Hebrews 3:12-19: A Warning against Unbelief

(Yesterday’s study can be found at http://www.facebook.com/note.php?

note_id=10150116513903554&id=1233120181)

Chapter 3 continues and closes with a warning against unbelief in God’s promise. Paul takes a
close look at the example of the Israelites in their journey to the promised land.

See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away
from the living God. (Hebrews 3:12, NIV)

In yesterday’s note we examined a statement from God where He declares the Israelites that
left Egypt would never enter His rest, and all but 2 Israelites that left Egypt entered the
Promised Land. In these verses, Paul breaks these verses down more concretely, encouraging
the reader to believe and remain faithful. It was unbelief and disobedience that kept Israel out of
the Promised Land. Their hearts grew hard in the wilderness. Instead of learning from God’s
reproof, they grew increasingly stubborn in their sins. In their journey, they grew hardened in
their sin. Let us remain vigilant and reject all complacency when it comes to sin!

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be
hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. (Hebrews 3:13, NIV)

In verse 13, Paul gives an antidote to this hardening of heart. Let us daily encourage one
another, which will help us resist sin’s deceitfulness. There is strength in numbers, and nowhere
else is that more true than in the body of Christ. This is for everyone, not just pastors or elders!
We need this daily encouragement to keep us from falling away to the deception of “ease” and
sin outside of Christ.

We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end.
(Hebrews 3:14, NIV)

We are companions of Christ is we hold to our confidence until the end. If we share in His
suffering, we will share in His glory. We must be crucified with Him so that we may be
resurrected with Him. Once again this endurance is the fruit of our salvation that is already
rooted in faith. This is no exhortation to salvation by works.

15 As has just been said:

“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts
as you did in the rebellion.”
16 Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt?
17 And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose
bodies perished in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did God swear that they would never enter
his rest if not to those who disobeyed? 19 So we see that they were not able to enter, because
of their unbelief. (Hebrews 3:15-19)

Paul closes this exhortation by explaining the example of Israel in the wilderness. He reminds is
that it was the Israelites who saw the plagues against the Egyptians and crossed the Red Sea
of dry land who hardened their hearts. It was these people that God “exiled” to the wilderness
for 40 years. All but two (Joshua and Caleb) died in the wilderness. Their unbelief manifested
disobedience, which offended God deeply in 4 distinct ways according to A.T. Pierson:
1. It was an assault on God’s truth, and sought to make Him seem like a liar
2. It was an assault upon His power, for it counted Him as weak and unable to bring them
in
3. It was an attack upon His immutability, for, although they did not say so, their course
implied that He was a changeable God, and could not do the wonders He once
performed.
4. It was an attack upon His fatherly faithfulness, as though encourage an expectation He
had no intention of fulfilling.

Verse 19 states that it was unbelief that prevented Israel from entering, and the same will keep
some from entering God’s rest in this life, and in life eternal. Let us believe, and ask God to help
us with any doubt we struggle with.

So, what does Israel’s example tell you? Do you get a warning against disobedience? Or do you
see a disturbing mirror image of yourself? Let’s encourage one another in the comments, and in
our daily lives. You never know who you may end up strengthening.

(Hebrews 2 http://www.facebook.com/notes/estepha-francisque/hebrews-2-jesus-angels-part-
2/10150115902298554)
(Hebrews 1:4-14 http://www.facebook.com/notes/estepha-francisque/hebrews-14-14-jesus-
angels/10150115366843554)
(Hebrews 1:1-3 http://www.facebook.com/note.php?
note_id=10150114353813554&id=1233120181
(Introduction to Hebrew http://www.facebook.com/note.php?
note_id=10150113831453554&id=1233120181)