Hebrews is famous for its warning passages. This is one of them (others are 6:4–8; 10:26–31). The warning here is: don’t repeat the mistake that the Israelites made. They had begun OK – they had followed Moses out of Egypt (v 16). But when things got difficult, even the God who had parted the sea to save them, couldn’t be trusted to give them water to drink! So God was angry with them (vs 10,11,17). In the end, they perished in the wilderness (v 17) and did not enter God’s ‘rest’ (v 18). These verses warn us: don’t be like them. Or you too risk not entering God’s ‘rest’ (v 19). 

The Israelites’ problem was they thought they knew a better way to satisfy their thirst than trusting in God’s provision. ‘Why did you bring us here? We had water back in Egypt’ (see Exodus 17:3)! Don’t make the same mistake. Instead, remember that this is the living God (v 12), who speaks to you (vs 7,15), who wants you to share in Christ (v 14), who wants you with him now and in the forever rest of eternal life. Sin cannot satisfy, only God can quench the thirst in our souls. Believe in him. He can be trusted. Keep a soft heart towards God.

‘Yet to all who did receive him … he gave the right to become children of God.’¹ Rejoice in your status as a child of God. 

A wise parent encouraging a child to do something will explain why. The writer of Hebrews does the same. Throughout the letter, explanation, normally in the form of exposition of Old Testament passages or ideas, is interwoven with exhortation; sometimes in distinct blocks, sometimes with the different strands less distinguishable. In today’s verses he argues from an incident in the history of Israel by expounding Psalm 95:7–11, which draws on events recorded in Exodus 17:7 and Numbers 14: Israel complaining about God, despite the deliverance from Egypt, and refusing to believe that his power could guarantee entry into the Promised Land. Many years later, the psalmist interprets these events for his own generation and now the writer of Hebrews does the same for his – as we must do for ours. A generation of Israelites failed to enter the Promised Land, because of unbelief and disobedience. For the psalmist and the writer of Hebrews, their example serves as a warning.

It is always ‘Today’ (v 15), the day of opportunity and possibility, and we are urged to make the most of it so that we avoid turning away (v 12) and missing out on the promise of God’s future; we are to hold on to the end. Yesterday we saw that the way to avoid missing out was to focus all our attention on Jesus. Today we see the responsibility we have for one another in the community of God’s people (v 13). Mutual encouragement is a frequent New Testament note.² Sometimes we shall feel weak and and we shall benefit from the support of others; sometimes we shall be in a position to support those who struggle. Ahead of us lies a great goal, but the road is sometimes hard and the temptation to give up is strong – we need one another.

Are you struggling? Find a fellow Christian to support and encourage you. Do you know someone who is finding life tough? Encourage them, as you have the opportunity.

¹ John 1:12  ² 2 Cor 13:11; 1 Thess 5:14; Gal 6:1,2