Post by R' Y'hoshua Moshe on Jun 13, 2007 22:00:21 GMT -8
Shalom chaverim,
The following is a D'rash taught at our Synagogue last year. Enjoy!
: B’midbar (Numbers) 16:1-18:32
Haftarah: Sh’mu’el Alef (1Samuel) 11:14-12:22[/center]
In today’s portion Korah, we see an attempt of the Israelites to revolt against the authority of Moses and Aaron. Unwilling to accept their death sentence because of disobedience, they seek to prevent the inevitable by killing God’s appointed leaders, Aaron and Moses. Disgruntled and defeated by their recent failure and unbelief to go up and possess the land after they had been told not to, the seeds of pride, rebellion, and bitterness sprout into an open revolt.
Korah, son of Izhar, a man from the Tribe of Levi, was deeply offended that Moses had not assigned him a prominent position. Korah thought, “My destiny indicates that I was born for greatness. For what reason did my grandfather Kohath, name my father Izhar/oil? Kohath must have foreseen that just as oil always floats to the surface, so too would Father produce superior sons deserving of anointment with the sacred anointing oil for positions of the priesthood. “Now, who is meant if not I , the oldest of Izhar’s sons and the one most qualified for high office?”
Indeed, Korah combined superior qualities which few people could equal:
First, his ancestry was illustrious. His forebear was Kohath, and his family, the Kohathites, were the most important of the Levite families. Korah was a first cousin of Moses and Aaron.
He had been chosen as one of the carriers of the ark.
He was a very intelligent, influential leader and firstborn son of Izhar.
Korah was self assured that he was destined to be the source of all manner of greatness and could not figure out why he had not been chosen as the firstborn of Izhar to the be the High Priest, instead of Aaron, his cousin, who was the second born of Amram, his uncle. His pride was deeply wounded because “Moses” had apparently ignored him when he selected the various dignitaries; he had not appointed Korah for any outstanding function in the community. “It is utterly unfair,” he thought, “that Moses did not choose me as a leader over the family of Kohath. It was clearly my right to be chosen. I am the first-born of the second son of Kohath, Izhar. Instead, Moses conferred this office upon my younger cousin, Elizaphan, son of Uzziel (Numbers 3:30).
“My grandfather Kohath, had four sons, Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. Amram’s two sons, Moses and Aaron, became respectively a king and a high priest. Amarm’s grandson, Elazar, was made a priest, while I was not, although I am certainly at least his equal. Why should Elazar have been made priest, when I was not?” Here we see the vain reasoning’s of a mind gone mad by pride and vainglory. “I can not believe that God commanded Moses to distribute the offices so unjustly. Rather, Moses must have done so by his own choice. Who says that each of Moses’ acts is dictated by God, as he asserts?”
Korah, once a wise man lost his wisdom and reason because he was consumed with a desire of glory and by envy of those who, as he saw it, were his equals and had attained higher ranks than he. His declaration that Moses has distributed the offices without a divine command was heresy.
He scorned God’s WORD and went so far as to assert that Moses had invented all the. This envy and jealously burned in his heart for a long time. After the defeat of the Israelites by the Canaanites in Numbers chapter 14 and the sentence they were not going to go into the land, but have to wander for 40 years in the Wilderness and then die, was more than he could bear. Satan was at hand to deceive him into believing that he could overthrow Moses and Aaron, God’s two appointed leaders, and take control of the whole community and lead them back to Egypt.
God had already made His choice of leadership plain in the portion Beha’alot’cha, Numbers chapter 12:1-15, with the sign of leprosy falling upon Miriam, that Korah should have heeded the warning. But step-by-step, he had, like Judas, listened to the demons of doubt, rebellion, and deception, that he had come to the point of rejecting the Holy Spirit and the unpardonable sin.
Korah’s rebellion is a lesson in the Great Controversy between Messiah and Satan. In Ezekial 28:1-19, we read of the funeral dirge of the King of Tyre who represents Lucifer, and we see the curtain open and the mutiny and rebellion against the government of God. Lucifer decided to rebel against God’s authority and the selection of Yeshua to be the only begotten Son of God to redeem us from the fall. Hebrews 3:1-5
3:1 “And so, dear brothers and sisters who belong to God and are bound for heaven, think about this Yeshua whom we declare to be God's Messenger and High Priest. 2 For he was faithful to God, who appointed him, just as Moses served faithfully and was entrusted with God's entire house. 3 But Yeshua deserves far more glory than Moses, just as a person who builds a fine house deserves more praise than the house itself. 4 For every house has a builder, but God is the one who made everything. 5 Moses was certainly faithful in God's house, but only as a servant. His work was an illustration of the truths God would reveal later.”
Korah rejected God’s and ways of doing things. God is not bound to follow human reasoning’s in His selection of leaders. Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 55:8-9
55:8 "My thoughts are completely different from yours," says the YHVH. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. 9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”
We can see now looking back why God rejected Korah from being a cohen, or priest. He knows what is in our thoughts and hearts.
Tehellim (Psalms) 139:1-2
139:1 O YHVH, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.
2 You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my every thought when far away.
Tehellim (Psalms) 139:4
You know what I am going to say even before I say it, YHVH.
Dathan and Abiram, decedents of Reuben, the firstborn were also angry with the selection of Moses being the leader of the Israelites and God demonstrating His power and holiness through him as they thought they should have been selected for the position, not Moses who was not a descendent of the first born son of Jacob. According to the Midrash, they were informers to Pharoah in Egypt. At the Sea of Reeds, they incited their followers to return to Egypt as well as gathered manna on Shabbat. They also represent the Satan, who has been trying to overthrow the government of God since his fall.
The revolt of these men and their families is a type or shadow picture of what their descendents would do to the greater priest and Messiah who Aaron and Moses were types of as they would both kill John the Baptist and murder the Son of God. Annas and Caiaphas and many other of the Sadducees were leaders in instigating revolt against Yeshua and His disciples throughout their ministry. Mattityahu (Matt.) 26:57-68
26:57 “Then the people who had arrested Yeshua led him to the home of Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of religious law and other leaders had gathered. 58 Meanwhile, Peter was following far behind and eventually came to the courtyard of the high priest's house. He went in, sat with the guards, and waited to see what was going to happen to Yeshua. 59 Inside, the leading priests and the entire high council were trying to find witnesses who would lie about Yeshua, so they could put him to death. 60 But even though they found many who agreed to give false witness, there was no testimony they could use. Finally, two men were found 61 who declared, "This man said, `I am able to destroy the Temple of God and rebuild it in three days.' " 62 Then the high priest stood up and said to Yeshua, "Well, aren't you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?" 63 But Yeshua remained silent. Then the high priest said to him, "I demand in the name of the living God that you tell us whether you are the Messiah, the Son of God." 64 Yeshua replied, "Yes, it is as you say. And in the future you will see me, the Son of Man, sitting at God's right hand in the place of power and coming back on the clouds of heaven." 65 Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror, shouting, "Blasphemy! Why do we need other witnesses? You have all heard his blasphemy. 66 What is your verdict?" "Guilty!" they shouted. "He must die!" 67 Then they spit in Yeshua' face and hit him with their fists. And some slapped him, 68 saying, "Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who hit you that time?"
In the book of Acts, we can see them trying to kill the appointed leaders of the Kingdom of God. Acts 5:17-31
5:17 “The high priest and his friends, who were Sadducees, reacted with violent jealousy. 18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the jail. 19 But an angel of the Lord came at night, opened the gates of the jail, and brought them out. Then he told them, 20 "Go to the Temple and give the people this message of life!" 21 So the apostles entered the Temple about daybreak and immediately began teaching. When the high priest and his officials arrived, they convened the high council, along with all the elders of Israel. Then they sent for the apostles to be brought for trial. 22 But when the Temple guards went to the jail, the men were gone. So they returned to the council and reported, 23 "The jail was locked, with the guards standing outside, but when we opened the gates, no one was there!" 24 When the captain of the Temple guard and the leading priests heard this, they were perplexed, wondering where it would all end. 25 Then someone arrived with the news that the men they had jailed were out in the Temple, teaching the people. 26 The captain went with his Temple guards and arrested them, but without violence, for they were afraid the people would kill them if they treated the apostles roughly. 27 Then they brought the apostles in before the council. 28 "Didn't we tell you never again to teach in this man's name?" the high priest demanded. "Instead, you have filled all Jerusalem with your teaching about Yeshua, and you intend to blame us for his death!" 29 But Peter and the apostles replied, "We must obey God rather than human authority. 30 The God of our ancestors raised Yeshua from the dead after you killed him by crucifying him. 31 Then God put him in the place of honor at his right hand as Prince and Savior. He did this to give the people of Israel an opportunity to turn from their sins and turn to God so their sins would be forgiven.”
The whole is a compacted prophecy of the future events that would deal with the rebellion. In the end, those who resist the Messiah and the will be found with a similar death sentence as Korah, Abiram, Dathan, and even Satan himself. The lake of fire is reserved for those, who like these rebels, reject God’s offer of salvation and the authority of His Kingdom and . Those who persist will be found guilty of committing the unpardonable sin and will pay the death penalty in the Lake of Fire for their rebellion and sins. Revelation 20:4-15
20:4 “Then I saw thrones, and the people sitting on them had been given the authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony about Yeshua, for proclaiming the word of God. And I saw the souls of those who had not worshiped the beast or his statue, nor accepted his mark on their forehead or their hands. They came to life again, and they reigned with Messiah for a thousand years. 5 This is the first resurrection. (The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years had ended.) 6 Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. For them the second death holds no power, but they will be priests of God and of Messiah and will reign with him a thousand years. 7 When the thousand years end, Satan will be let out of his prison. 8 He will go out to deceive the nations from every corner of the earth, which are called Gog and Magog. He will gather them together for battle—a mighty host, as numberless as sand along the shore. 9 And I saw them as they went up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded God's people and the beloved city. But fire from heaven came down on the attacking armies and consumed them. 10 Then the Devil, who betrayed them, was thrown into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. 11 And I saw a great white throne, and I saw the one who was sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide. 12 I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God's throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to the things written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 The sea gave up the dead in it, and death and the grave gave up the dead in them. They were all judged according to their deeds. 14 And death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire. 15 And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.”
But we have good news that those who choose the Messiah and keep his will find and entrance into the everlasting kingdom. Revelation 22:14, “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”
How careful we must be to search our hearts and ask God to remove all traces of rebellion against the or the Messiah in our lives. Tehellim (Psalms) 139:23-24,
139:23 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. 24 Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
Tehellim (Psalms) 19:13-14 19:13 Keep me from deliberate sins! Don't let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. 14 May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing to you, O YHVH, my rock and my redeemer.”
Let us be careful lest any of us fall for the wiles of the devil and lose out on the heavenly promise because of unbelief and disobedience. Hebrews 3:7-19,
3:7 “That is why the Holy Spirit says, "Today you must listen to his voice. 8 Don't harden your hearts against him as Israel did when they rebelled, when they tested God's patience in the wilderness. 9 There your ancestors tried my patience, even though they saw my miracles for forty years. 10 So I was angry with them, and I said, `Their hearts always turn away from me. They refuse to do what I tell them.' 11 So in my anger I made a vow: `They will never enter my place of rest. "' 12 Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. 13 You must warn each other every day, as long as it is called "today," so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. 14 For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Messiah. 15 But never forget the warning: "Today you must listen to his voice. Don't harden your hearts against him as Israel did when they rebelled." 16 And who were those people who rebelled against God, even though they heard his voice? Weren't they the ones Moses led out of Egypt? 17 And who made God angry for forty years? Wasn't it the people who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom was God speaking when he vowed that they would never enter his place of rest? He was speaking to those who disobeyed him. 19 So we see that they were not allowed to enter his rest because of their unbelief.”
The following is a D'rash taught at our Synagogue last year. Enjoy!
Trouble In The Camp
[/u]
: B’midbar (Numbers) 16:1-18:32Haftarah: Sh’mu’el Alef (1Samuel) 11:14-12:22[/center]
In today’s
portion Korah, we see an attempt of the Israelites to revolt against the authority of Moses and Aaron. Unwilling to accept their death sentence because of disobedience, they seek to prevent the inevitable by killing God’s appointed leaders, Aaron and Moses. Disgruntled and defeated by their recent failure and unbelief to go up and possess the land after they had been told not to, the seeds of pride, rebellion, and bitterness sprout into an open revolt. Korah, son of Izhar, a man from the Tribe of Levi, was deeply offended that Moses had not assigned him a prominent position. Korah thought, “My destiny indicates that I was born for greatness. For what reason did my grandfather Kohath, name my father Izhar/oil? Kohath must have foreseen that just as oil always floats to the surface, so too would Father produce superior sons deserving of anointment with the sacred anointing oil for positions of the priesthood. “Now, who is meant if not I , the oldest of Izhar’s sons and the one most qualified for high office?”
Indeed, Korah combined superior qualities which few people could equal:
First, his ancestry was illustrious. His forebear was Kohath, and his family, the Kohathites, were the most important of the Levite families. Korah was a first cousin of Moses and Aaron.
He had been chosen as one of the carriers of the ark.
He was a very intelligent, influential leader and firstborn son of Izhar.
Korah was self assured that he was destined to be the source of all manner of greatness and could not figure out why he had not been chosen as the firstborn of Izhar to the be the High Priest, instead of Aaron, his cousin, who was the second born of Amram, his uncle. His pride was deeply wounded because “Moses” had apparently ignored him when he selected the various dignitaries; he had not appointed Korah for any outstanding function in the community. “It is utterly unfair,” he thought, “that Moses did not choose me as a leader over the family of Kohath. It was clearly my right to be chosen. I am the first-born of the second son of Kohath, Izhar. Instead, Moses conferred this office upon my younger cousin, Elizaphan, son of Uzziel (Numbers 3:30).
“My grandfather Kohath, had four sons, Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. Amram’s two sons, Moses and Aaron, became respectively a king and a high priest. Amarm’s grandson, Elazar, was made a priest, while I was not, although I am certainly at least his equal. Why should Elazar have been made priest, when I was not?” Here we see the vain reasoning’s of a mind gone mad by pride and vainglory. “I can not believe that God commanded Moses to distribute the offices so unjustly. Rather, Moses must have done so by his own choice. Who says that each of Moses’ acts is dictated by God, as he asserts?”
Korah, once a wise man lost his wisdom and reason because he was consumed with a desire of glory and by envy of those who, as he saw it, were his equals and had attained higher ranks than he. His declaration that Moses has distributed the offices without a divine command was heresy.
He scorned God’s WORD and went so far as to assert that Moses had invented all the
. This envy and jealously burned in his heart for a long time. After the defeat of the Israelites by the Canaanites in Numbers chapter 14 and the sentence they were not going to go into the land, but have to wander for 40 years in the Wilderness and then die, was more than he could bear. Satan was at hand to deceive him into believing that he could overthrow Moses and Aaron, God’s two appointed leaders, and take control of the whole community and lead them back to Egypt. God had already made His choice of leadership plain in the
portion Beha’alot’cha, Numbers chapter 12:1-15, with the sign of leprosy falling upon Miriam, that Korah should have heeded the warning. But step-by-step, he had, like Judas, listened to the demons of doubt, rebellion, and deception, that he had come to the point of rejecting the Holy Spirit and the unpardonable sin. Korah’s rebellion is a lesson in the Great Controversy between Messiah and Satan. In Ezekial 28:1-19, we read of the funeral dirge of the King of Tyre who represents Lucifer, and we see the curtain open and the mutiny and rebellion against the government of God. Lucifer decided to rebel against God’s authority and the selection of Yeshua to be the only begotten Son of God to redeem us from the fall. Hebrews 3:1-5
3:1 “And so, dear brothers and sisters who belong to God and are bound for heaven, think about this Yeshua whom we declare to be God's Messenger and High Priest. 2 For he was faithful to God, who appointed him, just as Moses served faithfully and was entrusted with God's entire house. 3 But Yeshua deserves far more glory than Moses, just as a person who builds a fine house deserves more praise than the house itself. 4 For every house has a builder, but God is the one who made everything. 5 Moses was certainly faithful in God's house, but only as a servant. His work was an illustration of the truths God would reveal later.”
Korah rejected God’s
and ways of doing things. God is not bound to follow human reasoning’s in His selection of leaders. Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 55:8-955:8 "My thoughts are completely different from yours," says the YHVH. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. 9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”
We can see now looking back why God rejected Korah from being a cohen, or priest. He knows what is in our thoughts and hearts.
Tehellim (Psalms) 139:1-2
139:1 O YHVH, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.
2 You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my every thought when far away.
Tehellim (Psalms) 139:4
You know what I am going to say even before I say it, YHVH.
Dathan and Abiram, decedents of Reuben, the firstborn were also angry with the selection of Moses being the leader of the Israelites and God demonstrating His power and holiness through him as they thought they should have been selected for the position, not Moses who was not a descendent of the first born son of Jacob. According to the Midrash, they were informers to Pharoah in Egypt. At the Sea of Reeds, they incited their followers to return to Egypt as well as gathered manna on Shabbat. They also represent the Satan, who has been trying to overthrow the government of God since his fall.
The revolt of these men and their families is a type or shadow picture of what their descendents would do to the greater priest and Messiah who Aaron and Moses were types of as they would both kill John the Baptist and murder the Son of God. Annas and Caiaphas and many other of the Sadducees were leaders in instigating revolt against Yeshua and His disciples throughout their ministry. Mattityahu (Matt.) 26:57-68
26:57 “Then the people who had arrested Yeshua led him to the home of Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of religious law and other leaders had gathered. 58 Meanwhile, Peter was following far behind and eventually came to the courtyard of the high priest's house. He went in, sat with the guards, and waited to see what was going to happen to Yeshua. 59 Inside, the leading priests and the entire high council were trying to find witnesses who would lie about Yeshua, so they could put him to death. 60 But even though they found many who agreed to give false witness, there was no testimony they could use. Finally, two men were found 61 who declared, "This man said, `I am able to destroy the Temple of God and rebuild it in three days.' " 62 Then the high priest stood up and said to Yeshua, "Well, aren't you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?" 63 But Yeshua remained silent. Then the high priest said to him, "I demand in the name of the living God that you tell us whether you are the Messiah, the Son of God." 64 Yeshua replied, "Yes, it is as you say. And in the future you will see me, the Son of Man, sitting at God's right hand in the place of power and coming back on the clouds of heaven." 65 Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror, shouting, "Blasphemy! Why do we need other witnesses? You have all heard his blasphemy. 66 What is your verdict?" "Guilty!" they shouted. "He must die!" 67 Then they spit in Yeshua' face and hit him with their fists. And some slapped him, 68 saying, "Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who hit you that time?"
In the book of Acts, we can see them trying to kill the appointed leaders of the Kingdom of God. Acts 5:17-31
5:17 “The high priest and his friends, who were Sadducees, reacted with violent jealousy. 18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the jail. 19 But an angel of the Lord came at night, opened the gates of the jail, and brought them out. Then he told them, 20 "Go to the Temple and give the people this message of life!" 21 So the apostles entered the Temple about daybreak and immediately began teaching. When the high priest and his officials arrived, they convened the high council, along with all the elders of Israel. Then they sent for the apostles to be brought for trial. 22 But when the Temple guards went to the jail, the men were gone. So they returned to the council and reported, 23 "The jail was locked, with the guards standing outside, but when we opened the gates, no one was there!" 24 When the captain of the Temple guard and the leading priests heard this, they were perplexed, wondering where it would all end. 25 Then someone arrived with the news that the men they had jailed were out in the Temple, teaching the people. 26 The captain went with his Temple guards and arrested them, but without violence, for they were afraid the people would kill them if they treated the apostles roughly. 27 Then they brought the apostles in before the council. 28 "Didn't we tell you never again to teach in this man's name?" the high priest demanded. "Instead, you have filled all Jerusalem with your teaching about Yeshua, and you intend to blame us for his death!" 29 But Peter and the apostles replied, "We must obey God rather than human authority. 30 The God of our ancestors raised Yeshua from the dead after you killed him by crucifying him. 31 Then God put him in the place of honor at his right hand as Prince and Savior. He did this to give the people of Israel an opportunity to turn from their sins and turn to God so their sins would be forgiven.”
The whole
is a compacted prophecy of the future events that would deal with the rebellion. In the end, those who resist the Messiah and the will be found with a similar death sentence as Korah, Abiram, Dathan, and even Satan himself. The lake of fire is reserved for those, who like these rebels, reject God’s offer of salvation and the authority of His Kingdom and . Those who persist will be found guilty of committing the unpardonable sin and will pay the death penalty in the Lake of Fire for their rebellion and sins. Revelation 20:4-1520:4 “Then I saw thrones, and the people sitting on them had been given the authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony about Yeshua, for proclaiming the word of God. And I saw the souls of those who had not worshiped the beast or his statue, nor accepted his mark on their forehead or their hands. They came to life again, and they reigned with Messiah for a thousand years. 5 This is the first resurrection. (The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years had ended.) 6 Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. For them the second death holds no power, but they will be priests of God and of Messiah and will reign with him a thousand years. 7 When the thousand years end, Satan will be let out of his prison. 8 He will go out to deceive the nations from every corner of the earth, which are called Gog and Magog. He will gather them together for battle—a mighty host, as numberless as sand along the shore. 9 And I saw them as they went up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded God's people and the beloved city. But fire from heaven came down on the attacking armies and consumed them. 10 Then the Devil, who betrayed them, was thrown into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. 11 And I saw a great white throne, and I saw the one who was sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide. 12 I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God's throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to the things written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 The sea gave up the dead in it, and death and the grave gave up the dead in them. They were all judged according to their deeds. 14 And death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire. 15 And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.”
But we have good news that those who choose the Messiah and keep his
will find and entrance into the everlasting kingdom. Revelation 22:14, “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”How careful we must be to search our hearts and ask God to remove all traces of rebellion against the
or the Messiah in our lives. Tehellim (Psalms) 139:23-24, 139:23 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. 24 Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
Tehellim (Psalms) 19:13-14 19:13 Keep me from deliberate sins! Don't let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. 14 May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing to you, O YHVH, my rock and my redeemer.”
Let us be careful lest any of us fall for the wiles of the devil and lose out on the heavenly promise because of unbelief and disobedience. Hebrews 3:7-19,
3:7 “That is why the Holy Spirit says, "Today you must listen to his voice. 8 Don't harden your hearts against him as Israel did when they rebelled, when they tested God's patience in the wilderness. 9 There your ancestors tried my patience, even though they saw my miracles for forty years. 10 So I was angry with them, and I said, `Their hearts always turn away from me. They refuse to do what I tell them.' 11 So in my anger I made a vow: `They will never enter my place of rest. "' 12 Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. 13 You must warn each other every day, as long as it is called "today," so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. 14 For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Messiah. 15 But never forget the warning: "Today you must listen to his voice. Don't harden your hearts against him as Israel did when they rebelled." 16 And who were those people who rebelled against God, even though they heard his voice? Weren't they the ones Moses led out of Egypt? 17 And who made God angry for forty years? Wasn't it the people who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom was God speaking when he vowed that they would never enter his place of rest? He was speaking to those who disobeyed him. 19 So we see that they were not allowed to enter his rest because of their unbelief.”
