Who Are You Calling Stiff-Necked? (Exodus 33)

A Reflection for Monday, March 17 by Rev. Joy Fishler

Lectionary reading for 03/17/2025: Psalm 105:1-42; Exodus 33:1-6; Romans 4:1-12

Selected passage for reflection: Exodus 33:1-6

Read 

Exodus 33:1-6

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ 2 I will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 3 Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.” 4 When the people heard these distressing words, they began to mourn and no one put on any ornaments. 5 For the Lord had said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. If I were to go with you even for a moment, I might destroy you. Now take off your ornaments and I will decide what to do with you.’” 6 So the Israelites stripped off their ornaments at Mount Horeb. 

Reflect

When I think back to when I’m most angry with my spouse, children or family members, like boiling over mad, it’s first and foremost because my heart got hurt. Anger can be the response to the hurt and pain I feel. If you’ve been married for longer than a minute you might be lifting up your coffee mug to me as you read this and say, “cheers to that!” However, years ago I had an adult sibling accuse me of saying something behind their back to other family members. It was a case of he said/she said and my words were misconstrued and taken out of context and incorrectly shared. I would never have said what I was accused of saying. No matter how much I explained, I couldn’t convince them otherwise. I felt like I was in the twilight zone. This is such a simple misunderstanding I’d think to myself. Yet, this issue blew up and before I knew it my character was assassinated. Months went by and my deep hurt wrote an email. It was like anger took the keyboard and told hurt and pain to sit back and watch how this is done. I wrote an angry ugly email that I wish I’d never sent (this sibling wouldn’t take my phone calls). I no longer defended myself, I turned into an accuser and destroyed what little of the relationship was left. All of this because I was truly brokenhearted. 

In verse 3, God says, “I might destroy you on the way,” and in verse 5, “you are a stiff-necked people.” Strong’s Concordance of the Bible defines stiff-necked as stubborn, hardhearted, impudent, obstinate and cruel. God is hurt. This people that He loves more than anything keeps worshiping other gods even after they were rescued from slavery, miraculously provided for over and over and over again. God is so faithful, so patient, so kind and SO FORGIVING. Right before they were to enter the promised land, the people went and made themselves a golden calf to worship. God is angry. His direct presence would be dangerous for the Israelites. God distances Himself from them as a consequence of their sin, though He still promises to fulfill His covenant, just from slightly “over there.” 

God is brokenhearted and God is angry. The people He loves with all His heart have turned against him once again, BUT He doesn’t unleash his anger, He leads them forward in love. My actions of anger have never led to peace and they never will. Getting hurt and angry is something we will always have to navigate, but what we do with it can bring life or it can bring death. 

Respond 

The bad news is, we are those Israelites. Maybe we aren’t “stiff-necked” today but we probably were and probably will be at some point again. Humanity is flawed. There is a promise land ahead for each of us and I want to walk into it holding hands and singing songs (not really but I think you get the idea). The thought of Jesus being broken hearted because of me is a sobering thought. What must we do? We go back to step 1. Repentance. We always go back to step 1, every single day if we have to. What am I “worshipping” other than Jesus? Repent. Where have I allowed anger to take over? Repent. Where have I followed my own selfish desires? Repent.  

Rest 

Jesus, how patient you are with me. How faithful you are even when I am not. There is nothing in this world that satisfies like you do. Help me to look more like you. Help me to act more like you. Help me to live in a manner that makes you proud. I want to be the best version of myself and I can only do that through you. Jesus, help me to follow you well. Thank you for the gift of repentance. Thank you for the gift of your patience and thank you that you gave up your life for all humanity. I love you.  

About the Author 

Joy Fishler

Joy Fishler is an Ordained Minister in the Evangelical Covenant Church. She has a Masters Degree from North Park Seminary in Christian Formation. She currently resides with her family in the Sacramento Area and is the Pastor of Adult Ministry at Life Community Church. She loves Jesus, loves people and absolutely loves raising her teenage girls. She has a passion for preaching and leading people to the heart of the Father. She truly believes that there is nothing better than Jesus and following Him is the only life worth living. @joyfullyunfilteredandstuff

This reflection is part of a series called Prayerful Reflections: A Daily Devotional for Lent 2025. Join us on the blog each day for a new reflection from a different writer, or download the pdf of the entire devotional by clicking the link.