Stiff Necked קְשֵׁה־עֹ֖רֶף

We are in chapter thirty-two of Exodus with our word for today which is a phrase. קְשֵׁה־עֹ֖רֶף stiff-necked, stubborn. It is used 6 times in the Old Testament. Let’s start with our chapter since it is also the first time it is used in the Bible. Exodus 32:9-10 And the Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, it is a קְשֵׁה־עֹ֖רֶף stiff-necked people. Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them, in order that I may make a great nation of you.” God’s anger at sin continues into the next two chapters along with our phrase. Exodus 33:3-5 Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; but I will not go up among you, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a קְשֵׁה־עֹ֙רֶף֙ stiff-necked people.” When the people heard this disastrous word, they mourned, and no one put on his ornaments. For the Lord had said to Moses, “Say to the people of Israel, ‘You are a קְשֵׁה־עֹ֔רֶף stiff-necked people; if for a single moment I should go up among you, I would consume you. So now take off your ornaments, that I may know what to do with you.’” Something changes and that is Moses steps in to intercede for the people. Exodus 34:9 And he said, “If now I have found favor in your sight, O Lord, please let the Lord go in the midst of us, for it is a קְשֵׁה־עֹ֙רֶף֙ stiff-necked people, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance.” Deuteronomy 9:6, 13-14 Know, therefore, that the Lord your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a קְשֵׁה־עֹ֖רֶף stubborn people. Remember and do not forget how you provoked the Lord your God to wrath in the wilderness. From the day you came out of the land of Egypt until you came to this place, you have been rebellious against the Lord. Even at Horeb you provoked the Lord to wrath, and the Lord was so angry with you that he was ready to destroy you … Furthermore, the Lord said to me, ‘I have seen this people, and behold, it is a קְשֵׁה־עֹ֖רֶף stubborn people. So what did God do about his wanting to destroy his people because of their sin and instead make a great nation out of Moses? He forgives his people. What is interesting is this forgiveness is an answer to Moses prayer. Deuteronomy 9:25-26 So I lay prostrate before the Lord for these forty days and forty nights, because the Lord had said he would destroy you. And I prayed to the Lord, ‘O Lord God, do not destroy your people and your heritage, whom you have redeemed through your greatness, whom you have brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand. God offering to forgive sin is the major theme of the entire Bible. God’s love, mercy, and forgiveness are who he is. Right after the church is started we see a reference to our phrase as well as God’s mercy being extended once again to his stubborn people. When Stephen a deacon in the early church is accused of speaking against the temple and the law he shares the good news of Jesus to the religious leaders. At the end of his sermon he makes reference to our phrase because of their rejection of God’s offer of forgiveness. Acts 7:51 You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.” At this point the religious leaders put Stephen to death but as he was dying he offers a prayer of forgiveness for these stubborn stiff necked people just like Moses had done. I’ll close with Stephen’s prayer. Acts 7:59-60 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.