Failure of The Wilderness Wanders
December 27, 2021
Commentary
The Israelites failed to enter the Promised Land because they did not believe in God’s protection, and they did not believe that God would help them conquer the giants in the land. The writer in this passage is warning the people of the danger of unbelief:
This danger demands immediate action (vv. 14-15). This verse mentions for the third time in this chapter the word “today.” “Today” is a word of urgency. In II Corinthians 6:2 the apostle Paul echoes the need for urgency when he states, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”This danger destroys even those who have known God’s truth (v. 16). Truth known never does anything; it is truth done which sets us free. The terrible danger which the writer is pointing out is that truth that is known, but not acted on, has an awful effect of hardening the heart so that it is no longer able to act. We can even lose the ability to believe.This danger produces God’s anger (v. 17). We are exhorted to not be like the unbelieving Israelite generation that fell in the wilderness. We need to fully commit ourselves to Jesus Christ today, as there is a day of judgment coming.This danger may disqualify a person from entering into God’s rest (vv. 18-19). The disobedience of unbelief forfeits blessing and brings judgment. This illustration, instruction and invitation, is worthless apart from belief in God. The one thing required is faith. They were not able to enter because of unbelief (Prov. 29:1). In order to enter complete rest we must put our complete faith in the God of the universe.
Application
The Israelites did not enter the promised land because they did not believe that God would help them conquer the giants in the land. Lord, help me to not wander in the wilderness of disbelief.
Hebrews 3:14– 19 (NET)
14 For we have become partners with Christ, if in fact we hold our initial confidence firm until the end. 15 As it says, “Oh, that today you would listen as he speaks! Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” 16 For which ones heard and rebelled? Was it not all who came out of Egypt under Moses’ leadership? 17 And against whom was God provoked for forty years? Was it not those who sinned, whose dead bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did he swear they would never enter into his rest, except those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they could not enter because of unbelief.
Illustration: Moody The Mistake of Not Giving an Invitation
D.L. Moody, the great evangelist, was preaching in Chicago on October 8, 1871. Before him was the largest congregation he had ever addressed in the city. He concluded his sermon with a blunder that he called the biggest mistake in his life, one he vowed he would give his right hand to take back. D.L. Moody gave the people a week to decide for Christ. That night the great Chicago fire broke out and many of the people who were there were killed. Moody said that was the last time he ever told anyone to postpone a decision for Christ. (Source unknown).