The Bible speaks about stubbornness, often warning against the dangers of hardening one’s heart against God’s will. Stubbornness, when directed toward resisting God’s guidance, can lead to negative consequences. Let’s explore how Scripture encourages us to be open to correction and to seek God’s wisdom over our own stubborn desires.
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What Does The Bible Say About Being Stubborn
Exodus 32:9
“I have seen these people,” the LORD said to Moses, “and they are a stiff-necked people.”
This verse depicts God’s observation of the Israelites as a stubborn and rebellious nation. Their stiff-necked attitude refers to their unwillingness to submit to God’s authority and guidance.
It serves as a cautionary reminder to us of the dangers of being stubborn and resistant to God’s will, as it can lead to spiritual stagnation and distance from God.
Proverbs 29:1
“Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.”
In this verse, we are warned about the consequences of persistent stubbornness. Those who continue to resist correction and refuse to change their ways are subject to destruction and bring upon themselves irreversible damage.
It emphasizes the importance of being open to correction and willing to humble ourselves before God and others, allowing room for growth, and avoiding the destructive path of stubbornness.
Acts 7:51
“You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit!”
Stephen’s bold proclamation to the religious leaders reveals their rebellious and unyielding nature. He accuses them of being stiff-necked, refusing to receive the message of salvation and resisting the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
It serves as a powerful reminder to be attentive to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, avoiding the trap of stubbornness, and being receptive to God’s leading.
Proverbs 28:14
“Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.”
This verse highlights the contrast between a heart that is soft and responsive to God and a heart that is hardened and stubborn. It conveys the idea that those who consistently approach God with reverence and humility will experience blessings, while those who harden their hearts will face difficulties and challenges.
It encourages us to cultivate a heart that is tender towards God, willing to listen and submit to His guidance, rather than stubbornly pursuing our own path.
Jeremiah 7:26
“But they did not listen to me or pay attention. They were stiff-necked and did more evil than their ancestors.”
This verse describes the ongoing disobedience of the people of Israel. Despite God’s repeated calls for them to listen and heed His commands, they persisted in their stubbornness and even surpassed the evil deeds of their forefathers.
It serves as a warning against the destructive nature of stubbornness and the potential to escalate our rebellion if we refuse to turn our hearts towards God and His ways.
Zechariah 7:11-12
“But they refused to pay attention; stubbornly they turned their backs and covered their ears. They made their hearts as hard as flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the LORD Almighty had sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets.”
This passage describes the Israelites’ persistent rebellion and refusal to listen to God’s instructions and prophetic messages. Their hardened hearts reflect their determination to resist God’s calling and avoid conviction.
It serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of stubbornness and the importance of staying attentive to God’s Word, allowing it to soften our hearts and guide our actions.
Nehemiah 9:16-17
“But they, our ancestors, became arrogant and stiff-necked, and they did not obey your commands. They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery.”
This passage recounts the Israelites’ history of rebellion and disobedience. It highlights their arrogance and stubbornness, leading them to disregard God’s commands, forget His miracles, and even seek to return to their former enslavement.
It serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us of the need to guard against pride and stubborn self-will, remembering God’s faithfulness, and remaining obedient to His will.
Psalm 95:8
“Do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in the wilderness.”
This verse recalls the incident in the wilderness where the Israelites hardened their hearts and doubted God’s provision and care. It serves as a warning not to repeat their mistakes by allowing stubbornness to hinder our relationship with God.
It encourages us to trust in God’s faithfulness and to maintain a soft, pliable heart, ready to receive His guidance and blessings.
Romans 2:5
“But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.”
In this verse, the apostle Paul addresses the danger of persistently refusing to repent and turn from disobedience. Stubbornness and an unrepentant heart lead to the accumulation of God’s judgment, storing up His wrath for the final day of reckoning.
It highlights the urgency of repentance and the need to abandon stubbornness, recognizing the consequences of persisting in rebellion against God.
Psalm 81:11-12
“But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.”
This passage portrays God’s response to Israel’s refusal to listen and submit to Him. As a consequence of their stubbornness, He allowed them to follow their own desires and devices, experiencing the consequences of their rebellion.
It serves as a reminder of the danger of stubbornness and the importance of surrendering to God’s will, trusting in His wisdom rather than relying on our limited understanding.
Jeremiah 19:15
“This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘Listen! I am going to bring on this city and all the villages around it every disaster I pronounced against them because they were stiff-necked and would not listen to my words.'”
In this verse, Jeremiah communicates God’s declaration of judgment upon Jerusalem and its surrounding towns due to their stubborn refusal to heed His words. Their stiff-necked rebellion resulted in the fulfillment of the prophesied disasters.
It serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of persistent stubbornness and emphasizes the need for us to be attentive to God’s voice in order to avoid the tragic outcomes of our own disobedience.
Exodus 33:3
“Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.”
Following the Israelites’ worship of the golden calf, God expresses His reluctance to accompany them to the Promised Land due to their stubbornness and the potential for His wrath to consume them along the journey.
This verse serves as a stern warning about the dangerous consequences of disobedience and emphasizes the need to address our stubbornness and seek reconciliation with God.
Deuteronomy 9:13-14
“And the LORD said to me, ‘I have seen this people, and indeed they are a stiff-necked people. Let Me alone, that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven; and I will make of you a nation mightier and greater than they.'”
As Moses intercedes on behalf of the Israelites, God declares His displeasure with their stubbornness and reveals His intent to bring judgment upon them. He even offers to start anew with Moses by making him the leader of a great nation.
This verse serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of unchecked stubbornness and the importance of seeking God’s forgiveness and turning from our rebellious ways.
2 Chronicles 30:8
“Do not be stiff-necked, as your ancestors were; submit to the LORD. Come to his sanctuary, which he has consecrated forever. Serve the LORD your God, so that his fierce anger will turn away from you.”
Hezekiah’s plea to the people of Israel to abandon their stubbornness and submit to the Lord is a call to humble repentance and faithful worship. He urges them to serve God so that His anger may be appeased and blessings restored.
This verse reminds us of the importance of repentance and surrender in order to experience God’s mercy and favor in our lives.
2 Chronicles 36:13
“He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him take an oath in God’s name. He became stiff-necked and hardened his heart and would not turn to the LORD, the God of Israel.”
This verse describes the reign of King Zedekiah, who, despite making an oath in God’s name, rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar and hardened his heart against turning to the Lord. His stiff-necked attitude resulted in destruction and judgment upon the kingdom of Judah.
It serves as a cautionary example of the consequences of stubbornness and the importance of remaining faithful and obedient to God’s commands.
Deuteronomy 31:27
“For I know how rebellious and stiff-necked you are. If you have been rebellious against the LORD while I am still alive and with you, how much more will you rebel after I die!”
Moses, aware of the Israelites’ stubbornness, acknowledges their rebellious nature and warns them of the potential for further rebellion even after his death. He understands the depth of their resistance to God’s leadership.
It serves as a reminder that stubbornness is deeply ingrained in human nature, necessitating vigilance, repentance, and dependence on God’s grace to overcome.
Deuteronomy 9:6
“Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people.”
Moses addresses the Israelites, emphasizing that their possession of the promised land is not due to their righteousness but only through God’s grace. He reminds them of their inherent stubbornness.
This verse serves as a humbling reminder that our blessings and favor from God do not come from our own merit but are a result of His unmerited love and generosity.
Proverbs 14:16
“The wise fear the LORD and shun evil, but a fool is hotheaded and yet feels secure.”
This verse highlights the contrast between wisdom and foolishness. The wise are characterized by their fear of the Lord, which includes acknowledging their own imperfections, while a fool’s arrogant and stubborn nature makes them feel secure in their own misguided ways.
It serves as a reminder to seek wisdom through humility, recognizing our need for God’s guidance rather than relying on our own limited understanding.
Jeremiah 6:15
“Are they ashamed of their detestable conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; they will be brought down when I punish them,” says the LORD.”
This verse describes a people who have become so stubborn and hardened that they have lost the ability to feel shame. Their refusal to acknowledge their detestable conduct leads to judgment and downfall.
It serves as a cautionary reminder of the importance of maintaining a contrite and humble heart, ready to acknowledge and repent of our sins, in order to avoid the devastating consequences of stubbornness.
Psalm 78:8
“They would not be like their ancestors—a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose spirits were not faithful to him.”
This verse focuses on the Israelites’ failure to break the cycle of stubbornness and rebellion. It highlights their lack of loyalty to God and their faithlessness.
It calls us to examine our own hearts, encouraging us to remain steadfast in our loyalty to God and to avoid the pitfalls of stubbornness and unfaithfulness.
Isaiah 48:4
“For I knew how stubborn you were; your neck muscles were iron, your forehead was bronze.”
In this verse, God speaks of His awareness of the Israelites’ stubbornness and refusal to yield to His guidance and commands. He uses vivid imagery to emphasize the extent of their hardened state.
It serves as a reminder for us to examine our own hearts and recognize any areas of stubbornness that may hinder our relationship with God, pledging to yield and submit to His leading.
Proverbs 21:29
“A wicked person puts up a bold front, but an upright person gives thought to their ways.”
This verse contrasts the behavior of the wicked, who stubbornly display a defiant front, with the righteous, who carefully consider their actions and align them with God’s ways.
It serves as a reminder to evaluate our own motives and actions, seeking to surrender our stubbornness and align our lives with God’s righteous standards.
Acts 7:57-58
“At this, they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him.”
This verse describes the reaction of the religious leaders to Stephen’s message, stubbornly refusing to listen and instead reacting violently, ultimately leading to his martyrdom.
It serves as a caution against allowing stubbornness to blind us to the truth, prompting us to remain open to God’s word and to respond with humility and grace rather than with anger and hostility.