INTRODUCTION

Rebellion is identified in a variety of ways, but the Lord often associates it with a stiff neck. This concept is not unfamiliar in society. A stiff neck forbids the head from bowing. Moses associated it 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 His people by saying 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 attested to the same 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 a head that refuses to bow and allow the mind to be changed by another.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For smaller 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 called them "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...).
• 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?
• Are you willing to allow your will to be overridden by the Lord? Are you willing to submit yourself to God’s plan for you? Are you willing to submit to others 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

LTB DEVOTIONS ON FACEBOOK

Receive the daily devotions on your facebook wall by clicking "Like" on http://www.facebook.com/kingjamesbibledailydevotions.