What makes people stubborn?

Deuteronomy 1:43“This is what I told you, but you would not listen. Instead, you again rebelled against the Lord’s command and arrogantly went into the hill country to fight.”

Nehemiah 9:16“Our ancestors were proud and stubborn, and they paid no attention to your commands.

Stubbornness is almost always rooted in pride, thinking we always know best.

Judges 2:19When the judge died, the people returned to their corrupt ways, behaving worse than those who had lived before them. They went after other gods, serving and worshiping them. And they refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.

Stubbornness can come from our resisting authority. Those who are enjoying their lifestyle of sin and don’t want to give up sinful habits are stubbornly resisting God’s authority in their lives.

1 Samuel 8:19The people refused to listen to Samuel’s warning. “Even so, we still want a king,” they said.

Stubbornness can come from a fiercely independent spirit that causes us to be overly self-reliant. Ironically, the pursuit of stubbornness often leads to slavery or loss of freedom.

2 Kings 17:14The Israelites would not listen. They were as stubborn as their ancestors who had refused to believe in the Lord their God.

Stubbornness may be a sign of self-defense—the inability to admit we are wrong or have a problem. Traits like stubbornness can become generational attitudes toward God.