Key to Promises

Hebrews three and four has some very challenging thoughts. In these chapters, it is talking about the Exodus of the Hebrew nation from Egypt. The Hebrew children are setting out on an adventure for the Promise Land. All of those that came out of Egypt were a voluntary mass. No one made them, but God had given them opportunity.

However, in Hebrews three we find this summary of what happens after the Exodus. “For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? ….Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.” (Hebrews 3:16-19)

With the exception of Joshua’s and Caleb’s families and those born along the way, all of the original sojourners of Israel, that followed Moses from Egypt to the Promise land----just went in circles because of their unbelief. Then, they died there never reaching the Promise Land when in reality it was not really that far away.

They came out of bondage, to die in the desert, because they were constantly looking back instead of ahead. It is not enough to want to be relieved of bondage and captivity. if you don't move toward the promise---the promise will not be fulfilled in you.

Starting with chapter 4, it gives us an opportunity to do things differently than the Hebrew children. Listen to this, “ Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.”

Friends, we still have a hope to make a good choice. We don’t have to settle because we have received our salvation. Let us keep reaching toward the Promise that God has for all of us as we continually grow deeper in love and obedience with the Promise Giver. We serve a God that is faithful to His promises. The variable to getting those promises fulfilled is… are we faithful to Him?