Failure of the Wilderness Wanderers
A Warning Against Unbelief
Today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion,
During the time of testing in the wilderness, where your ancestors tested and tried me,
Though for forty years they saw what I did.
Hebrews 3: 7–9
These words from the Spirit’s heart sober me. As a recovering people-pleaser, I hate to think of testing God to the point of provoking his anger. As a kid, I knew precisely my parents’ anger thresholds for their children’s transgressions; I often tested those thresholds hoping I wouldn’t push them past their limits. We all have them, don’t we? Thresholds. Breaking points—those flashpoints of anger when others needle us past our limits, and we lash out in anger.
Fortunately, God doesn’t lash out. But he does have a threshold for transgression before judgment falls. I’m not sure any of God’s kids escape this temptation to push the limits with God, but God disciplines those he loves. He warns us when we approach the boundaries of his kindness.
Is the Lord Among Us or Not?
The incident the author of Hebrews refers to in Chapter 3 occurred at Rephidim (Exodus 17:1–7). The Israelites are arguing with Moses, as they have for forty years. At Rephidim, they complain, “Is the Lord among us or not?” And Moses gets testy. “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?” He called the place Massah (Testing) and Meribah (quarreling).[1] The Israelites were pushing Moses—and God, who was very much with Israel—to the limit.
God called their complaints grumbling (Psalm 78:40), and pronounced a judgment: “Therefore, they shall not enter my rest.” (Hebrews 3:12).
But God knew the deeper issue: unbelieving. Grumbling and complaining were behaviors manifesting a deeper issue: a sinful, unbelieving heart (Hebrews 3:12). The curse repeats three times in Hebrews 3 and 4, like a refrain. The passage quotes Psalm 95:11. The repetition tells us the audience God intends to hear the warning is universal to his people: a warning against unbelief in the wilderness. If you find yourself grumbling and complaining in your wilderness, check your heart. You might be operating in unbelief.
[1] Bible Gateway, Exodus 17:7, Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
