Hebrews 3:19 “So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.”
This passage is a clear warning for us to not behave as Old Testament Israel did. They “could not enter” Canaan, the Promised Land, “because of unbelief”. Their “carcases fell in the wilderness” (Hebrews 3:17) because they did not believe that God would conquer their ominous enemies. The naysayers reported that “the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there” (Numbers 13:28). The “children of Anak” were giants and were well trained soldiers. When the people heard this report, “all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night” (Numbers 14:1). They “cried” because they had so soon forgotten the miraculous ways that God had recently delivered them. He had providentially delivered them from Pharaoh, out of Egypt, from the Egyptian army, and through the Red Sea. It is true that, when we come face to face with powerful enemies, overwhelming tribulations, ominous fears, etc., we tend to focus on the severity of the threat and to forget how God has delivered us in times past and we forget His great and precious promises. But “Caleb” tried to encourage the people, saying to them, “Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it” (Numbers 13:30). They were “well able” because God had promised to give them the Land and God “cannot lie” (Titus 1:2). The Lord told rebelling Israel, “Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me, 30 Doubtless ye shall not come into the land” (Numbers 14:29) and it happened just like the Lord said! This warning is also directed to us, “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.” (Numbers 14:1)! Not our Eternal “rest” in Heaven, but our peaceful “rest” in this life; “rest” wherein we rejoice in His Church-Kingdom, His protective watch-care over us, and His daily mercy and grace which sustains us through all of life’s tribulations.