Earlier this week, the big news was about the phone conversation between President Trump and dictator Putin about ending the war between Russia and Ukraine. The conversation didn’t go quite as President Trump had hoped.
The president campaigned on ending the senseless war between Russia and Ukraine within 24 hours of taking office. Now, four months into his second term, there is no end to the bloody war in sight.
Despite attempts from other countries, peace has not been achieved between the two nations, as the whole world witnesses the senseless fighting:
- United States
- Turkey
- Saudi Arabia
- China
With dictator Putin’s constant refusal to end the war, President Trump is becoming frustrated and beginning to question whether or not Putin is serious about ending the conflict at all. Still, the president hopes the two countries will begin cease-fire talks immediately.
Later, President Trump suggested that perhaps the new Pope could help negotiate peace between the two nations. I doubt any man can bring peace in the situation, the Bible is clear that God alone brings peace (Numbers 6:24-26, Isaiah 9:6, Luke 2:14).
Only God can bring peace because mankind is stiff-necked and stubborn (Zachariah 7:11-12, acts 7:51).
What Is Stiff-necked
Our sinful nature makes us stiff-necked like wayward sheep (Isaiah 53:1-12, 1 Peter 2:25). Stiff-necked is an old-world way to explain stubbornness and disobedience. Stubborn is defined as, “Unreasonably or perversely unyielding; mulish.
We live in a fallen world that has rebelled against God since the fall in the garden (Genesis 3:1-6). Our hearts are inherently selfish and evil and cause us to be stiff-necked (Jeremiah 7: 24; 17:9, Romans 5:12).
God’s people are called to humble themselves and submit to God (Proverbs 3:34, James 4:7-8). That is why the Bible has a lot to say about being stubborn and stiff-necked (John 8:44, Acts 7:51, Romans 2:5).
This is why the New Testament writers remind us to do nothing out of selfish ambition and put others first (John 13:34, Philippians 2:3-5.) We cannot let our ambition and desires cause us to become stiff-necked (Romans 2:5-6, Ephesians 4:18). The Apostle Paul remembered his Jewish education about how the stubbornness of God’s people made them stiff-necked.
Qāšâ
The ancient world lived for their selfish wants and the desires of their sinful hearts (Genesis 6:5). People did whatever it took to get what they wanted in life. They bowed to the idols of this fallen world that gave them temporary happiness.
Their stubborn hearts couldn’t understand the ways and will of God (Proverbs 28:5, Ezekiel 12:2). Unfortunately, God’s people were still stubborn and stiff-necked and rebelled against God after He rescued them (Exodus 32:1-37; 33:5).
The Hebrew word for stiff-necked in the Old Testament is qāšâ, and it can also mean “Obstinate, stubborn, hard, or sore”, depending on the context it is used in. That is why God warned His people not to turn to the lifeless idols of this world in His law:
- I am the Lord thy God, ye shall have no other gods before me.
- Do not take the Lord’s name in vain.
When Jesus began His earthly ministry, he laid a similar foundation, His followers had to deny themselves daily (Matthew 16:24-26). Jesus knew all too well how stubborn and stiff-necked God’s people can be (Matthew 10:1-42, Luke 13:3, John 3:1-36).
Jesus emphasized the need to put others first, especially the least of these and foreigners (Matthew 25:24-40, Luke 10:30-37). When we turn from our selfish ways and help others, we store up treasures in Heaven (Matthew 6:19-21; 33).
Big Beautiful Bill
In other big news this week, President Trump faced resistance from some conservatives on advancing his Big Beautiful Bill, which funds the president’s selfish personal agenda. It is an agenda that conflicts with many of the basic teachings of Jesus, like caring for foreigners and the least of these.
There are also concerns that Trump’s “big” bill will increase the federal deficit and raise inflation. The president promised to help all Americans, but he cannot keep that promise if he causes hardships for one single American.
President Trump and his followers a more focused on an earthly kingdom than God’s will and the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33):
- Temporary
- Earthly power
- Greatness
- Wealth
Ironically, these are the same things Satan tempted both the first and the second Adam with in their respective gardens (Genesis 3: 4-5, Matthew 26:36-46). Jesus resisted because He was focused on God’s will and Kingdom, instead of His own desires.
Adam bought the lie because he was focused on this life and what he wanted. And because of his stubbornness, sin entered the world and corrupted all of creation (Romans 5:12-21). Because of our sinful nature, mankind has become qāšâ!
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