Hebrews 3:11 Commentary and Bible Study

Hebrews 4 is going to expound in depth the words, ‘They shall not enter into my rest’. But if only the Israelites of old had had some fear and some concern of where their behaviour would lead. Did it not enter their minds that God may withdraw from them? Had he not done that in many ways to try to teach them this principle? But they didn't think about it, and we draw from that another antidote to backsliding. Fear what may happen if we wander from the pathway, if we allow our minds to be absorbed by worldly desires and all kinds of things, and we give less attention to the Lord and his word and his worship and the pursuit of holiness. Think what will happen. The Puritan literature is full of this. They are talking about believers, when they use phrases like ‘the abandoned soul’; ‘God has withdrawn his hand’; ‘God has withdrawn his blessing to pull us up short, and to wake us up, and in his love to bring us back to the place of blessing and assurance.’ So fear! You say, ‘I would like to do this, or drop that, or cut out this; it will make my life a lot easier. I would like to enjoy this and enjoy that.’ Yes, but where will it bring you? What assurance and joy and peace will be taken from you? What usefulness to God and blessing will be removed because you are looking at everything from a personal point of view and not the Lord's? So fear the loss of God's kind hand upon us.