INTRODUCTION

Rebellion is identified in a variety of ways, but the Lord often associates it to someone with a stiff neck. Society should find this concept easily grasped. A stiff neck impedes the head from bowing. Moses directly associated the stiff neck with rebellion when he said, “For I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck” (Deuteronomy 31:27For I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been rebellious against the LORD; and how much more after my death?
See All...). Like Moses, the Lord identified the rebellion of the children of Israel when He stated that they were “a stiffnecked people” (Exodus 32:9And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people:
See All...). Isaiah likewise attested to this truth by stating that rebellious people had a neck of iron sinew and a brow of brass (Isaiah 48:4Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;
See All...). These descriptive terms demonstrate that rebellion is exemplified by an individual who refuses to bow and allow the mind to be changed. He has an unyielding spirit.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For children): God told Ezekiel how the children of Israel felt toward Him (Ezekiel 2:3And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day.
  See All...; Ezekiel 3:7But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto me: for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted.
  See All...). They rebelled against God, His prophets, and even God’s Son. Stephen referred to them as “stiffnecked” (Acts 7:51-60 [51] Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. [52] Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: [53] Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. [54] When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. [55] But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, [56] And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. [57] Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, [58] And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. [59] And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. [60] And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
  See All...).
• (For everyone): Have you ever been described as stubborn, obstinate, stiffnecked, or hardheaded? Did you take it as something for which you should be proud? How should you take such comments when they accurately depict your spirit?
• Are you willing to allow the Lord to control and direct your will? Are you willing to submit yourself to God’s plan for your life and future? Are you willing to submit to godly influences as commanded by the Lord?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask the Lord to give you a neck willing to bow to Him.
• Ask God to help you see your rebellion as He sees it.

HYMN

CONFLICTING FEELINGS

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