Word for Today: Saturday, January 5, 2013

Hebrews 3:7-19 Warning against Unbelief

Memory Verse Hebrews 3:13(KJV)

But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

The Israelites experience shows us how man’s heart can be hardened against God. The author of the book is very familiar with the Old Testament book; we have seen a lot of quotes from the Old Testament especially from Psalms.

Verses 7-11 is a quotation from Psalms 95:7-11. The consequences of unbelief and rebellion are terrible. Rebellion is seen as the sin of witchcraft and divination in the sight of God (1 Samuel 15:22)

We have a historic lesson given to us in Verse 16-18. What lesson can we learn from this story?

• Unbelief can deter us from getting all our blessings from God. The rebellious people of Israel didn’t get their full promise, they were able to leave Egypt but they didn't make it to the Promised Land. They died in the wilderness. Wilderness can be referred to as a place of unrest.

• The sins of others especially those close to us should serve as a warning to us.

The Israelites rebelled against God in the wilderness and a journey that should have taken 40 days took 40 years. Those above 20 years died and didn't see the Promised Land.

They believed God enough to come out of Egypt but not enough to get them to the Promised Land. God was grieved by their rebellion that he took an oath not to allow them enter his rest.

The Israelite saw the works of God yet they went on to rebel against him. Although God walked with them, they didn't know his ways. Even with all the wonders He did, their hearts were still harden and it grieved God.

What can we do to prevent us from making this mistake?

• Verse 13 gives the answer; we need to encourage one another. We are told in Hebrews 10:25 not to forsake the assembling of believers, but we should encourage one another.

• We also need to fix our thoughts on Jesus, we treated that yesterday. When we focus our hearts on Jesus, there is no way we can harden our hearts against him, instead we find out that we begin to love him more.  If we fix out thoughts on Jesus and run this race to the end, we will surely enter into his rest.

If the Israelite could not enter God’s rest, how much more difficult will it be for us if we don’t accept Jesus who laid down his life to redeem us? If we don’t accept him, we surely do not deserve his rest.

What is that thing that is keeping you away from God?

We also need to learn from this story. Isn't it sad that these people witness the wonders of God yet they still harden their hearts and rebelled against God? We present day Christians have been given the opportunity to learn from history and not make the same mistake the previous generation made.

Jesus is still in the business of calling people today; we are being warned here not to harden our hearts. To enter God’s rest, we need to accept Christ. Jesus gives believers rest. The Joy of accepting Jesus and serving him is that we are not only guaranteed rest here on earth but also in heaven.