often help care for Lucy, and man was Lucy a piece of work. Lucy did whatever she wanted…all the time. When you attempted to lead Lucy somewhere on halter she would simply stop, lock every muscle and joint in her body and then give you a really mean sheep stare, angry that you dared to lead her. That little chunk of lamb could resist with everything in her if you were trying to get her to do something she didn’t want to do. And it is here, in this vivid imagery of Lucy, that we see the definition of the term “stiff-necked.” Moses first used the term way back in Exodus 32 to describe the Israelites he was leading through the wilderness, and considering he was talking to an agrarian community; they would have understood exactly what he was inferring. And it wasn’t good. The idea that as God is attempting to lead His people to where He wants them, they stiffen in defiance and refuse to go. The idea that as God is attempting to use them to do good for His kingdom, they are tensing every muscle in their body, digging in their heels, and refusing in stubbornness. You know, the Israelites didn’t corner the market of being stiff-necked. Our planet today is covered with people that are daily, continuing to be stiff-necked to Almighty God. They simply refuse to be led. The funny thing about being stiff-necked is you know when you are doing it. Sure, the initial act may be in the subconscious, but as the stubbornness proceeds, you have to mentally command your body, mind, and spirit to resist. You can feel it. A now conscious act to resist, pull against, and defy what is being asked of you. An act of withdrawing your obedience. A refusal to be led. You can be stiff-necked to a spouse, parents, children, a boss, a pastor, authority in general, and yes, especially to God. Today, are you being stiff-necked to God? He always has your best interest in mind but if you refuse to be led, you may never realize the straight path He has for you just around the bend. There might be a beautiful rolling green pasture right over the next hill but if you refuse to be led, you will never walk in the lush blades of soft green. The view rarely changes for the stiff-necked. Or God might be calling you into a redemptive, saving relationship with His Son Jesus Christ. God’s Holy Spirit might be calling you to confess your sinful ways and cry out to Jesus to save you from an eternity separated from Him. His Holy Spirit might be calling you into His family, offering you an eternity in Heaven through the work of Jesus on the cross. But you’re dug in. Your heels are dragging across the ground leaving deep trails of resistance. Stop resisting, stop being stiff-necked. Be led. Be led into Salvation through the blood that Jesus Christ shed on the cross, just for you. Be led in the direction of Christ’s saving grace today…be led.
“And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it...” Isaiah 30:21
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