Stubbornness is a character trait that often goes unnoticed, yet it holds a significant place in the Bible’s teachings. In the sacred scriptures, stubbornness is often compared to witchcraft, a comparison that might seem perplexing at first glance. However, as believers, it is essential to delve deeper into this analogy to better understand the spiritual implications of stubbornness.
Stubbornness, in essence, represents a heart that is unwilling to yield to God’s will and guidance. Just as a witch relies on supernatural forces and opposes God’s authority, stubbornness reflects a rebellion against God’s divine plan for our lives. When we stubbornly resist God’s leading, we essentially engage in spiritual rebellion.
The Bible teaches us that God desires our obedience, humility, and a heart that is open to His guidance. Stubbornness is, in contrast, a manifestation of pride and self-will. It obstructs our ability to align ourselves with God’s purpose and disrupts the divine order in our lives.
As believers, we are called to be pliable clay in the hands of the Divine Potter. Stubbornness hinders this process, making us unyielding and resistant to God’s molding and refining. In essence, it stands as a barrier to spiritual growth and transformation.
To combat stubbornness, we must cultivate a spirit of humility and submission to God’s will. It requires us to regularly examine our hearts, seeking God’s guidance and relinquishing our own desires and plans when they conflict with His. By doing so, we can avoid the pitfalls of stubbornness and draw closer to God’s purpose for our lives.
The Bible’s comparison of stubbornness to witchcraft serves as a poignant reminder for believers. It highlights the importance of yielding to God’s will, maintaining humility, and resisting the urge to let stubbornness take root in our hearts. By doing so, we can walk in alignment with God’s divine plan and avoid the spiritual pitfalls associated with stubbornness.
1 Samuel 15:23
“For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord , he hath also rejected thee from being king”
Proverbs 29:1
“He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy”
Proverbs 1:32
“For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them”
Isaiah 30:1
“Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord , that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin”
Proverbs 28:14
“Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief”
Hebrews 3:8
“Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness”
Zechariah 7:11
“But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear”
Proverbs 14:16
“A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident”
Jeremiah 5:23
“But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone”
Nehemiah 9:17
“And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not”
Romans 2:5
“But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God”
Hebrews 3:15
“While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation”
Exodus 32:9
“And the Lord said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people”
Isaiah 65:2
“I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts”
Daniel 5:20
“But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him”
Acts 7:51
“Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye”
Proverbs 21:29
“A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way”
Exodus 33:3
“Unto a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way”
Deuteronomy 9:13
“Furthermore the Lord spake unto me, saying, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people”
Deuteronomy 9:6
“Understand therefore, that the Lord thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people”
Proverbs 17:19
“He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction”
Proverbs 29:22
“An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression”
Psalm 95:8
“Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness”
Proverbs 13:1
“A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke”
Jeremiah 13:10
“This evil people, which refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing”
Jeremiah 7:24
“But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward”
2 Chronicles 30:8
“Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the Lord , and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the Lord your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you”
Deuteronomy 10:16
“Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked”
Proverbs 10:17
“He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth”
Proverbs 12:1
“Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish”
Proverbs 15:10
“Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die”
Proverbs 15:12
“A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise”
Proverbs 15:32
“He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding”
Proverbs 18:2
“A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself”
Proverbs 19:20
“Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end”
Proverbs 29:19
“A servant will not be corrected by words: for though he understand he will not answer”
Jeremiah 17:23
“But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction”
Psalm 78:8
“And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God”
Nehemiah 9:29
“And testifiedst against them, that thou mightest bring them again unto thy law: yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto thy commandments, but sinned against thy judgments, (which if a man do, he shall live in them;) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear”
Jeremiah 6:10
“To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the Lord is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it”
Proverbs 29:3
“Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance”
Jeremiah 9:14
“But have walked after the imagination of their own heart, and after Baalim, which their fathers taught them”
Zechariah 7:12
“Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of hosts”
Proverbs 16:18
“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall”
