Nobody likes a stiff neck. The discomfort and pain of trying to turn or move one’s neck can be quite irritating. The most common causes of a stiff neck is muscle strain or tension, usually brought about by poor posture—while watching TV or sitting in front of a computer, or even one’s position while sleeping.
Because the stiff neck often prevents one from turning one’s head, it has become a picture of haughty stubbornness, equivalent to “hard-headedness.” This image is drawn from the Bible. It is the image that God used to describe Israel’s repeated resistance to God’s grace extended toward them: “I have seen this people. Look what a stiff-necked people they are!” (Exodus 32.9 NET; see also Exodus 33.3, 5; 34.9; 2 Chronicles 30.8; Jeremiah 7.26) In his answer to the accusations leveled against him by the religious leaders, Stephen uses the same imagery: “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit!” (Acts 7.51 NIV11)
The metaphor of a stiff-necked person is a picture of one whose face is pointed toward a specific direction. When God instructs that person to turn toward another direction, the stiff-necked person ignores or refuses to follow the instruction. In other words, it is a picture of a disobedient heart, completely unyielding to the leadership of God. It is a picture of a person who adopts a poor posture toward God—an unwillingness to be taught or to understand—and is in danger of receiving its painful consequences.
Before we dismiss the matter only as something about ancient Israel, it would be wise to recognize how we often do the same thing—ignore or reject God’s instruction. For example: We hear a word from the Lord through a sermon, a Bible study or devotional lesson, advice from a godly friend, or insight from a song. What do we do about it? Do we resolve to take action, to let the Word make a difference in our lives? Or do we just set it aside as something “inspiring” but not worthy of further attention or action? Very soon we even forget about it. We have adopted a stiff-necked posture toward God.
Nobody likes a stiff neck. Yet somehow we have that tendency to adopt that poor posture before God that easily leads to painful consequences. As Hebrews reminds us: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Hebrews 4.7 HCSB). May we learn what it means always to hear God’s voice and submit to his leadership.
—Keith Y. Jainga