Today, please listen;
don’t turn a deaf ear as in “the bitter uprising,”
that time of wilderness testing!
Even though they watched me at work for forty years,
your ancestors refused to let me do it my way;
over and over they tried my patience.
Hebrews 3:7-9
Observation: Writing to Jews, the author draws a relationship between how everyone needs to believe in - and rely upon - Jesus, and how the Exodus generation rebelled against Moses. Despite watching the Lord act for years, that generation rebelled and rejected the direction they were receiving, and as a result they were left wandering in the wilderness, never receiving the promise of entering the new land. Likewise, for those who now live with the promise of salvation found through faith in Jesus Christ, with a clear understanding of what Jesus has done and taught, those who turn a deaf ear and reject that teaching will be left wandering outside of that promised salvation.
Application: As I ponder this teaching, I am struck by the fact that this is not intended for the ignorant masses. This message about rejecting God's visible work, manifested through Jesus, is not spoken to instruct people who do not believe in God and lack even the most basic knowledge of faith. This message is given instead to those who have heard the truth, even adopted that truth as their identity, but then rebel against the Lord's ongoing instruction about how to live.
When I fail to live as the Lord instructs - made clear through the teaching of the entire bible, and re-enforced by Jesus himself - I am in rebellion. I fail the test. I am deserving of being left in the wilderness, poisoned by snakes, falling into pits, consumed by fire. I have seen the Lord's great work firsthand, and have belief in all he says, so my bad behavior can only be a bitter uprising against the Lord himself, the creator of the universe.
I am a miserable wretch, and am so thankful for the forgiveness found in Jesus. I know my life is not completely right, and that I behave too often - in word and deed - in ways the Lord would not have me do. Without Jesus, I would have tried his patience to the point of anger and punishment at best. I so want to be better, to live properly.
Prayer: Lord, please forgive my sins. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, whom I fully accept and believe in as my Lord and savior. I fail daily to do your will, and I desire nothing more than to improve in this area. I know I am unworthy of a higher call in doing your kingdom's work, but may I be better at just living a life of faith. Amen.
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