“Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled” (Hebrews 3:15 NLT).
This verse is a quotation of Psalm 95:8. It was a reference to Israel’s forty years of wilderness wanderings because of their unbelief. They did not believe God’s promise to give them the Promised Land when ten of the twelve spies brought back a negative report. They rebelled against God and hardened their hearts. So God let them wander in the wilderness until that whole generation died out. Hebrews used this historical reference to remind its readers not to harden their hearts against hearing the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Hearing and listening are not the same. Our ears may hear a sound without tuning in to understand. But listening goes to the heart and produces understanding. This understanding at the heart level makes it possible to respond to God’s voice with faith and obedience. This is why Jesus began so many of His teachings with the saying, “He that has ears to hear, let him hear.”
What causes hard hearts? Hearing God’s voice, yet turning away in unbelief. This continual turning away, instead of turning towards, results in callused hearts and spiritual deafness. And God views it as rebellion and willful unbelief.
How do you answer Christ’s voice today? Do you have a tender heart with spiritual ears to hear?
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for the gospel and for giving us ears to hear it. We have received it with faith and joy. Strengthen us and direct us this day by Your Spirit that we might always hear Your voice and obey. In Jesus’ name, amen.