Day 23: The Exodus Wilderness
Passage: Hebrews 3:1 – 4:13
Link to Lent 2016 Vimeo Channel

Transcription of the recorded video:

There is an old saying, “Those who fail to learn from the past are doomed to repeat it.” This is probably why the Hebrew writer takes the time in chapter 3 to give his readers a history lesson which at the time was more than 1,000 years old and that is also why today, over 2,000 years later this lesson still needs to be told.

Moses was the most important hero to the Israelites. Moses led the Israelite nation out of bondage in Egypt. God led Jewish people to the edge of Canaan, the Promised Land. Before entering the Promised Land, God told Moses to send twelve men to spy out the land (Num. 13:2). As the spies reported back they were all in agreement on what they saw, “A land flowing with milk and honey.” But the inhabitants of Canaan were strong and the cities were well fortified. All except two were afraid to go and possess the land. They actually suggested that Israel return to Egypt and back into slavery!

We know the rest of the story, the people followed the majority. They would not listen to Joshua and Caleb. They refused the promise of God. They had hard hearts. As a result, God forced them to wander in the wilderness for 40 years. No one from that generation, save Joshua, Caleb and their families, entered the Promised Land.

So why this story from ages long past? What could it possibly say to us today? The application is in the striking similarities. Christians are promised something better. We too, just like Israel, plan to enter a Promised Land, which is Heaven. We can become complacent in our lives, we can get caught up in sin, and have hard hearts. If we allow this to happen then we will be left to die in the wilderness, eternally separated from God. This is the last thing that God wants to happen to us. I invite you to join me this week as we meditate on Hebrews 3:1 – 4:13 about Jesus, the power and deceit of sin, the importance of the Body, and how we can experience God’s rest and peace in our lives.