Obstinate

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One of the troublesome truths of scripture is this: If it ever seems very easy to identify and root against the bad guy, be careful - you might be the bad guy. Much of scripture is a cautionary tale and we would be missing many of its lessons if we weren't observant.

We have a tendency in the Gospels to want to say 'Yeah, those Pharisees are jerks!' We wouldn't necessarily be wrong, but we might have to own up to being jerks ourselves sometimes.

In today's Old Testament reading, we hear that God made Pharoah obstinate. This word means to stubbornly adhere to something, often despite being urged in another direction. So why does God make Pharoah obstinate? Well, actually, when God made Pharoah (knitted him in the womb) He gave him the gift of conviction, of being resolute, having a dogged determination. These are positive attributes, but when aimed in the wrong direction can become 'bull-headed', or when persuaded convincingly in another direction, this can become obstinance.

God knew how Pharoah was, He made him. God knew that His insistence in the Israelites being freed, even when accompanied by signs and wonders, would cause Pharoah to only dig his heels in all the more. By presenting His convincing counter argument (which He knew Pharoah would reject because his heart was elsewhere) God changes Pharoah's conviction into obstinance.

Jesus also convinces with many signs and wonders, yet the Pharisees remain unmoved and ask for yet another sign. Jesus does not want to make them any more obstinate than they are, so He points to signs already shared, and to one that is to come - the Resurrection. This sign is the sign of redemption and forgiveness meant to overcome obstinance - and it does for many, for those who are able to be convinced of its reality.

Sometimes, we become obstinate, content to stew in our anger, or sit in our sadness despite actions of others that would invite us out of these moods. Sometimes, we can become obstinate in our viewpoints and fail to see that God is doing amazing things through people who are not part of our group. We should continually check that we are being anchored to universal truths and not to things that we have become enamored with, so that we don't put ourselves in the position of becoming obstinate in the face of the mighty acts of God around us.