Perils of unbelief

 ⁷ Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says,

“TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE,
⁸ DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME,
AS ON THE DAY OF TRIAL IN THE WILDERNESS,
⁹ WHERE YOUR FATHERS PUT ME TO THE TEST,
AND SAW MY WORKS FOR FORTY YEARS.
¹⁰ THEREFORE I WAS ANGRY WITH THIS GENERATION,
AND SAID, ‘THEY ALWAYS GO ASTRAY IN THEIR HEART,
AND THEY DID NOT KNOW MY WAYS’;
¹¹ AS I SWORE IN MY ANGER,
‘THEY CERTAINLY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST.’” Hebrews 3:7-11

In spite of all of the miracles the Israelites experienced during their rescue from Egypt and the wilderness journey, they continued to be plagued with unbelief and disobedience. Though they left Egypt, Egypt had not left them. They brought the gods of Egypt with them and hardened their heart toward God. Instead of looking forward to the Promised Land they were looking backward to the land of slavery they left and the life they had. They did not know God nor his ways and as a result constantly strayed away from following him. The consequence of their actions against God was prohibition from entering the Promised Land. God desired a people who would be obedient to him, to know his ways and have faith in him to accomplish what he promised he would do. Many people today are like the Israelites who perished in the wilderness. They do not know God in a personal way and rely on their own ways of doing things which are often contrary to God's commands. Their hearts are hardened by their unbelief and they choose to go their own way and never experience the life of blessing that God wants them to enjoy. True believers have faith in God to do what he says he will do, obey what he tells them to do and persevere through times of testing and trials.