Warning against disbelief

The people of Israel was chosen by God among all nations, but this did not make them a people without mistakes. When we read their story we realize that they have strayed from the path many times, going behind idols, and because of that is why we are going to see a constant struggle of the prophets telling them to turn to God.

Ezekiel in his book describes the people of Israel as a hard-hearted people: “I, therefore, send you to sons with a hard face and an obstinate heart, and you will say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh.’ (Ezekiel 2: 4) This people lived falling and falling, but God always urged them to return, through the prophets and judges.

God did miracles, wonders and signs for them that only reading them makes a great impression on us, and we ask ourselves: Were they still so hard? And it does not stay there, Jesus on the other hand also performed miracles that had never been seen before and yet this people crucified Him. Do you realize how far the hard heart of the people of Israel has come?

And of course, God does not want us to be as tough as them, and that is why He gives us the following warning:

7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says:

“Today, if you will hear His voice,8 Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,
In the day of trial in the wilderness,

9 Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me,
And saw My works forty years.

10 Therefore I was angry with that generation,
And said, ‘They always go astray in their heart,
And they have not known My ways.’

11 So I swore in My wrath,
‘They shall not enter My rest.’ ”

(Hebrews 3:7-11)

Today we have the powerful Word of God, which gives us instructions on how to live the Christian life. The Bible is the voice of God for us, and we should not overlook what is written there. There are many Christians who even find it boring to read the Bible, however, how can we know God if it is not through His Word? What could happen to us if we become deaf or blind to what is written there?

We have the history of the people of Israel, and we have to learn from them, from their mistakes, from their virtues. And this is a way of not making the same mistakes and also of copying their great virtues. Pay attention to the divine voice of God through His Word, do not overlook it. The Bible can be useful for everything, it advises us, it exhorts us, it reproves us and it reprimands us. In the Bible we can find the best of all existing advice.

So, let us not be deaf to this great book, let us not be like the people of Israel. Let us give all our senses to the service of the gospel and I assure you that God will be with us.

When we meditate on the history of Israel, we discover that their constant falls were not due to a lack of evidence of God’s power, but rather to a heart that refused to submit. This same danger exists for us today. We can attend church, listen to sermons, see God’s mercy in our daily lives, and still allow our hearts to become insensitive. This is why the biblical warnings remain relevant: they remind us that hardness of heart is not formed overnight but through small, repeated decisions to ignore God’s voice.

Many times the people of Israel lived extraordinary experiences with God, but after a short time they returned to their old behavior. This teaches us that spiritual experiences alone are not enough to sustain our faith; what preserves us is obedience, humility, and a continuous search for God. If Israel, having seen the Red Sea open before their eyes, could still doubt, then we must be vigilant so that our hearts do not fall into the same pattern.

Likewise, the author of Hebrews reminds us that the rebellion of the people in the wilderness was not an isolated event, but a repeated attitude. God was patient with them for forty years, yet they persisted in resisting His guidance. This should move us to reverence. God speaks today through His Word, and He calls us to respond with faith and surrender, not with indifference. Every time we hear the Word preached or read the Scriptures, we are receiving a divine invitation that must not be ignored.

For this reason, cultivating a sensitive heart is essential. A sensitive heart listens, reflects, repents, and obeys. A hardened heart, on the other hand, justifies itself, resists correction, and gradually distances itself from God. The tragedy of Israel is that they allowed their hearts to grow cold, even while surrounded by God’s blessings. The blessing of Scripture is that it exposes these dangers and guides us toward a life that honors the Lord.

Let us therefore approach the Bible with seriousness and delight. Let us allow its teachings to shape our thinking and actions. If we learn to listen to God daily, our hearts will remain soft, receptive, and ready to follow His will. May we never forget the lessons left by the people of Israel, and may we walk each day with a humble heart that responds promptly to the voice of our God.