Hebrews 10 - 5.20.24
Scripture
Hebrews 10:36-39
You need to persevere so that when you have done with will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For, “In just a little while, he who is coming will not delay.” And, “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” But, we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.
Observation
This part of Hebrews 10 is an encouragement to those of the faith to continue to persevere. He is actually using other Scripture references, such as Isaiah 26:20, Habukkuk 2:3, and Habukkuk 2:4 to support his point.
Also, from today’s reading in Exodus 32, I saw a similar theme of being tired of waiting for the Lord. The Israelites were tired of waiting for Moses (who was still with God on the mountain), so they made a golden calf to worship. As a result, they were later destroyed by a plague. (Ex. 32:35)
Application
When getting tired of waiting, don’t quit. Keep persevering in the faith.
Let us learn from the Israelites and not return to our vomit (which are our past sins and idols).
It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to his vomit.” (Proverbs 26:11) and “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.” -2 Peter 2:21-22 NIV
“But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.” -Luke 12:45-46 NIV
Prayer
Dear Lord,
Please help us to continue to persevere in the faith. When we are tired of waiting and tempted to go back to our “old ways,” may we continue to seek You wholeheartedly in prayer and through Your Word for encouragement. May we also remember Your promise of return. We do not want to be a people “who shrink back and are destroyed, but rather a people who have faith and are saved,” as Your Word says. Amen.
-Michelle Gaddi