Hebrews 3:7 “Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, 8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:”
The Children of Israel repeatedly tempted the Lord; that is, they murmured and complained, they refused to do what He Commanded them to do, and they turned from God to idols. They were not tempting God to sin; they were testing God to see if He really meant what He said. Our Lord plainly declared, “Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice;” (Numbers 14:22)! And because they tempted Him, they would not be allowed to enter the Promised Land (Numbers 14:23). Another time, the “LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.” (Numbers 21:6). They “lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. 15 And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.” (Psalms 106:14). People seem to be no different in our day; great multitudes are again tempting the Lord! And just like Israel of old, we will learn that “if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it” (Isaiah 1:20). But there is hope; for, God plainly declared, that “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (II Chronicles 7:14). It appears that in our day there is again many who are turning from God and godliness; however, this is no time to fall into despair, for when “Elijah” thought that he was the only faithful one left (I Kings 19:13-14), the Lord told him “I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him” (I Kings 19:18)! Those faithful to the Lord, can joyfully sing and shout aloud, “We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks” (Isaiah 26:1) and our Lord will shew us “his marvellous kindness in a strong city” (Psalms 31:21); that is, in His Church! So, let us “Not” tempt the Lord by “forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but” let us exhort “one another” to go to and be a part of the Lord’s Blessed Church (Hebrews 10:25)!