For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.
Some who heard God's voice after coming out of Egypt under Moses provoked Him, but not all who came out did so. They are those with whom He was grieved forty years, who sinned and whose bodies fell in the wilderness, to whom He swore they should not enter His rest because they did not believe. They could not enter because of unbelief, for hearing gives no benefit unless it is received by faith and put into practice. Their failure to enter Canaan warns those who have now received light to fear lest any come short of the promised rest and fall after the same example of unbelief. God's people must therefore go forward in faith rather than turn back toward Egypt, trusting God alone, holding confidence steadfast to the end and exhorting one another daily lest any be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Words and Wilderness Setting
Some who heard God's voice after coming out of Egypt by Moses provoked Him, but not all who came out did so. The verse stands in a call to take heed against an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God, to exhort one another daily while it is called today lest any be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin, to hold the beginning of confidence steadfast to the end in order to remain partakers of Christ, and not to harden the heart as in the provocation when His voice is heard. That warning is framed by the question who provoked, answered by those with whom God was grieved forty years, those who sinned and whose bodies fell in the wilderness, to whom He swore they should not enter His rest because they did not believe. Their example warns those who have received light not to harden their hearts or depart from God through unbelief, but to remain faithful and heed His voice.
The words they heard were spoken by Christ enshrouded in the pillar of cloud, and faith in those words and in the promises would have given their history a very different character. He Himself purposed to lead Israel from Egypt into Canaan, fed them with manna and protected them from harm during the forty years, yet was rejected by them more than once. Their failure to receive what they heard by faith and put it into practice left them guilty, for selfishness, pride, murmuring and unbelief kept them from benefiting.
Their provocation involved heated, excited talk, stamping of feet, and stubborn insistence on their own plans. They obstinately refused warnings and persistently pursued backsliding in unbelief, obstinacy and idolatry, divorcing themselves from God to follow the wisdom of men not under His direction though the truth of His ways was kept before them and repeated again and again. They resisted evidences of truth, failed to recognize His light and power, were unmindful of His miracles, and kept childhood defects and wrong traits into manhood and womanhood instead of overcoming them.
All but two of the adults who left Egypt died in the wilderness; only the two who wholly followed Him were spared. He would have led them to the promised land sooner if they had submitted to Him, and their fathers could have possessed Jericho forty years earlier if they had trusted Him. To that ancient people were committed the sacred oracles, but the revealed Word was misinterpreted and misapplied and they despised the Word of the Holy One.
Unbelief and God's Rest
Some who heard the voice provoked, though not all who came out of Egypt by Moses did so, and those who provoked were those with whom God was grieved forty years, those who sinned whose bodies fell in the wilderness, those to whom He swore they should not enter His rest because they did not believe. The verse stands in the call to take heed lest there be an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God, to exhort one another daily while it is called today lest any be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin, and to hold the beginning of confidence steadfast to the end in order to remain partakers of Christ and not harden the heart as in the provocation. They might have known His ways, for the truth was kept before them and repeated again and again, but they did not follow its teachings and divorced themselves from God to follow the wisdom of men not under His direction. Their disobedience is thus joined to unbelief and to failure to enter God's rest, proving that unbelief kept that generation from entering in and that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
Hearing gives no benefit without receiving by faith and putting into practice, for selfishness, pride, murmuring and unbelief kept them from profiting by what they heard even though Christ spoke to them enshrouded in the pillar of cloud. Their lack of faith in the words spoken and in the promises gave Israel a checkered and troubled history, whereas faith would have led them to a different course and left a record of a very different character. The gospel preached profits only when mixed with faith, so remaining partakers of Christ depends on holding confidence steadfast to the end and not hardening the heart as in the provocation.
Their failure to enter Canaan warns that those who continue in the same sins will fall and fail to enter the heavenly Canaan. The same warning remains, to fear lest any come short of the promised rest, and all must therefore labor to enter that rest and not fall after the same example of unbelief. Their unbelief and rebellion provoked anger and kept the generation that came out of Egypt from entering, so that their fathers could have possessed Jericho forty years earlier if they had trusted Him. Meanwhile the searching Word discerns the thoughts and intents with all things open to God, and Jesus the Son of God as great High Priest in heaven, tempted as humans are yet without sin and touched with infirmity, calls all to hold fast profession and come boldly to the throne of grace for mercy and help in need.
Warning for Today
The warning in the verse sounds down to the present time, for Israel's history can be repeated and what befell those who heard and provoked stands as a warning not to harden the heart or depart from the living God through unbelief. Some who came out of Egypt by Moses provoked Him, though not all did, and their rebellion belongs to the call to take heed lest an evil heart of unbelief cause departure, to exhort one another daily while it is called today lest any be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin, to hold the beginning of confidence steadfast to the end in order to remain partakers of Christ, and not to harden the heart as in the provocation when His voice is heard today. To that ancient people were committed the sacred oracles, but the revealed Word was misinterpreted and misapplied and they despised the Word of the Holy One, persistently pursuing backsliding in unbelief, obstinacy and idolatry though the truth of God's ways was kept before them and repeated again and again, divorcing themselves from God to follow the wisdom of men not under His direction until wrath was poured out and all but two of the adults who left Egypt died in the wilderness. As the children who entered Canaan were warned against their fathers' course, so those who have received light are now warned to fear lest any come short of the promised rest, to labor to enter that rest and not fall after the same example of unbelief, since the gospel profits only when mixed with faith and those who provoked, with whom God was grieved forty years, sinned and fell in the wilderness and could not enter because of unbelief, being sworn not to enter His rest. While the searching Word discerns thoughts and intents with all things open to God, Jesus the Son of God as great high priest in heaven, tempted as humans are yet without sin and touched with infirmity, calls all to hold fast profession and come boldly to the throne of grace for mercy and help in need, lest any perish impenitent by persisting in unbelief.
God's people must go forward in faith rather than turn back toward Egypt in unbelief, trusting God alone rather than seeking help from those who do not serve Him. He would have led them to the promised land sooner if they had submitted to Him, but their rebellion and lack of trust kept them from entering His rest and only two wholly followed Him. The words they heard were spoken by Christ enshrouded in the pillar of cloud, and faith in those words and in the promises would have left a record of a very different character instead of a checkered history marked by lack of faith. Every child of God must therefore learn faith in the promises, walk forward by faith pressing on without being governed by circumstances, and ever cherish grace through Christ as the only way of approaching God.
God bears long with those who turn away and repeatedly calls them to repentance, but those who keep resisting the Spirit will be left to the results of their choices and perish impenitent if they persist in unbelief. Christ Himself purposed to lead Israel from Egypt into Canaan and was rejected more than once, feeding them with manna and protecting them from harm during forty years, yet they provoked Him by resisting evidences of truth, failing to recognize His light and power, and being unmindful of His miracles. Because they kept childhood defects and wrong traits into manhood and womanhood instead of overcoming them, He could not fulfill His purpose through them and they fell in the wilderness and never entered the promised land. Their provoking of Christ then is the same as piercing Him on the cross and piercing Him today by dishonoring Him and refusing His will, so unless natural dispositions are softened and subdued by His grace to become men and women in Christ, people will keep crucifying Him afresh.
Their rebellion involved heated, excited talk, stamping of feet, and stubborn insistence on their own plans, warning against hardening the heart and calling a person to turn to God rather than focus on proving others wrong. In light of Christ humbling Himself and becoming obedient unto death on the cross, God highly exalting Him, and the marvelous work wrought in our behalf, becoming depressed or murmuring and complaining is forbidden. The same danger of unbelief and murmuring now threatens believers and withholds precious blessings hanging over them that God would have them receive and appreciate. When the Word is used, practiced, trusted, soberly and meekly believed, received and appropriated, believers are made perfect in Him who is their righteousness and gain a precious experience that makes them wise unto salvation.
Some who heard God's voice after coming out of Egypt under Moses provoked Him, but not all who came out did so. They are those with whom He was grieved forty years, who sinned and whose bodies fell in the wilderness, to whom He swore they should not enter His rest because they did not believe. They could not enter because of unbelief, for hearing gives no benefit unless it is received by faith and put into practice. Their failure to enter Canaan warns those who have now received light to fear lest any come short of the promised rest and fall after the same example of unbelief. God's people must therefore go forward in faith rather than turn back toward Egypt, trusting God alone, holding confidence steadfast to the end and exhorting one another daily lest any be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Words and Wilderness Setting
Some who heard God's voice after coming out of Egypt by Moses provoked Him, but not all who came out did so. The verse stands in a call to take heed against an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God, to exhort one another daily while it is called today lest any be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin, to hold the beginning of confidence steadfast to the end in order to remain partakers of Christ, and not to harden the heart as in the provocation when His voice is heard. That warning is framed by the question who provoked, answered by those with whom God was grieved forty years, those who sinned and whose bodies fell in the wilderness, to whom He swore they should not enter His rest because they did not believe. Their example warns those who have received light not to harden their hearts or depart from God through unbelief, but to remain faithful and heed His voice.
The words they heard were spoken by Christ enshrouded in the pillar of cloud, and faith in those words and in the promises would have given their history a very different character. He Himself purposed to lead Israel from Egypt into Canaan, fed them with manna and protected them from harm during the forty years, yet was rejected by them more than once. Their failure to receive what they heard by faith and put it into practice left them guilty, for selfishness, pride, murmuring and unbelief kept them from benefiting.
Their provocation involved heated, excited talk, stamping of feet, and stubborn insistence on their own plans. They obstinately refused warnings and persistently pursued backsliding in unbelief, obstinacy and idolatry, divorcing themselves from God to follow the wisdom of men not under His direction though the truth of His ways was kept before them and repeated again and again. They resisted evidences of truth, failed to recognize His light and power, were unmindful of His miracles, and kept childhood defects and wrong traits into manhood and womanhood instead of overcoming them.
All but two of the adults who left Egypt died in the wilderness; only the two who wholly followed Him were spared. He would have led them to the promised land sooner if they had submitted to Him, and their fathers could have possessed Jericho forty years earlier if they had trusted Him. To that ancient people were committed the sacred oracles, but the revealed Word was misinterpreted and misapplied and they despised the Word of the Holy One.
Unbelief and God's Rest
Some who heard the voice provoked, though not all who came out of Egypt by Moses did so, and those who provoked were those with whom God was grieved forty years, those who sinned whose bodies fell in the wilderness, those to whom He swore they should not enter His rest because they did not believe. The verse stands in the call to take heed lest there be an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God, to exhort one another daily while it is called today lest any be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin, and to hold the beginning of confidence steadfast to the end in order to remain partakers of Christ and not harden the heart as in the provocation. They might have known His ways, for the truth was kept before them and repeated again and again, but they did not follow its teachings and divorced themselves from God to follow the wisdom of men not under His direction. Their disobedience is thus joined to unbelief and to failure to enter God's rest, proving that unbelief kept that generation from entering in and that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
Hearing gives no benefit without receiving by faith and putting into practice, for selfishness, pride, murmuring and unbelief kept them from profiting by what they heard even though Christ spoke to them enshrouded in the pillar of cloud. Their lack of faith in the words spoken and in the promises gave Israel a checkered and troubled history, whereas faith would have led them to a different course and left a record of a very different character. The gospel preached profits only when mixed with faith, so remaining partakers of Christ depends on holding confidence steadfast to the end and not hardening the heart as in the provocation.
Their failure to enter Canaan warns that those who continue in the same sins will fall and fail to enter the heavenly Canaan. The same warning remains, to fear lest any come short of the promised rest, and all must therefore labor to enter that rest and not fall after the same example of unbelief. Their unbelief and rebellion provoked anger and kept the generation that came out of Egypt from entering, so that their fathers could have possessed Jericho forty years earlier if they had trusted Him. Meanwhile the searching Word discerns the thoughts and intents with all things open to God, and Jesus the Son of God as great High Priest in heaven, tempted as humans are yet without sin and touched with infirmity, calls all to hold fast profession and come boldly to the throne of grace for mercy and help in need.
Warning for Today
The warning in the verse sounds down to the present time, for Israel's history can be repeated and what befell those who heard and provoked stands as a warning not to harden the heart or depart from the living God through unbelief. Some who came out of Egypt by Moses provoked Him, though not all did, and their rebellion belongs to the call to take heed lest an evil heart of unbelief cause departure, to exhort one another daily while it is called today lest any be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin, to hold the beginning of confidence steadfast to the end in order to remain partakers of Christ, and not to harden the heart as in the provocation when His voice is heard today. To that ancient people were committed the sacred oracles, but the revealed Word was misinterpreted and misapplied and they despised the Word of the Holy One, persistently pursuing backsliding in unbelief, obstinacy and idolatry though the truth of God's ways was kept before them and repeated again and again, divorcing themselves from God to follow the wisdom of men not under His direction until wrath was poured out and all but two of the adults who left Egypt died in the wilderness. As the children who entered Canaan were warned against their fathers' course, so those who have received light are now warned to fear lest any come short of the promised rest, to labor to enter that rest and not fall after the same example of unbelief, since the gospel profits only when mixed with faith and those who provoked, with whom God was grieved forty years, sinned and fell in the wilderness and could not enter because of unbelief, being sworn not to enter His rest. While the searching Word discerns thoughts and intents with all things open to God, Jesus the Son of God as great high priest in heaven, tempted as humans are yet without sin and touched with infirmity, calls all to hold fast profession and come boldly to the throne of grace for mercy and help in need, lest any perish impenitent by persisting in unbelief.
God's people must go forward in faith rather than turn back toward Egypt in unbelief, trusting God alone rather than seeking help from those who do not serve Him. He would have led them to the promised land sooner if they had submitted to Him, but their rebellion and lack of trust kept them from entering His rest and only two wholly followed Him. The words they heard were spoken by Christ enshrouded in the pillar of cloud, and faith in those words and in the promises would have left a record of a very different character instead of a checkered history marked by lack of faith. Every child of God must therefore learn faith in the promises, walk forward by faith pressing on without being governed by circumstances, and ever cherish grace through Christ as the only way of approaching God.
God bears long with those who turn away and repeatedly calls them to repentance, but those who keep resisting the Spirit will be left to the results of their choices and perish impenitent if they persist in unbelief. Christ Himself purposed to lead Israel from Egypt into Canaan and was rejected more than once, feeding them with manna and protecting them from harm during forty years, yet they provoked Him by resisting evidences of truth, failing to recognize His light and power, and being unmindful of His miracles. Because they kept childhood defects and wrong traits into manhood and womanhood instead of overcoming them, He could not fulfill His purpose through them and they fell in the wilderness and never entered the promised land. Their provoking of Christ then is the same as piercing Him on the cross and piercing Him today by dishonoring Him and refusing His will, so unless natural dispositions are softened and subdued by His grace to become men and women in Christ, people will keep crucifying Him afresh.
Their rebellion involved heated, excited talk, stamping of feet, and stubborn insistence on their own plans, warning against hardening the heart and calling a person to turn to God rather than focus on proving others wrong. In light of Christ humbling Himself and becoming obedient unto death on the cross, God highly exalting Him, and the marvelous work wrought in our behalf, becoming depressed or murmuring and complaining is forbidden. The same danger of unbelief and murmuring now threatens believers and withholds precious blessings hanging over them that God would have them receive and appreciate. When the Word is used, practiced, trusted, soberly and meekly believed, received and appropriated, believers are made perfect in Him who is their righteousness and gain a precious experience that makes them wise unto salvation.