January 18, 2025
“Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness?"
- Hebrews 3: 17 (NKJV)
The hardening of the heart and straying from the Word of God are significant obstacles to entering the rest of God's promises. Another barrier to realizing these promises is God's anger: “For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? Now with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey?” (Hebrews 3:16-18).
God is patient and merciful, but when hardening of the heart and straying from His Word occur, especially without repentance, it provokes His anger. For forty years, God was angry with the Israelites He had delivered from Egypt (Hebrews 3:17). Yet in His anger, He continued to provide for them (Exodus 16:4-28) and protect them (Exodus 17:8-13).
When we harden our hearts, we resemble Pharaoh, who declared, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go” (Exodus 5:2). We may know the Scriptures and what they say, yet we continue in sin, challenging God's authority and provoking His anger.
Ultimately, they do not enter into the rest of God.
Straying from the Word of God often stems from a lack of knowledge about God and His ways. When we do not trust Him, we let go of His Word. Numbers 23:19 reminds us: “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” By doubting His integrity, we challenge God and imply that He is untrustworthy, further inciting His anger.
For the Israelites, their hardened hearts and disobedience led God to swear that they would not enter His rest: “So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest’” (Hebrews 3:11).
The same fate awaits those who continually disregard God's commandments due to the deceitfulness of sin. By straying from His Word because of unbelief, they risk incurring God's wrath and missing out on His promises. Ultimately, they do not enter into the rest of God.
Let us seek to soften our hearts, remain obedient to His Word, and trust in His promises, ensuring we do not fall into the same patterns that hinder our peace and fulfillment in Him.
Song of Worship
Who will stand against the Lord?
No one can
No one will
Who will stand against the King
No one can
No one will
Oh, oh oh (2X)
Victory belongs to Jesus
Victory belongs to Him
Song Victory belongs to Jesus by Todd Dulaney
Prayer - Dear God, have mercy on me. In any way Your wrath has been kindled against me, either from a hardened heart of from straying from Your word, have mercy on me in Jesus' name, Amen