How to avoid a hardened heart: Learning from the Israelites' mistakes
- Thad DeBuhr
- Aug 4
- 8 min read
Hebrews 3:7-19
The Main Message: The author of Hebrews warns us to listen to God's voice today, so that a hardened heart of unbelief doesn't keep us from entering into His promised rest.
I've always been interested in the story of the Donner Party. In 1846, they were a group of pioneers headed to California, but they decided to take a new "shortcut" that promised to save time. It sounded great on paper, but experienced guides warned them against it. They ignored the warnings, took the new route anyway, and got stuck in the Sierra Nevada mountains during a brutal winter. The shortcut turned out to be a fatal mistake that cost many of them their lives.
Totally unrelated to the rest of this study in Hebrews...
But just for fun, here's a mini-series I recently listened to about the Donner Party.
That's exactly what the author of Hebrews is doing in our passage today. He's looking back at one of the most important stories in the history of God's people—the Israelites wandering in the wilderness—so that we don't repeat their mistakes. He's giving us a chance to learn from history so we can avoid the same costly failures. Let's dig in.
Before moving on, pause and read through Hebrews 3:1-6 in a couple of different translations. Choose two from this selection: NIV, NLT, ESV, NASB, NKJV
BE SURE TO WATCH THE VIDEO PODCAST THAT GOES DEEPER INTO THIS SECTION OF HEBREWS
Setting the Scene: Hebrews 3:7-19
Today we're looking at Hebrews 3:7-19. The guy who wrote this letter was talking to a group of Christians who were going through a rough patch. Some of them were so worn out they were thinking about giving up on their faith and going back to their old ways.
To make his point, the author brings up the story of the Israelites. God had just done a bunch of incredible miracles to get them out of slavery in Egypt. They saw God split the Red Sea (Exodus 14) and bring water from a rock (Exodus 17). He fed them with manna from heaven every day (Exodus 16). They were led by a cloud in the day and a pillar of fire at night (Exodus 13:21). They knew God was real and powerful. But even after all that, they started complaining and doubting God.
The author of Hebrews digs into this story to find the root problem. He asks, "Who were they who heard and rebelled?" (Hebrews 3:16). He reminds his readers that God "was angry for forty years" with "those who sinned" (Hebrews 3:17) and that those who "did not enter his rest" were the ones "who disobeyed" (Hebrews 3:18). He concludes by saying, "We see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief" (Hebrews 3:19).
The Israelites' problem wasn't a lack of information or a lack of miracles. They saw God's power firsthand. They were led by God and fed by God in amazing ways. But they were missing something crucial: real trust and loyalty. Their rebellion, sin, and disobedience all came from a deep-seated unbelief. They knew about God, but they didn't truly believe Him. They didn't trust that His way was best or that His promises were true. They didn't remain loyal when things got tough.
The author of Hebrews is basically saying, "Don't be like them!" He's using this old story to warn his readers that it's possible to be part of God's people, to experience His goodness, and yet to fall short because of a hard, unfaithful heart. He's telling them that they need to listen to God’s voice today, right now. The promise of rest is still on the table, but it requires a trusting heart, not a stubborn one.
The Danger of a Hard Heart
The main warning here is about a heart that turns its back on God. This isn't just about making a mistake or having a bad day. It's a slow, gradual process where sin tricks you into thinking you're better off without God. It's like a small crack in a windshield that slowly spreads until the whole thing shatters.
The author gives us the solution to this problem: "Encourage one another daily... so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness" (Hebrews 3:13). We need each other. We can't fight this battle alone. Sin lies to us, telling us we don't need God or other people. But we do. We need other believers to help us stay on track, to speak the truth when we're tempted to believe a lie, and to remind us of God's faithfulness.
Rabbit Trail: A Deeper Look at "Rest"
The author of Hebrews is pulling from a deeply important idea in the Old Testament. When he talks about "rest," he isn't just talking about a day off. For the Israelites, "rest" was the Promised Land—a place of peace and security after the long, hard journey of the wilderness. It was the fulfillment of God’s promise to give them a home. The author's point is that the Israelites, because of their hard hearts, never got to enter that physical rest.
But the author of Hebrews takes this idea a step further. He's arguing that the real "rest" for God's people today isn't a piece of land; it's a spiritual peace found in Jesus. Just like the Israelites had to trust God to get to the Promised Land, we have to trust Jesus to enter into His peace and a blessed life. The warning is the same: don't let a stubborn, unbelieving heart keep you from the rest God has promised you in Christ.
Questions for you to chew on and discuss:
What’s a lie that sin has told you recently? How did it make you feel?
Think of a time when someone else's encouragement kept you from giving up. What did they do or say?
Journey Group Discussion Starter:
Let's talk about verse 13. What are some easy, practical things we can do this week to encourage each other daily?
Applying the Principles TODAY
So, what does this mean for us? The message is just as important now as it was then. The "rest" God offers isn't just about going to heaven one day. It's a peace we can have right now by trusting in Jesus. It's about letting go of our own striving and letting God take the lead.
Here are a few simple ways to apply this:
Start your day by asking God for help. This devotional is designed to be a tool for that very purpose! You can make it a daily habit to read the Word, listen for God's voice, and begin your day with a prayer of surrender.
Hang out with other Christians. This is so important, and it's the whole reason for our Journey Groups, monthly meet-ups, and events. We believe that real growth happens in the context of relationships. Our groups, meet-ups, and events are places where you can find people who will lift you up, pray for you, and hold you accountable on your journey.
Spend some time in the Bible. That's what we're all about here at Your Jesus Journey. Our daily devotionals and other online resources are here to help you get into the Word, understand it better, and start actively listening for God’s voice in your life.
RESOURCES TO HELP YOU GROW AS A CHRISTIAN
Your Jesus Journey is an independent, non-denominational Christian ministry. We're fueled by God's grace and the generosity of our supporters. Our team—led by Pastor Thad and his wife Kaila—is made up of dedicated disciples from all over the United States. Together, we work to help people understand the Bible, find Christian friends, and grow as disciple-makers.
If you're tired of walking alone and want to find a crew to walk with you, we've got a great community for you. To learn more about journey groups, get connected in one, or learn about starting one, head over to https://www.yourjesusjourney.com/journeygroups.
And don't forget to grab our free E-Book, "Stop Reading the Bible Wrong: 7 Strategic Shifts that Change Everything." Just click the Free Gift button at the top of our website, and we'll send it to you today!
Go to https://www.yourjesusjourney.com/journeygroups to learn more about Journey Groups, get connected in one, or even learn how to start your own. It's like a spiritual potluck, but instead of questionable casseroles, we share insights and grow closer to God. See you there!
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There's lots more to see and learn on our website, from our "what we believe" page to hundreds of blogs. We encourage you to swing on by and take a look around at www.YourJesusJourney.com!
EXCITING DREAMS TAKING SHAPE
From road life to dream home base! 🚚➡️🏡 After years of traveling, God led us to an incredible spot in Arizona to build a ministry hub & bless others. You won't believe how it happened! ✨ Watch our new video to see the first glimpse! 👇
For the past three years, Kaila and I have been living life on the road, exploring and serving wherever God leads us. It's been an incredible journey, but carrying everything we own and constantly navigating started us dreaming of something more: a home base. A place to lighten our load, simplify, and most importantly, create a space where we can truly bless others. This video is the first glimpse of that dream!
As full-time traveling missionaries and founders of YourJesusJourney.com, we live on a modest income, relying on the generosity of others to support our three-fold ministry vision: helping people understand the Bible in context, finding Christian friends, and equipping disciple makers. So, you might be wondering, how are we able to pursue something this ambitious? About a year and a half ago, Kaila’s beloved dad passed away. With his passing, Kaila inherited their expansive family home and horse property on the breathtaking North Shore of Lake Superior, in beautiful Ontario—the place she grew up, where she rode her first bike and horse, and learned to drive. After much prayer and seeking God’s guidance, we decided to sell the property. What you see here came as a result of that incredible blessing, and all the work unfolding in the next year or two will also be funded by it.
Ultimately, it’s all God’s money, God’s land, and God’s resources—we simply want to be faithful stewards, investing what He’s entrusted us with to serve our family, friends, and help countless others experience God and the lessons of the Bible in a whole new way. We prayed and searched high and low, from Texas to Idaho, and God consistently drew us back to this breathtaking location in Northwest Arizona. Imagine: a spot overlooking the world's densest Joshua Tree forest, just minutes from the Grand Canyon, with epic mountains in our backyard! Our deepest desire for this place is to be a haven for renewal. A spot where our kids can visit, Kaila's mom can stay, and friends can gather. But even bigger than that, it's a launchpad for new ministry—a place to invite people to rest, recharge, share meals, grow friendships, and truly be renewed in the desert sun. We're already dreaming of leading hikes, teaching Bible lessons, and hosting retreats.
There’s a lot of exciting work ahead, but we're stepping out in faith, trusting God every step of the way. We’re so excited to share this new chapter with our family, friends, and all of you! If you want to learn more about our ministry, please visit YourJesusJourney.com. And if you have any questions, or just want to send your prayers or encouragement, please fill up that comment section or reach out directly at YourJesusJourney@gmail.com.
We've journeyed through the Bible, verse by verse, for over 15 books now! We take each passage and break it down into easy-to-understand chunks of plain English. Along the way, we uncover fascinating historical details and explore the cultural context, truly bringing the scriptures to life in a way that resonates. Forget dusty footnotes and words that send you reaching for a thesaurus – we make God's Word approachable and meaningful for everyone. And because we know you're eager to dig even deeper, make sure to subscribe to the Daily Bible Podcast and catch the video podcast each day that complements these blogs!
Thank you !
Fellowship and the word! Love it!