Perseverance or stubbornness?

Judged from the outside, perseverance and stubbornness can seem remarkably similar. In fact, they can be quite hard to distinguish from one another. Such is the case with Moses and Pharaoh. To those living in the story, their attitudes must have seemed nearly identical. Moses continues to say, "Let my people go," even though he is rebuffed time and again. Pharaoh continues to stick to his guns and answer, "No," even in the face of all the plagues. The difference lies in motivation.

The reader is able to see the motivations of both men and the basis for their actions. Moses' perseverance is based solely on his faith in the one who sent him. Pharaoh's stubbornness is based in his defiance of God and his desire to be self-reliant. While they seem similar in their manifestations, the perseverance of Noah and the stubbornness of Pharaoh are quite different. In fact, one might say they are opposites.