“Today if you hear is voice, do not harden your hearts.”
The Israelites were witnesses to God’s great miracles. He parted the seas for them. He created food for them. He lived among them in the tabernacle and showed them where to go through the movement of His glory cloud. Despite these miracles, the first generation of Israelites who were released from Egyptian bondage and were headed to freedom in the land of “milk and honey” were forbidden entry. They died in the desert because they refused to believe God and forgot about his miracles. When they heard the spies testimony about the giants in the land, and the high walls around the cities, they hardened their hearts and responded in fear.
This was not the first time this generation of Israelites responded in fear. They were often going to Moses and grumbling about their life in the desert. Complaining to him about the lack of food and water, and their living situation. They hated it so much they threatened to find a new leader who would take them back to Egypt. Wanting to appease their complaints, Moses would go to God and petition on their behalf. In his grace, mercy and kindness the Lord would answer the petition and answer their needs. This went on over and over again, in fact, at least 10 times.
How often do we, despite the evidence of God’s existence in our lives, choose not to trust God? How often do we, when presented with physical pain, financial hardship, poverty or a challenging circumstance, decide to grumble instead of believing in God’s promises? Be careful of this. Over and over again we are offered choices to believe. Creation is filled with the evidence of God, yet because we cannot see Jesus in the room we choose to see our circumstances as giants that cannot be overcome. Apostle Paul warns us about this in Hebrews 3:12 when he says “Watch out, brothers, so that there will not be any one of you an evil heart lacking trust, which could lead you to apostatize from the living God.” Which means, do not let your heart believe against God. We have heard the good news of Jesus Christ. We have witnessed his healing within us. We have seen the glory of his creation and as a result we are to believe in his promises and trust him.
Though the Israelites heard the promises and witnessed God’s miracles they behaved as if He was not true. They did not believe in his promises. Essentially, weren’t they calling God a liar? That is a very tough question, indeed. None of us would want to be accused of calling God a liar. But if you had a friend that disbelieved in what you told him, would you not state he is calling you a liar? Wouldn’t you challenge your friend by saying that he distrusts you? Why then wouldn’t the Lord respond to you in kind?
Paul goes on to explain in Chapter 4 of Hebrews that we actually should be terrified of responding in distrust. Responding in this way could result in our “falling short of entering into his rest.” He states, that the promise of God’s rest which is guaranteed in our belief of the “good news” will be at risk if we choose to distrust. He states that even though we have heard the “good news”, it does not do us any good if we don’t combine it with trust. We cannot just believe in Jesus, we must trust him. “For it is we who have trusted who enter the rest” (Hebrews 4:3).
So “Today, if you hear God’s voice, don’t harden your hearts” when facing difficult circumstances. Believe in Jesus who came and died for you, so that you may receive the promises. Hold firmly to that truth and encourage other believers to trust too. Together, as we walk in belief and trust, we will not only see our Lord slay giants and move mountains, we will also live in rest knowing we will soon walk into his promised land.
Breathlife 