Israel a Stiff Neck

Israel remained stubborn and forgetful, despite God’s abundant mercy and help.

In Exodus 13 – 17, Israel went into the wilderness after being freed from slavery. They complained to Moses, blaming God for deliverance every time danger or problem arose. God took great care of HIS people by saving them at the Red Sea, giving them food and drink ... But Israel kept complaining, demonstrating man’s failings – being stubborn, forgetful, unthankful and disobedient, etc.

Israel let fear weaken their faith regardless of God being with them day and night. Fear of the Egyptian’s pursuit drove them to forgetfulness. They failed in recalling God’s wondrous works and HIS omnipotence. They behaved ambivalently – cried out to the LORD and complained against HIM simultaneously.

The Red Sea crossing (walking on dry ground and drowning the enemy) was a stunning salvation of the LORD, worthy of great praise for sure. But after glorifying God, Israel didn’t grow wiser; they backtracked to their ungrateful nature after every God’s help, as below:

1)      Bitter water made sweet

2)      Bread from Heaven

3)      Water from the rock

4)      Victory over the Amalekites

Worries and complaints make people overlooking God’s omnipotence and love even with the existence of memorials such HIS law and the Song of Moses. Israel took God’s deliverance and help for granted and themselves no responsibility to offer steadfast belief, but a victim always. With such ungrateful character, they won’t be capable of cultivating their faith and making proper requests by praying humbly to God without complaint.

Given clear instructions, people were too stiff neck and refused keeping God’s law accordingly. For example, some people collected bread from Heaven for tomorrow (not Sunday); whereas, some went out to collect on Sunday and found none. Nobody could bend God to their own will no matter how disobedient they are.

Man often fails God with unbelief and disobedience, when troubles exist in particular. We don’t have enough patience to undergo difficulties and always ask for a quick fix. We let worries and problems blur our discernment and are too easy surrendering to the “old comfort”, forgetting to behave godly and refusing to embrace God’s grace (new life) that HE promised.

Slavery in Egypt was never good. God arranged the deliverance because HE heard the outcry of Israel. Israel was definitely irresponsible to blame God afterwards. They lost faith when they didn’t enter into the Promised Land immediately even God was with them all the time.

The wilderness served as a testing ground that revealed man’s weak points – being stubborn, forgetful, unthankful, ungrateful, disobedient, impatient, foolish, selfish and irresponsible. A stiff neck will refuse keeping God’s law and seek one’s own downfall.

Let’s pray to God:

Lord Jesus, teach us to be humble, make requests properly and never complain against God. Give us the strength to purge from the failings illustrated by Israel, to remember and appreciate the LORD’s blessing, and never forget HIS love and our responsibility to love HIM in return with full trust and obedience. Amen.