“So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.” (Hebrews 3:19)
The writer of Hebrews says to examine those who went before us… learn from the faithful and learn from the faithless. After the twelve spies, one from each tribe, returned from Canaan, only Joshua and Caleb said: ‘Yes! We can take the land!’ The other ten cried: ‘No! We can’t do it!’ Unfortunately, the people sided with the ten and God said: ‘Because you did not believe in Me, you will not enter the Promised Land.’ All the Israelites wandered the wilderness for the next forty years, one year for each day the spies were gone. Only those who had been under twenty years old… and Joshua and Caleb… entered Canaan.
What was the difference between the two and the ten? All had witnessed God’s power as He judged Pharaoh and the false gods of Egypt. All walked through the Red Sea. All ate manna and quail sent from above. All drank water from the rock. But only Joshua and Caleb stood strong and exclaimed: ‘Don’t you see? God delivered us from bondage! He has cared for our needs and protected us on our journey. Nothing is too hard for Him!’ Faith was the difference.
The writer of Hebrews warns: “See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.” (Hebrews 3:12) We are not served by a human high priest, as were the Israelites. Our hope is in Jesus, the One “who has been found more worthy than Moses.” (3:3) “Therefore, brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our Apostle and High Priest.” (3:1)
Faith in the Son is God’s path. As He walked the earth, Jesus constantly called people to believe in Him. To His skeptics, Christ said: “The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.” To His disciples, He asked: “Do you finally believe?” After declaring He was the Resurrection and Life, He challenged a grieving Martha: “Whoever lives by believing in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” After His own resurrection, Jesus said to Thomas: “Because you have seen you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
“Lord, I believe! Help my unbelief!” cried the struggling father of a tormented boy. This is a great prayer! Jesus will help us… He is the ‘Author and Perfecter of our faith.’ We don’t please God by working harder or determining to do better. He says: ‘Cast your burdens on Me for I care for you! Trust in My Son and believe what I’ve accomplished through Him. Have the confidence of Joshua and Caleb and experience My faithfulness and power!’
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” Hebrew 11:6
“Therefore, since we have a great High Priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have One who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet He did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:14