Hebrews 3:7–8

Israel's past history was to teach lessons for their children. In the original, the Psalm would remind everyone of two events. The word translated provocation recalls Meribah, described in Numbers 20:1-13. The word translated temptation recalls Massah, told in Exodus 17:1-7. God among them, God's power and care for them — they doubted on these two occasions, but with no reason at all. So let the Hebrews take care not to act in the same way.

When the apostle in Hebrews refers to the wilful obstinacy of the Israelites in the wilderness he uses a different word: "Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness." Its finer shades of meaning are not settled here. But this word and its forms seem to describe a definite resistance in man. It deliberately blocks up the heart to shut out the light of God. As the Lord said, "You refuse to come to me that you may have life."

It was easy to hear with the outward ear only, and to harden the heart. Stephen warned: "You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you." Sin is measured by the truth heard and despised. What testimony can God present to those who refused the voice of Christ? He was not only humbled but glorified, and He died for sinners.

For forty years they saw God's works of power and mercy. He provided for their needs and kept them from every danger. Yet despite every sign of His presence, they tested God by saying, "Is the LORD among us or not?" In this they showed the hardness of hearts untouched by God's goodness. They sought only their own desires and did not know God's ways. So they made it plain that, whatever profession they had made, they had no real confidence in God.

Someone who has merely made a profession without reality may easily harden his heart. The wilderness history of Israel served to bring out what was actually in their hearts. In the same way, a person may be only a rocky-ground hearer. The seed may spring up fast. Then persecution or trouble comes because of the Word, and the truth of the Word is given up just as fast. The heart hardens against what the conscience had once approved.

Notice the change when the psalm speaks of the Shepherd, and of them as the sheep of His hand. Praise is simple and happy work while we are occupied with the Shepherd. When we turn to the sheep, we need warning... As long as God in His love and grace fills the soul, there can only be praise. But when the eye turns from God to man, we need the warning not to harden the heart. It is not enough for a man to say, "I was converted ten years ago." How is it today? ... There is no sadder sight than a heart hardened by grace neglected or despised.

When Israel was delivered out of Egypt, they provoked God in the wilderness — and this has been true of Christians in this world too — because they were not at once, and without difficulty, in Canaan, the land God had promised... This word "today" is the expression of the patient activity of God's grace. It may be that only a few will listen. But the word "today" still sounds out for everyone who has ears to hear, until the Lord appears in judgment.