Mule Headed

Proverbs 7:11 (KJV) (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:

What got my attention in this verse was the NASB’s translation of “rebellious” for the KJV “stubborn”.  We have a common bit of wisdom in our culture that teenagers are rebellious. I must confess that my son went through a very difficult time and rebellious would be a good description.  My daughter never came close.  When I look at my three brothers and I, I don’t see any genuine rebellion in our modern sense.

This is where the older translation gives us an insight into the meaning.  When you look at the Hebrew background of the word, the idea of being stubborn and refusing to respond or move is much more in line with the word itself.  This would point out to us that, even though we have accepted Christ and entered the faith, there can be a refusal to grow that cripples us and forces us into paths that God does not want us to follow.

So?  Extreme flexibility makes us open to all kinds of nonsense.  Extreme rigidity can lock us into foolish behavior.  In between is that living response to a living God. Stay on the living edge.