A Study on the Book of Hebrews

“Now who were they who heard and yet were rebellious? Was it not all those who left Egypt under the leadership of Moses? But with whom was he angry forty years? Was it not those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, if not to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.” Hebrews 3:16-19

Why would the author ask this rhetorical question? What point is he trying to hammer home? Perhaps it is to highlight the reality that it was not just a few who were rebellious — but an entire generation of followers. These were the people who escaped slavery in Egypt — to then go on to have contempt for G-d in the next phase of their delivery. 

The point is that this generation, which had firsthand experience of the G-d’s goodness, bringing them from slavery to freedom, comprised the very last group of persons one would have expected to rebel against their Savior G-d. Still more unthinkable is the prospect of hard-hearted rebellion by Christians against the Lord who at the price of his own life-blood has rescued them from sin, death and the devil. Yet this was precisely the danger threatening the community to whom this letter was addressed.

We need to be careful at the thought of rebelling against G-d — either overtly or covertly. Just recently a friend of mine passed away after a short battle with cancer. There are people who will look at his death as an excuse to blame G-d and abandon G-d’s graciousness and goodness because they believe G-d turned away from my friend and his family. It is not at this time, at the loss of a family member or friend that we blame G-d and lose our faith. It is just at the times of loss that we need to see in G-d the ultimate hope of eternity. Paul will say that the losses we experience now can in no way compare to the eternal weight of glory that is to come, to be revealed to those who believe.

My friends, G-d never promised us a rose garden. But G-d did promise us eternal life with G-d — at the party that is to come.

Pastor Dave