“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness.” —Hebrews 3:7–8
Hebrews 3 is one of several biblical passages that addresses the events of Numbers 13–14. The writer uses the experience of the Israelites to make specific applications for New Testament believers.
Throughout this chapter and the following one, the word rest occurs multiple times. It’s some- thing God wanted for His people, something the Promised Land symbolized. God wanted to take the Israelites to a place of rest, but they didn’t enter into it because of their unbelief.
They came right up to the border. The next step was to go into the land, but they failed to believe God. As a result, the whole generation perished in the wilderness. It’s an extremely sad story.
The only thing sadder is how many people today come to the edge of entering into freedom, fullness, and fruitfulness in Christ, and then their hearts are hardened. They look at their circumstances, quiver in fear, and choose not to go forward because they don’t believe God.
Make it Personal
What, if anything, is keeping you from entering into freedom, fullness, and fruitfulness in Christ? How can you choose to step forward in faith?