Today’s Reading:
Hebrew 3:7-19
“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelieve, in departing from the living God” (v. 12)
It is important to keep in mind the background of this passage. The people of Israel had been slaves in Egypt under the evil power of Pharaoh. God had redeemed his people and delivered them out of Egypt. Moreover, it was not God’s will for the people of Israel to remain in Egypt or in the Sinai wilderness wandering around. God’s goal was for Israelites to enter into their inheritance in the land of Canaan. They wandered around for 40 years because they would not trust God to lead them into the Promised Land. The events are recorded by Moses in Numbers 13-14. Only 2 (Joshua & Caleb) of those who left Egypt crossed the Jordan River into Canaan. The people missed their inheritance because of unbelief and died in the wilderness. Their children are the ones Joshua led across the river.
The children of Israel provoked God for a 40-year period, even to the point of Moses disobeying God by hitting the rock instead of speaking to it (Num 14:11,23-29,32; 20:12). As a result of their disobedience and unbelief, all of the adults who had left Egypt were denied entrance to the Promised Land except Caleb and Joshua. Israel persisted in going their own way instead of submitting to God’s revealed will. They refused to trust God. The children of Israel saw the works and experienced miracles of God in the wilderness very often. They ate manna every morning, they heard God proclaim His own law, yet they continued unbelieving and disobedient. They provoked God by their disobedience.
Every believer needs to be cautious against unbelief. Even though we are partakers of the heavenly calling, we can only partake of all that God has provided for us to enjoy by persevering daily in Christian life. We can lose the privilege of partaking with Christ all that He has in store for us if we stop trusting Him. We began the Christian life by faith, and we live it daily by faith.
BABALOLA IKOTUN
Prayers:
1. Father, please forgive me for times past where I allowed unbelief to predominate a thought or action in my life, in Jesus name.
2. I refuse to give the spirit of unbelief access to my mind, in Jesus name.
3. Father, help me to close every door of unbelief, in Jesus name.
4. I decree and declare that my mind is saturated in your anointing and is dominated by your word, in Jesus name.
5. I decree and declare that my thoughts are rooted in the Bible and my mind is filled with good and glory thoughts, in Jesus name.
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