Stiff-Necked People

BIBLE STUDY #818- CHURCH IN THE HOUSES TUESDAY, JUNE 24 - 30, 2014 Topic: “Stiff-Necked People” Exodus 33:1-6

We think that we are great when we talk more and presume among God’s people. That’s how people are measured, according to how much they talk and pretend to be before others. We forget that God looks at the vanity of the presumptuous heart; God looks at the heart of those who believe to have better qualities than others or believe to be more than they really are. Our conceited and arrogant heart presumes to know and makes us believe what we are not. Then, when we are resisted, the harshness of our cervix is manifested. The cervix is the rape of the neck, what many people refuse to bend. For those who are neck-stiffed it is difficult to subordinate themselves and abandon the haughty and arrogant bad attitude. THE ARROGANCE AND PRIDE ARE AMONG THE BELEIVERS GREATEST SINS. Those who are haughty and arrogant demand recognition. They pretend to have a lot and be great, but they are not capable of measuring up with their lives. If they truly had what they presume they wouldn’t demand so much recognition and applauses from the people. That is why they demand, they demand acknowledgement of WHAT GOD HAS NEVER GIVEN THEM. The insistence is to shine when they are not willing to serve but rather what they want is to be served. God wanted for that nation to submit to the yoke of the law. He wanted to unite them with Him with the bond of His pact. But, we see that men’s great problem is PRIDE. Do you think that nowadays we have been so humble as to submit ourselves to our beloved Jesus? What we do is we seek “what is ours” in the path of Christ. That is what we do; we use the Lord’s name for our pride. The necks, also nowadays, are too harsh as for to yield to the divine requirements! The case is that God judges all men; God forms a judgment of them according to how He sees the disposition of their minds. WE KNOW WHAT MEN DO, but, GOD KNOWS WHAT MAN IS! WE SEE WHAT MEN PRODUCE, but, GOD SEES WHAT IS INSIDE OF MEN! And there is nothing that displeases God more than the harshness of the cervix of those who pretend to follow Him. One is very clear of what one is capable of doing, each person knows how much he can give and how far he can go; but, those who believe they are great and are arrogant use wise words to carry out a message of presumption and of boast. But, his hidden actions manifest what is really in him although he tries or is able to pretend. It is clear in Heaven what we are and what we do. GOD CANNOT BE MOCKED OR DECEIVED! So GOD indeed knows what is within you; He knows well what you do. We see how men walk, we hear their words and see their actions, but, God sees what is inside of him. Then, the proud and arrogant are subjected by God how harsh their cervix can be; well with God one cannot react that way. 1 Peter 5:5 “Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility towards one another, because: “GOD OPPOSES THE PROUD BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.” God resists men for their harsh cervix. If God treated men according to their sin He would consume them. Because what men deserve is just payment for their harsh cervix. Who can clearly see what is in you is the Divine God who is never blind or overwhelmed in feelings. For God things are what they truly are, there is no hideout where men can hide from His glory. If God treated men according to their sins there wouldn’t be an earth, judgment would come rapidly and with great destruction. God sent the people of Israel to go to the Promise Land. But, they received bad news from God himself, He denied them the extraordinary signs of HIS PRESENCE (Exodus 33:3 “…but I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.”) On their way to Canaan they would have ABSENCE OF GOD FOR THEIR SINS! God had told Moses; “I will send an angel before you”, as the protector (Vs. 2). It was like saying to them: “Because, otherwise the evil angels will destroy you soon, but let it be known that I will not arise among you because I might destroy you on the way.” It is not that God had intentions to destroy them because He would have already done it, but He wanted them to understand what He thought. Justice cries out: “remove them and consume them,” but mercy said: “How can I give you up, Ephraim?” (Hosea 11:8) God says to them in Exodus 33:5 “Now take off your ornaments and I will decide what to do with you.” It was like saying: “PLACE YOURSELF IN AN ATTITUDE OF REPENTANCE so that mercy may rejoice against judgment.” Calls for repentance are clear indications that God is ready and prepared for His mercy. They were mourning because of their sins which induced God to leave them, so they grieved. There was no beauty; WHEN THERE IS REPENTANCE THERE IS GRIEF! Of all the bitter fruits and the consequences for sinning what all believers regret and fear most is THAT GOD WILL SEPARATE FROM THEM! Adornments are left for another day, well it is the day for repentance, day of mourning and grief. The arrogant talk and talk and touch the holy, but if that nation had persevered with an attitude of humbleness and mourning GOD WOULD HAVE SHOWN HIS MERCY. Let us be docile and have a good attitude towards repentance, let us yield our cervix and we will see HIS MERCY AND FAVOR! Amen.