“For who heard and rebelled? Wasn’t it all who came out of Egypt under Moses? With whom was God angry for forty years? Wasn’t it with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, if not to those who disobeyed? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.” Hebrews 3:16-19 CSB
“for when I brought your ancestors out of the land of Egypt, I did not speak with them or command them concerning burnt offering and sacrifice. However, I did give them this command: ‘Obey me, and then I will be your God, and you will be my people. Follow every way I command you so that it may go well with you.’ Yet they didn’t listen or pay attention but followed their advice and their own stubborn, evil heart. They went backwards and not forward.” Jeremiah 7:22-24. This is what comes to my mind when I read the close of chapter 3. It’s another reminder of God’s heart and His desire, that it was always just to trust in Him and follow His voice. The innate human nature (which Jesus overcame for us) is to want to follow a simple system or set of rules, that make the walk “easy”. Because when there is a system of rules, there is no requirement for the faith that results in works (2 Thessalonians 1:11).
It is not easy to walk in faith with God listening to His voice and prompting through His Spirit, it leads you into paths you could not imagine, doing things you can not comprehend. But it all leads to the best reward ever, knowing Him & enjoying more of His presence. As Christians, MANY have accepted the free gift of being set free by His blood, they walk around claiming His name and title. But few walk in faith with Him.
Today stop and ponder, are you like the Hebrew people, wandering in the desert, filled with unbelief needing to follow a system and therefore not truly being set free to enter into His promised rest? Decide to be set free from shackles and decide to walk in faith, listening to His voice.
