"Then they will not be like their ancestors-stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful,
refusing to give their hearts to God." Psalm 78:8 NLT Something magical happened
when my grandfather whispered the words, "Giddy up."
I've seen only a few mules in my lifetime. Yet being familiar with the saying,
"stubborn as a mule," gives me a clue about their personality. My grandfather
was familiar with mules and their nature. His father died when he was 12,
leaving him to run the family farm. An uncle helped him, but for some reason,
mules didn't appreciate Uncle Ransom. When he gave the command to "giddy up,"
they didn't most of the time. Or if they did, they stubbornly plowed a crooked
row. When my grandfather asked, however, they plowed in straight rows. Something
in the nature of Uncle Ransom brought out the stubbornness of the mule's nature.
Later, after my grandfather gave up farming and began working for an ice and
later an ice cream company, he encountered stubbornness once again-and benefited
from it. Some business owners were quite challenging to work with because of
their stubborn nature. What other salesmen couldn't deal with, my grandfather
confronted with his patient nature and won them over as customers.
God also encountered stubbornness-but not so much in pagans. He discovered it in
His chosen people. The people He called out from among all people groups of the
world. The people He gave a Promised Land. The people He delivered from 400
years of slavery. Instead of worshipping Him, they often stubbornly followed the
wicked ways of their unbelieving neighbors.
I can name a few times when I've been stubborn as well. Wanted to do things my
way instead of God's way. Thought I knew best. God gave me good examples to
follow, and I stubbornly chose the bad instead.
Stubbornness keeps me out of God's will. Like a mule, I'll refuse to budge
toward God's revealed will, or I'll plow a crooked row of inconsistency in my
obedience. When I'm out of God's will, paucity follows. God's blessings can't-or
won't, flow when I'm living in stubborn disobedience.
God suggests a cure for stubbornness: remember His blessings of the past and
obey His commands. When I do this, I'll "giddy up"-and gladly, when God whispers
the command.
Don't let stubbornness cause you to miss out on God's best.
Martin Wiles Hodges, South Carolina, USA
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
messages. HTML and plain text versions available.
The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.