Title: The Land of Rest Through Faith
(Hebrews 3:15-19)
The book of Hebrews reveals that Israel's Exodus event is directly related to the rest promised to Christ, and that all Christians should learn from this event. This fact is made clearer in Hebrews chapter 4. The author of the book of Hebrews is constantly alerting us to the fact that the Israelites were destroyed in the wilderness without stepping on the land of Canaan rest, so he is warning us about the consequences of our disobedience.
1. Reasons for receiving God's wrath in the wilderness
The reason Israel was destroyed in the wilderness is not because they did not hear the word of God. They heard the word of God through Moses or Aaron. Not only that, but they personally saw the appearing of God and the glory of God. Yet they angered God. The reason is that they heard the word of God, but did not obey it. However, the author of Hebrews concludes by saying this to those who do not have obedience in verse 19. He said, “From this you can see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.” From God's point of view, faith and obedience are inextricably linked.
The words in John 3:36 show a significant side. He said, “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son will not see eternal life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” It should be noted that in these verses, the words to believe in the Son and to obey the Son have the same meaning.
What is our greatest obedience to God? It is believing in His Son, Jesus Christ. If we forsake this obedience, we have no eternal life and no hope. This obedience is the condition of eternal life and heaven. And then what obedience should we do? Obedience to his son. It is obeying what the Son tells us. If we believe that Jesus has eternal life, resurrection, and hope, but we do not obey him, how can such a faith be a faith that pleases God?
2. Attitude of the listener
We need to know how important the attitude of the heart of those who hear the word of God is. Israel tells us that their hearts were hardened. When we listen with a hardened heart, how can the word bear fruit in a good field? Then, with what attitude should we listen to the Word?
First, it is said that we hear the word of God with our ears, but receive it with our heart. There are people who understand the words of the world well and have great interest, but there are people who have lost interest in the word of God even if they only hear cancer. Because he has the ears of the world. However, those who live with circumcised ears do not agree with the world. The word circumcision refers to the ear of a repentant person. The unrepentant people's ears hear the word of God but do not understand it, and even if they do understand it, they do not obey it, so they commit a greater sin.
He said that to those who have hardened their hearts by refusing to repent, God will deprive them of their hearing, and shut their eyes from sight, so that they cannot be saved. He said by quoting the words of Isaiah in Matthew 13:14. “You will hear, but you will not understand; you will see, but you will not understand. The heart of this people is hardened, and their ears are dull to hear, and their eyes are closed, lest they see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and I may heal them. ' That's what you said.
Next, the word of God must be heard with a circumcised heart. In Deuteronomy 10:16, God said, “Therefore, circumcise your hearts and do not stiffen your neck any more.” A straight neck means pride. People who are not circumcised in heart are proud and do not like to hear the word but obey it. The true mark of a Christian is the renewal of his heart through repentance. This is the circumcision of the heart that we should receive.
The next reason Israel perished in the wilderness was that they continued to lead a sinful life. Please see verse 17. They continued to sin against God for 40 years. Disobedience becomes a sin, and as it continues, it grows into a greater sin.
Next, Israel could not receive the promise of rest because they did not live a life of obedience to God. Because obedience comes from trust in God's Word, obedience is impossible for those who do not love and trust God.
Conclusion: God solemnly warns us by showing Israel's disobedience. Please see verse 15. Today, when you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as when you stir up wrath. We are people who have entered the wilderness life called the church. Only those who successfully live this wilderness life can step on the land of rest flowing with milk and honey.