Explore: Watch Out!

• The Explore the Bible lesson for Sept. 28 focuses on Hebrews 3:7-15.

Parenting toddlers is fun. These little people—at least for a few years—believe you hung the moon, and their unwavering trust and confidence in you inspires unbelievable joy, as well as fear and trembling at this great responsibility. Blissfully ignorant of the news headlines, there is great security in their little world.

But something happens when you turn off the lights in their room each night. Objects once engaging and playful become ominous and threatening in the shadows. Noises from beloved pets and familiar household activities inspire fears of monsters and villains. The security of parents in the next room fades quickly from memory. Even the promise of God’s faithful presence pales in comparison to the unknown present danger.

Shortsightedness

The preacher of Hebrews reminds us, throughout history, the people of God have demonstrated this same shortsightedness, trusting in what our eyes tell us is true rather than what we have heard and know to be reliable. Although the entire book of Hebrews is a sermon, the preacher includes a sermon within a sermon here in chapter 3. He quotes extensively from Psalm 95:7-11, which itself is an allusion to Numbers 13-14. The ex-slaves had escaped Egypt and, after a perilous but protected journey across the desert, were poised to enter the Promised Land.

Moses sent 12 spies to investigate and bring back a report. Ten of the spies had shortsighted memories of God’s power and faithfulness to rescue, and they aroused fear among the people. Instead of trusting the God who had led them by fire and cloud through the desert, they longed for the familiar. A secure place as slaves was more appealing than an uncertain and intimidating future.

The Israelites had a 40-year demonstration of God’s remarkable power, protection and provision. “For 40 years they saw what I did … and they have not known my ways” (vv. 9-10). The Israelites were deceived by what they saw in the Promised Land. The threat of what could be overpowered their conviction and belief in a faithful God.

Calloused hearts

Their unbelieving hearts became calloused and distant to the point where an entire generation rebelled against God. Instead of trusting in the promises of God they heard through their ancestors and leaders, they trusted in what they saw with limited vision.

Although the excerpt is quoted from Psalm 95, the Holy Spirit is the speaker here, the one who makes God’s word relevant from beginning to end. The Holy Spirit brings this truth freshly to bear on a new generation facing affliction and similarly in danger of drifting away from the promises of God in the gospel.

The message that is relevant “today” for the ancient Israelites (v. 7) becomes a relevant message “today” for the Hebrew congregation and every generation to come (v. 13). The Holy Spirit who spoke on the borders of the Promised Land is the same voice who spoke to the early church and to Christians today.

The early church in Hebrews was in danger of believing what they saw, rather than trusting the gospel message they had heard and received.As Tom Long noted in his Interpretation commentary on Hebrews: “In the steadfast life of faith, appearances can be deceiving. Indeed, it has always been true that the promises of God do not look like they sound. … The Promised Land, the land of milk and honey, feels more like a land of blood, sweat and tears. The hoped-for Messiah, the Savior, turns out to be a rag-wrapped baby in a feed stall in Bethlehem, and the joyful life in Christ turns out to be full of resistance and saturated with suffering. The promises of God do not often look like they sound, and the question, thus, becomes once again: Should the church trust what it hears or what it sees—the gospel or the suffering?”

Hardened by sin’s deceitfulness

Certainly, suffering is real. The preacher does not trivialize the suffering of the Israelites, the congregation of Hebrews or the modern reader. But sometimes our suffering looms so large it clouds our view. We lose sight of Jesus and his eternally good news. We begin to doubt the faithfulness of Christ, and our unbelieving heart gradually “turns away from the living God” (v. 12). Over time, we become “hardened by sin’s deceitfulness” (v. 13).

But as the gospel always has promised, there is hope. We can have our sight restored, our vision regained, once again. As we “hold firmly to our confidence” in the gospel message we have heard (v. 6), the suffering that occupies our sight begins to lose its invincibility. The preacher prescribes a three-point antidote to the weariness that plagues his church’s vision, each point conditional upon some action from the congregation.

First, he instructs them to “fix your thoughts on Jesus” (v. 1). As we study and meditate upon Scripture, we cannot help but be reminded of the faithfulness of Christ. Jesus is our Savior, not just for the age to come but to restore abundant life now, in the midst of our daily struggles. We have a Savior who became like us, suffered with us and for us, and triumphed over sin and death. But we can only claim this power and rescue for ourselves “if we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory” (v. 6). The gospel we know from God’s word serves as a faithful reminder of that hope.

Heed the Holy Spirit

Second, the preacher cautions the congregation to heed the Holy Spirit. As we cultivate intimacy with God, we become more attune to hear his voice (v. 7). We must slow down and take the time to abide in Jesus, dedicating ourselves to speaking and listening to God in prayer. Like peeling away the layers of an onion, abiding with Christ gradually chisels through the suffering and renews our focus on the hope that Christ offers.

Finally, we need the encouragement of Christian community (v. 13). We need others to help pull back the dark and dusty curtains suffering has hung around the windows of our heart. We need the family of God to speak words of light and hope into our soul. “We have come to share in Christ” (v. 14) as we come to share with one another.

Whatever monsters you face, whether it is looming health challenges, failing hope in the church, loneliness and isolation, or suffering of any kind, focus your sights on Christ who is faithful. Pour over the words of life found in Scripture, abide in prayer until you hear his voice, and reach out for the encouragement found through brothers and sisters in Christ. Hold on to the promise that Christ will bring you rest.