Whomever the writer of the Letter to the Hebrews was in the New Testament, they were incredibly insightful, not to say, Holy Spirit inspired, of course. I have often been fascinated by the Christology of the writer (i.e. the understanding of who Christ really was in His divine priesthood and salvation ministry).
The writer constantly draws on frames of reference and understanding of ancient Hebrew culture and Judaist themes highlighting the failure of God’s people – the Israelites – to become all God had intended, and enter into their inheritance when they were first commanded to cross the Jordan. They balked when they got there. It was all too hard. They rebelled in unbelief. And God sentenced them to another 40 years of wandering in the wilderness where that unbelieving generation died off. In tracing the tragic story the writer concludes one section of the letter by saying …
Hebrews 3:19 (NIV) “So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.”
It’s kind of like “Duh, it doesn’t take a genius to understand that unbelief killed off their destiny.” The Jewish-Christian readers, well aware of Israel’s history, could not have failed to get the point as it relates to their own brand-new discipleship journey. Faith was necessary for the proper functioning and obedience to the Lordship of God for Israel, and it is the same deal for Christians, if we want to come into the fullness of our inheritance in Christ. It is about faith from beginning to end (Romans 1:17).
Unbelief is the killer of Holy Spirit being active in us, and us having the sensitivity and reverence to obediently respond to Him. The apostle Paul makes a big deal of being led by Holy Spirit – it is core to ALL our discipleship progress.
Romans 8:14 (NIV) “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.”
Children, that is, good children who respect their parents, listen and accept their leadership. Rebellious children inherit nothing. Israel (the first time they came to the Jordan River, beyond which lay the Promised Land) rebelled and refused God’s direction. The reason given in Hebrews 3:19 is unbelief, which amounts to not trusting God and His directions. At the river they rebelled. At the river they were right on the edge of their inheritance but it looked too difficult to cross and take possession – their unbelief was that God could not be serious and asked too much. He could not be trusted. They blew it.
God often brings us to look at an impossible situation – humanly impossible, that is – but then commands the impossible anyway. Right there we can choose faith (belief in what God has prophesied to us) or unbelief (or, “unfaith”) which always settles for nothing rather than inheritance in the great purposes and blessings of God for us. A classic example of this was the second time Israel came to the Jordan to cross it (some 40 years later). They did so – and this time the river was at full flood. Under Joshua’s command they made the crossing and prepared to take the first city in the new land, which was Jericho. Joshua sneaked in to reconnoitre the city under cover near the outskirts. What he saw was this:
Joshua 6:1 (NIV) “Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.”
The city’s leaders had heard about Israel and her God and knew they were in the land – and coming. They had locked up that city so tight – it was a fortress with very high walls 4 metres high and nearly 3 metres thick, with watchtowers 10 metres high every 20 metres. And all solid stone. It had massive two-leaved gates and the whole city is locked up securely – no one could get in or out. Joshua with no battlefield war machines, or cavalry, is looking at an impossible situation. No one knows what he was thinking as he surveyed the city’s defences; we are not told. But, apparently, before he could overthink the situation before him, God said this (it’s in the very next verse):
Joshua 6:2 (NIV) Then the LORD said to Joshua, "See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men.”
See what exactly? All Josh can see it a well-fortified city with massive walls and towers, all locked up tight, apparently impregnable, and God says, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands …”. Let’s really understand this. Joshua looks at a heavily fortified city locked up tight. That’s the situation in the natural. Impossible. God says, “See I HAVE (already) delivered Jericho into your hands.” Joshua could have said, “Nah, sorry, Lord. That’s ridiculous”, and turned away. But he doesn’t. He looks at the impossible scene and then listens to God’s instruction and command, and decides that he will obey. Why? Because God has said it was a done thing. Joshua believed in the Lord’s might and power, and that it was unfailing.
And there is it. He did not turn away in unbelief. He saw the physical reality, sure. It was undeniable. But he knew that the word of the Lord was the far greater reality. He went with that. And that … is faith. Such faith was in stark contrast to that previous generation who saw themselves as grasshoppers compared to the “giants” awaiting them in Jericho. We so often have the same choice as Joshua. We see the impossible before us with no obvious solution anywhere in our finite minds, but we need to hear the voice of God and His prophetic instruction to us – and trust that far greater reality. In this way, we overcome and enter into our inheritance all life long.
Which is the far greater reality for you?
Think on these things.
Ps Milton