Hebrews 3:7-12
Part 3
The Hardness of Your Heart
Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, (Hebrews 3:7)
Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: (Hebrews 3:8)
When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. (Hebrews 3:9)
Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. (Hebrews 3:10)
So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) (Hebrews 3:11)
Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. (Hebrews 3:12)
The Wilderness of Sin
Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. (1 Corinthians 10:10)
Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. (1 Corinthians 10:11)
Chapter 16 of the Book of Exodus begins with the children of Israel leaving Elim and journeying to the wilderness of Sin. This was in the second (2nd) month, and on the fifteenth (15th) day since they had left the shores of the Red Sea. According to the Book of Numbers, Chapter 33, verses 10-15 there were many more stops from Marah to the wilderness of Sin; yet, in Exodus the Holy Spirit is giving the stops in Exodus 15 and onward to show us spiritual lessons in each and every destination. And the test that the children of Israel were given by Jehovah are examples to us to whom the end of the world is come. In verse 2 of Chapter 16 of Exodus And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, the Holy Spirit reveals to us that the whole congregation murmured against both Moses and Aaron. This was in the wilderness of Sin, the darkness of unbelief. Not only did they murmur against Moses and Aaron, but they murmured against Jehovah in verse 3 when they cried, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt. These murmurings against God’s two witnesses and against the Lord were fervent. They compared their life in the wilderness to the life they had back in Egypt as slaves. Was not the cloud before them in the day time, and the fire by night; had they not witnessed God’s blessing at Elim? How soon the heart of unbelief forgets all the benefits and blessings from God. Once one enters into the wilderness of Sin, as in Adam, all becomes barren and empty. The soul is impoverished and can find nothing to satisfy its needs, for it looks on temporal circumstances and not on the divine will and purpose of God, so is the world in our time. God has blessed this world, God has showered His grace over all those who reject and curse Him. He sends the rain, He sends the warmth of summer, and the cold of winter, He brings forth the seed that is planted and prepares the plant for harvest; yet, man wanders in the wilderness of Sin, and murmurs against the Almighty. Israel could only look back at what they had in Egypt. You think that they would have looked back to Elim, their last stop, where they drank from the waters from the twelve fountains, where they ate the fruit of the palm trees, where they rested in the presence of Jehovah, but their minds went back to Egypt and what they had there. And even as they spoke of the flesh-pots and the bread they never mentioned their slavery to Pharaoh. Isn’t the world the same? They complain about God knowing that God has given His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ for the sin of the world, knowing that they are slaves to sin and wandering in the wilderness of sin, but still, they do not repent of their sins for the blessings of God. We look on Israel murmuring against Moses and Aaron, these two men had been chosen of God to be His witnesses against Pharaoh, and witnesses to the children of Israel of all the promises given to Abraham. In a coming day, during the tribulation period, God will send His two witnesses, and they will witness to a world that is in the wilderness of sin.
Two Future Witnesses
And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. (Revelation 11:3)
These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. (Revelation 11:4)
And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. (Revelation 11:5)
These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. (Revelation 11:6)
And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. (Revelation 11:7)
And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. (Revelation 11:8)
Although these two witnesses will perform many miracles, the world will reject them and their message. The miracles will be similar to the plaques of Egypt, and similar to the drought by Elijah the prophet. Many wrestle over who these men will be. It is not who they will be, but who they are filled by, the Holy Spirit of God. They will be direct ambassadors and servants of the Holy Spirit of God condemning and judging the world for its wickedness. (John 16:7-11) They will be ambassadors sent directly from heaven. There is no record of their births, so most likely, they will be sent supernaturally to witness to the world. The world will fight against them, and for the length of their prophecy they will call fire down upon their enemies as they will be preserved by God from heaven until their prophecy is fulfilled. In their work, as the servants of God, there will be no exercise of grace to the world; all their prophetic words will be to show forth the judgment that is, and that which is to come. For this the world will hate them, and when their ministry and prophecy has been completed Jehovah will allow this evil world to take their lives. Why? To show the world His great power, for after their death the world, in jubilation, will send gifts one to another commemorating their victory and power over God’s two witnesses, and over Jehovah Himself; however, their celebration is short lived, for in three and ½ (3 ½) days after their deaths Jehovah will open the heavens and say to His servants, ‘Come up hither.’ All the world will see their resurrected bodies ascend up into heaven. This will be a further witness against their wickedness and a witness of the power of the Almighty God.
The heart of man has not changed since the wanderings of the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sin. During their wanderings it was the entire congregation that murmured and chided against Moses and Aaron. At one point the congregation were ready to kill both Moses and Aaron, but God intervened on their behalf by judging the nation in the presence of both of His servants.
Christians today are grounded and are part of the foundation stone of our faith, which is Jesus Christ. We live in the shadow of men who have been called by God to serve Him filled with the Spirit of God, and given works that glorify God, and our Savior Jesus Christ. Paul wrote that we should cast down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. This is our purpose and our responsibility in the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. They murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, the world will murmur against God’s two witnesses in Revelation 11. In Paul’s day they murmured against him; so much so that he wrote, And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved. (2 Corinthians 12:15) This brings us to our present age, has the world changed? Has it become righteous? Are all living to please and glorify God? I don’t think so! The evidence is overwhelming against a sinful world that has willing blind eyes to the truth of God, and to the truth of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. I see little repentance of any kind in this world. I see all kinds of excuses for their wickedness, but never repentance towards God and faith towards the Lord Jesus Christ. Of course, I am speaking of the unregenerate world that we Christians dwell in. Thank God, that we have the power of the Holy Spirit of God within us to preserve us until the end of our ministry here on earth. I want to speak to each and every Christian, each one of us has a ministry given of God whether it is to our families, to our neighbors, to our community, or to the world. Each one of us has a divine path set out before us; just as the cloud and fire did not leave Israel so the Lord Jesus has told us that He will never leave us nor forsake us. We have the assurance of God Almighty that when our ministry is through, He will say to us, “Come up hither.’
The children of Israel were not satisfied with their position before God. As we travel with them, we will learn the characteristics of their lives, their character will be revealed to us in their rebellion against Jehovah and His servants. Those who came out of Egypt did not experience any contentment in the presence of Jehovah. They should have been content knowing that the Creator of heaven and earth was leading and directing them. Paul wrote to the Philippians . . .
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. (Philippians 4:11)
I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. (Philippians 4:12)
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (Philippians 4:13)
If the children of Israel had a heart like Paul, they would have rejoiced in all their circumstances. I am sure that Paul, when he was suffering for Christ, would look back and have complete assurance when he remembered the Damascus Road. Someone once said, ‘Salvation is enough,’ and that is true, but the glory of that salvation is fulfilling the will of God in one’s life. To know how to abound, and to be abased, to know acceptance and rejection, all these things mold the spirit of the child of God. If Israel had looked at Jehovah and not on their circumstances, they would have had a glimpse of Christ, and as Abraham, they would have rejoiced in seeing the day of Christ. Those of us who have been delivered out of this world and walk by the faith of the Son of God, must always have Him before us as a cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night. These are the two sides of our deliverance. The cloud, the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ covering us — this is our side of redemption. The fire of God speaks of His judgment that fell on His beloved Son on that day He was crucified for our sins. Without the fire of God, the whole world would be in darkness, and there would be no grace for the poor sinner undone by Adam’s transgression. For those who walk by faith and are the children of light and not darkness, they are the children of the day of Christ. As in the city of God there is no night there for the Lamb of God is the Light thereof. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. (Revelation 21:23) Just as in the city to come, now in the heart of every believer, the Light of God shines in the Person of His Son, Jesus Christ. While He abides in our hearts there is no night to the children of God.
Israel could see the cloud by day, and the fire by night; they could have embraced this as God’s divine presence and safety around them. They could have rejoiced in knowing that wherever the cloud led them, they would be safely under His wings. This was not a reality in their souls, their souls were full of unbelief so that everything around them became bitterness of spirit, and once again they murmured against Moses and Aaron when they remembered the leeks and garlics of Egypt. The land of Egypt was still in their hearts. They desired the fleshpots and Egyptian bread, over and over Egypt took preeminence in their hearts when Jehovah should have been seen by them in all preeminence. They could not put their own flesh behind. Today, we hear, in the world of religion the murmurings of the people against the Almighty God. How is this? by not giving the Lord Jesus the preeminence over His Church. They murmur and chide in their committees against one another and against God. No wonder the absence of the Spirit of God among them is quite evident. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:18) There has to be a unifying work of the Holy Spirit of God among the people of God. If Christ is denied because flesh is more important, and man’s will must have the preeminence, then the Holy Spirit cannot glorify Christ in their midst. The Holy Spirit of God is here on earth at the bequest of the Son of God. He has been sent to lead us by Christ into all truth. It is the Spirit of God moving on the hearts of the children of God that brings forth true worship of the Almighty God. Just as Israel did not want to acknowledge the Sovereignty of God over their spirits and souls; so, the Laodicean church would rather have the silver and gold then the presence of Christ. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: (Revelation 3:17)
Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron, the whole congregation took part in this aggressive murmuring and condemnation. The congregation would not seek, with a true heart, the counsel of God. They chided against God through their cries of criticism that it would have been better for them to have perished in Egypt. All that God had miraculously done meant absolutely nothing to them, all that God had done for them was not in their minds, or in their hearts, or in their souls; so too, today, with the religious man. In Revelation 3:18 the first words to an unrepentant church is ‘I counsel thee,’ and in fact, since this church exists today, we have evidence based on the truth of the Word of God that they will not listen to the counsel of Christ through the Holy Spirit of God.
Back to Israel . . . God listened to their complaining of lack of food and sent them manna from above; Jehovah being willing and ready to supply them with angels’ food. Even with this new move of grace, there was responsibility. Man did eat angels’ food: he sent them meat to the full. (Psalm 78:25) This is the only time in the Bible that the manna is called angels’ food.
When they awoke each and every morning, manna laid before them upon the ground, and every person had his portion. Do we not have, in our present day, eat the manna from heaven in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. (John 6:32)
For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. (John 6:33)
In the Gospel of John, Chapter 6, the Lord Jesus proclaimed that He is the bread of life. In Chapter 1 He declared Himself — the living word. In Chapter 4, verse 4 of Matthew, He announced Himself as not only the living word, but the living bread of life. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. It is Christ who is both the Word and the Bread of Life. If we apply this to our lives, the Word becomes the Bread, and the Bread becomes the Word, and gives light to the heart and soul of every believer. If you can lay hold of this truth, every time you pick up your Bible you are picking up the bread from heaven in the words of Christ. Every time you pick up your Bible you are getting manna for that day and for eternity.
I am that bread of life. (John 6:48)
Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. (John 6:49)
This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. (John 6:50)
I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. (John 6:51)
The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? (John 6: 52)
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. (John 6:53)
Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:54)
For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. (John 6:55)
He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. (John 6:56)
As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. (John 6:57)
This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. (John 6:58)
These are not light words in the Gospel of John.
Paul knew the bread of heaven quite well. He regarded the manna as more than life itself, of course, that manna was Christ. Paul stated that he would rather depart and be with Christ. He was feasting on the true bread from heaven, and only Christ can satisfy the longing of the soul. Whether in an evil world, or a desert wilderness, every morning and evening, twenty-four hours a day, Christ is there for us as the true bread from heaven. This bread is not a ceremony, or even a remembrance; it is, ‘Christ liveth in me.’ (Galatians 2:20) I feed my spiritual being off of His wonder. All that He is lays hold of my soul. I make Him mine for all eternity. Every time the Holy Spirit reflects His mystical light over my soul, I see Christ and Christ alone. Verse 58 of John 6, the manna was just a type or picture of things to come, for we are told of Israel that they did eat manna in the wilderness and are dead for that food from heaven (angels’ food) was not mingled with faith, so they perished in unbelief. Now the Lord, the God of heaven, the Great I AM, the Eternal Son of God has spoken, He that eateth of this bread shall live forever, believest thou this?
The confusion in unbelief of man is not of faith. Faith sees the evidence of things not seen. Faith believes in that which it does not see. Israel could not lay hold of faith, so all those who came out of Egypt (except for Joshua and Caleb) perished in the wilderness. Amen.
© Copyright 2016, Michael Haigh
Article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.
All Scripture references are from the King James Bible. (KJV)