Where does stubbornness lead?

Psalm 81:11-12“But no, my people wouldn’t listen. Israel did not want me around. So I let them follow their own stubborn desires, living according to their own ideas.”

When we persist in stubbornness, God may let us have our way, and allow us to suffer the consequences that follow.

Exodus 33:5The Lord had told Moses to tell them, “You are a stubborn and rebellious people. If I were to travel with you for even a moment, I would destroy you. Remove your jewelry and fine clothes while I decide what to do with you.”

Psalm 95:10-11“For forty years I was angry with them, and I said, ‘They are a people whose hearts turn away from me. They refuse to do what I tell them.’ So in my anger I took an oath: ‘They will never enter my place of rest.’”

An attitude of stubbornness makes it very difficult for God to help us.

Jeremiah 11:8“‘Your ancestors did not listen or even pay attention. Instead, they stubbornly followed their own evil desires. And because they refused to obey, I brought upon them all the curses described in this covenant.’”

Those who are stubborn against God will be punished, because stubbornness is not only a sin in itself but also a quality of most other sins. We tend to stubbornly do wrong even when better options are presented to us.

2 Samuel 24:4, 15The king insisted that they take the census, so Joab and the commanders of the army went out to count the people of Israel. . . . So the Lord sent a plague upon Israel that morning, and it lasted for three days. A total of 70,000 people died throughout the nation.

When the leaders of a nation are stubborn, it can lead to national disaster.

Hebrews 6:4-6It is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened . . . and who then turn away from God.

Persistent stubbornness may bring eternal separation from God.

2 Samuel 2:21-23“Go fight someone else!” Abner warned. “Take on one of the younger men, and strip him of his weapons.” But Asahel kept right on chasing Abner. Again Abner shouted to him, “Get away from here! I don’t want to kill you. How could I ever face your brother Joab again?” But Asahel refused to turn back, so Abner thrust the butt end of his spear through Asahel’s stomach, and the spear came out through his back. He stumbled to the ground and died there.

Proverbs 29:1Whoever stubbornly refuses to accept criticism will suddenly be destroyed beyond recovery.

Stubbornness may blind us to dangers that can even lead to death or other disaster.