Part 4 - And 603,548 Men Fell
Welcome back friends and readers! Today we are going to talk about the topic...
TODAY
If you are just arriving, you will benefit from some background on what "today" has to do with 603,548 men falling in the wilderness. Start here with Part 1, and when you catch up, it will all come full circle 😉
Last we were together, we noticed a few things:
1) The Sons of Israel fell into a pattern of faith-LESS-ness.
2) YHVH gave the Sons of Israel multiple tests/opportunities to improve.
3) The Sons of Israel failed to improve, and even fell into the sin of adultery.
Adultery? I don't remember that one Deb! Yes, adultery. Remember that golden calf. Adultery.
4) YHVH told Moses He would forgive the Sons of Israel, but He also told Moses that the Sons of Israel would never enter His rest.
Ouch!
What does this mean? What can we learn from this?
Today.
The writer of the Book of Hebrews makes a connection for us. He/She quotes Psalm 95 about this very situation. Psalm 95:7-11 states:
"....Today, if you hear His voice:
Do not Harden your heart as at Meribah
as in the day of Massah in the wilderness,
when your fathers tested Me,
they challenged Me,
even though they had seen My work.
For forty years I loathed that generation.
So I said, It is a people
whose heart goes astray,
who do not know My ways.
Therefore I swore in my anger,
They shall never enter into My rest."
Psalm 95 tells the history of the first 3 blogs of this series. Thankfully, the writer of Hebrews comes along to explain how we can learn from the mistakes of those who have gone before us.
I am going to "spot quote" a few lines from Hebrews chapters 3 & 4. I encourage you to read the entirety of both chapters to make sure you get the context. While I hope to encourage you with these scriptures, I certainly do not want to leave you with the impression that we are 'off the hook.'
But encourage one another day by day -- as long as it is called "Today" -- so that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partners of Messiah, if we hold our original conviction firm until the end. Hebrews 3:13-14
Now which ones heard and rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt with Moses? And with whom was He provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest? Was it not to those who were *disobedient? So we see that they were not able to enter in because of *lack of trust. Hebrews 3:16-19
*Notice that disobedience is associated with a lack of trust here.
Let us fear then! Though a promise of entering His rest is left open, some of you would seem to have fallen short. For we also have had Good News proclaimed to us, just as they did. But the word they heard did not help them, because they were not unified with those who listen in faith. Hebrews 4:1-2
So then it remains for some to enter into it [His rest]; yet those who formerly had Good News proclaimed to them did not enter because of disobedience. Again, God appoints a certain day -- Today.... Hebrews 4:6-7
The themes of Hebrews 3 & 4 -- and of Psalm 95 -- and of all the scriptures we have looked at in the Torah about the Sons of Israel boil down to this:
Faith and Obedience
We have heard the Good News.
We have been released from the bondage of sin.
We are waiting in the wilderness to be allowed into the place that Messiah is preparing for us.
Do we really believe these things?
Really?
Because if we do, we need to fear (Hebrews 4:1).
I am not talking about shaking in our boots afraid of this world and all it's worldly powers.
I mean that we need to fear the idea of fear itself.
We need to be full of faith
FULL
of
FAITH.
Do we believe that the Sons of Israel were released from slavery?
Do we believe that they walked through the sea on dry land?
Do we believe that they were provided water and food in the wilderness?
Really believe?
Do we believe that Yeshua has freed us from bondage?
Do we believe that He has sealed us with His Holy Spirit as a pledge?
Do we believe that He will provide for our needs - both physical and spiritual - while we wait on His return?
Do we believe that He is indeed returning?
Really believe?
You see, I think a lot of us believe in stories.
Bible stories.
We are told Bible stories from childhood.
But they are not stories.
They are biographies.
They are REAL events that happened to REAL people.
Do we believe this?
Are we like the Sons of Israel?
Are we one thirst or one hunger pain away from denying our Savior?
Do we doubt His provision is enough?
OR
Do we walk in faith?
Do we walk in obedience?
Do we trust Him?
See...that is the key that will lead us to enter His rest.
Sickness
Vaccines
Politics
Racial Unrest
Shortages
Mandates
Employment
Housing
Lockdowns
FEAR
Do we trust YHVH?
It is only those who trust and obey who will enter His rest.
And there is a day designated for each of us...our "today." I believe this "today," to be our final opportunity to pass any given test. We will be forgivable...but perhaps His rest will be withheld. I cannot explain that. I can only look back to what scripture tell us. Let us not need to find out what it means. Let us be faithful and obedient. Let us enter His rest!
Are you tired?
Me too.
Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall through the same pattern of disobedience. For the Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword -- piercing right though to a separation of the soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. No creature is hidden from Him, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:11-13
May we turn back to YHVH in repentance TODAY and make every effort to enter His rest. May we deny fear, walk in obedience to His Torah, and live lives of faith. May we know that
He. Will. Provide.
May we choose TODAY before a final TODAY is chosen for us.
Enter His rest, my friends....Enter His rest.
Thank you for seeking through the wilderness with me. Looking forward to seeing you again soon, when I invite you to...
Come Seek With Me!
Need to Catch Up?
Other Blogs You May Enjoy
Yeshua in the Foundational Scriptures
Passover Part 1: The Threshold Covenant
Resting During Difficult Times - What Can the Sabbath Teach Us?
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete