The word "headstrong" is not commonly used in our daily language. It's a word that usually has a negative meaning.
To be headstrong means to be disobedient and having or showing a stubborn and determined intention to do as we wants, regardless of the consequences.
Understood as that, to be called headstrong isn't really a compliment. And God certainly wasn't complimenting His people when He called them "headstrong".
More than just being disobedient and stubborn, the people had even turned to idolatry and they obviously ought to be punished and even destroyed altogether.
But if the people were headstrong and unfaithful, God showed Himself to be compassionate and forgiving and merciful when Moses pleaded for the people.
The people's heads were stronger than their hearts when what they wanted or desired overrode their obedience and dependence on God.
On the other hand, God's mercy and compassion and forgiveness overrode His anger and His intended wrath.
To be headstrong means to be disobedient and having or showing a stubborn and determined intention to do as we wants, regardless of the consequences.
Understood as that, to be called headstrong isn't really a compliment. And God certainly wasn't complimenting His people when He called them "headstrong".
More than just being disobedient and stubborn, the people had even turned to idolatry and they obviously ought to be punished and even destroyed altogether.
But if the people were headstrong and unfaithful, God showed Himself to be compassionate and forgiving and merciful when Moses pleaded for the people.
The people's heads were stronger than their hearts when what they wanted or desired overrode their obedience and dependence on God.
On the other hand, God's mercy and compassion and forgiveness overrode His anger and His intended wrath.
All it took was just one person, Moses, to plead for the people and bring out God's mercy and compassion and forgiveness against a headstrong people.
But it probably also took just one person to suggest idolatry to the people and that led them to sin and became headstrong.
May we be the ones who will plead to God for mercy and compassion and forgiveness. To be headstrong and to lead others to be headstrong is certainly not a compliment.
But it probably also took just one person to suggest idolatry to the people and that led them to sin and became headstrong.
May we be the ones who will plead to God for mercy and compassion and forgiveness. To be headstrong and to lead others to be headstrong is certainly not a compliment.