The greatest sin is unbelief and the second is disobedience. Some have a heart which is so hard that they cannot believe regardless of what evidence is given to them. We have a self-centered nature that deceives us into believing sin isn’t that bad and trusting in Christ is not important. Most believe becoming a Christian is too costly, too demanding, too restrictive, too unexciting and unnecessary.

Jewish Christians had a problem that was similar to those who had been freed from Egypt waiting to enter the promise land.

Hebrews 3:15-19 “As has just been said: Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion. Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the desert? And to who did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? They were not able to enter because of their unbelief.”
Would you believe in God if you saw what the Israelites witnessed after their ancestors had spend 430 years in slavery?

1.​Aaron’s staff turns into a snake.
2.​The water in the Nile turns to blood.
3.​The plagues of frogs, then gnats, then flies, then a plague on all livestock occurs.
4.​The plague of hail, boils, locusts and finally the death of the Egyptian’s first born happened.

Scripture says as the Egyptians were burying their death, “The Lord made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people and they gave them whatever they asked for; so they plundered the Egyptians.” They then left Egypt free people with tons of silver, gold, jewelry, livestock, etc.

1.​They see the parting of the Red Sea and the Egyptian Army being destroyed.
2.​Moses turns undrinkable sour water into sweet drinkable water.
3.​A pillar of cloud led them in the day and a pillar of fire by night.
4.​God provided manna six days a week and sent millions of quail for them to eat.
5.​God told Moses to get water out of a rock.
6.​Ex. 23:20 Says God sent an Angel to prepare the way.
7.​God gives the Ten Commandments.
8.​He tells them to build a tabernacle and gives complete description.
9.​The 250 leaders who rebelled against Moses, God allows the earth to swallow up all of them, their families and their tents.
10.​Ex. 20 – God speaks from the mountain; they see the mountain engulfed in smoke, lightning and thunder. They became extremely fearful and asked Moses to intercede for them.

They finally reach the land God had promised them. He asks that they go in and defeat those living there so that they can live in the land He promised to Abraham and all the Israelites. It is a land with milk, honey and rest. They send out 12 spies. Ten come back saying there are giants and we will never defeat them. After all God has done, He becomes angry because they refuse to accept His protection. The fact is they refused to accept Him. All those 20 years old and over are to die before the Israelites can enter the Promised Land 40 years later.

Is there much difference today with all of the information and facts that we have concerning Christ, there are many who still fail to take Him seriously? Are we like the Israelites, living for today or are we preparing for life after physical death? Scripture tells us Christ will return and rule this earth for 1000 years. With Him will be those who believe and accept Him as their Savior. We are told there will be a new world similar to what God had planned for Adam & Eve prior to their fall from grace. It will be a perfect place to live. We will live as God had intended for Adam and Eve to have lived.

The author of Hebrews is making a comparison. You know what happened to those in the desert who had a hard-rebellious heart? You Jewish Christians do not allow a hard-rebellious heart to separate you from God as your forefathers did.

Hebrews 4:2 “For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.”

They did not trust God to bring them through the difficulties that lay ahead; and, therefore, they never enjoyed the rest they could have had. The Old Covenant Jews received the promise from Moses and the New Covenant Jews received their promise from Jesus. To both, the message they hear may be of no value to them because it must be combined with faith before it becomes effective.

Hearing must lead to believing. Believing requires accepting as truth and action requires accountability.

A person can read the Bible, hear the Word and fail to respond in faith. In fact, it could even cause an indifference to God. Belief without obedience to God is of no value. Hell will be populated with people who will say, “Lord, Lord did we not prophesy in Your name and in Your Name cast out demons and in Your name perform many miracles?” Jesus will reply, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.” (Matt 7:22&23 – Luke 13:26&27)

Some Jews believed that being descendants of Abraham saved them. But Jesus warned that true descendants believe and acted as Abraham did. No matter how familiar the Jews were with the Laws of Moses, knowing them and obeying them was very different. A person may know a great deal about Christ and still not know Him personally. They don’t combine their knowledge with faith.

Mark 3:28–29 “Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.”

Christ tells us without the Holy Spirit in one’s life, they cannot enter the kingdom of Heaven.