Take heed to what? To the sad history of the nation of Israel and the important lessons it teaches. The writer quotes from Psalm 95:7-11, which records God’s response to Israel’s tragic spiritual condition. God delivered His people from Egypt and had cared for them, revealing His power in many signs and wonders. Israel saw all of this and benefited from it, but the experience did not bring them closer to God or make them trust Him more. All that God did for them did not benefit them spiritually. In fact, just the opposite took place: they hardened their hearts against God! They put God to the test and He did not fail them; yet they failed Him!

The heart of every problem is a problem in the heart. The people of Israel (except Moses, Joshua, and Caleb) erred in their hearts (v. 10), which means that their hearts wandered from God and His Word. They also had evil hearts of unbelief (v. 12); they did not believe that God would give them victory in Canaan. They had seen God perform great signs in Egypt. Yet they doubted He was adequate for the challenge of Canaan. When a person has an erring heart and a disbelieving heart, the result will also be a hard heart. This is a heart that is insensitive to the Word and work of God. So hard was the heart of Israel that the people even wanted to return to Egypt! Imagine wanting to exchange their freedom under God for slavery in Egypt! Of course, all this history spoke to the hearts of the readers of this letter because they were in danger of “going back” themselves.

God’s judgment fell on Israel and that entire generation was condemned to die, and only the new generation would enter the land. God said, “They shall not enter into My rest” (v. 11). But what message does this bring to a believer today? No believer today, Jew or Gentile, could go back into Mosaic legal system since the temple is gone and there is no priesthood. But every believer is tempted to give up his or her confession of Christ and go back into the world system’s life of compromise and bondage. This is especially true during times of persecution and suffering. True believers are willing to suffer for Christ and they hold firmly to their convictions and their confession of faith. Of course, we are not saved by holding to our confession. The fact that we hold to our confession is proof that we are God’s true children.

It’s important that we take heed and recognize the spiritual dangers that exist. But it is also important that we encourage each other to be faithful to the Lord (v. 13). We get the impression that some of these believers addressed were careless about their fellowship in the local assembly (see Heb. 10:23-25). Christians belong to each other and need each other. Moses, Caleb, and Joshua did try to encourage Israel when the nation refused to enter Canaan, but the people would not listen.

It’s clear from this section that God was grieved with Israel during the entire forty years they wandered in the wilderness. The sin of Israel is stated in verse 12 – “departing from the living God.” Israel departed from the living God by refusing God’s will for their lives and stubbornly wanting to go their own way back to Egypt. God did not permit them to return to Egypt. Rather, He disciplined them in the wilderness. God did not allow His people to return to Bondage.

The emphasis in Hebrews is that true believers have an eternal salvation because they trust a living Savior who constantly intercedes for them. But the writer is careful to point out that this confidence is no excuse for sin. God disciplines His children. Remember that Canaan is not a picture of heaven, but of the believer’s present spiritual inheritance in Christ. Believers who doubt God’s Word and rebel against Him do not miss heaven, but they do miss out on the blessings of their inheritance today, and they must suffer the chastening of God.

Hebrews 3:7-19 Reflection Questions:

For all that God has done for you, has it brought you closer and closer to God or make you trust Him more?

Has your heart wandered from God and His Word?

Where are you with your relationship with God?

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