FWD: Morning Manna (May 25); BP: Heb. 3:7-19; RBTTY: Jn. 9:1-23; I Chron. 25-27

 
Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net

 

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-----Original Message-----
From: "Apostle Tom" <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Sent: Thu, 24 May 2007 16:46:54 -0500
To: pressingon@hotmail.com
Subject: Morning Manna (May 25); BP: Heb. 3:7-19; RBTTY: Jn. 9:1-23; I Chron. 25-27
 
 
May 25 “Symptoms of A Hardened Heart”  
 
“Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in  
the wilderness—when you fathers tempted Me, proved Me and saw my works 40  
years. Wherefore, I was grieved with that generation and said, ‘They do  
always err in their heart and have not known My ways’.”  
Hebrews 3:8-10  
We’ll know we’re moving closer to one when its symptoms don’t alarm us  
anymore.  
Arterial sclerosis or “hardening of the arteries” has sometimes been  
called the “silent killer” because of its slow-development and lack of  
tell-tale signs until the damage has been done. This malady quite often  
begins in childhood and worsens through the years. Then, when it “rears its  
ugly head” in the form of chest pains, shortness of breath, heart attack or  
stroke, the sufferer can only hope to slow its progress.  
 
In many ways, the “hardened heart” develops in much the same way.  
We’re not born with one; however, over the years this spiritual killer grows  
unnoticed UNLESS we know its symptoms and do what’s necessary to prevent its  
development.  
 
“And, what might those symptoms be?” someone asks.  
Today’s Manna gives us a tell-tale list: “Tempting God. . .proving  
Him. . .grieving His Holy Spirit. . . always erring in our heart. . .and not  
knowing His ways.”  
 
The question, then, becomes “What exactly do those mean?” This passage  
is taken from Psalm 95:8-10 and the Hebrew word “nachah” is used for  
“tempted” and also means “to put to the test, try, prove, to call into  
question, scrutinize, examine, etc.” The Hebrew word “bachan” is used for  
“proved” and basically means “to test (especially for metals), investigate,  
try, etc.” Thus, the picture is one of calling God Himself into question  
and essentially saying, “Prove it!” when He’s said or promised something.  
 
This is exactly what happened in the wilderness after the children of  
Israel were delivered from Egyptian slavery. God had already demonstrated  
His love for them and miraculous power by parting the Red Sea (Ex.  
14:13-31), turning bitter water sweet (Ex. 15:22-27), sending manna from  
Heaven for them to eat (Ex. 16:1-36) and giving them water from a rock (Ex.  
17:1-6). Even then, they “tempted the Lord, saying ‘Is the Lord among us or  
not’?” (Ex. 17:7).  
 
Likewise, after exploring the Promised Land and affirming it was just  
as God had promised (Num. 13:27), the Israelites still “murmured against  
Moses and Aaron and cried, ‘Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt!  
Or would God we had died in this wilderness!” (Num. 14:2). They also cast  
dispersions upon God’s goodness and motives, desiring instead to return to  
Egypt and kill Moses, Joshua and Caleb (vv.3-4, 10).  
 
Oh, dear Pilgrim, if we’re not careful, we’ll also do the same by  
thumbing our noses or shaking our fists at our Lord. May the Holy Spirit  
help us to stay both receptive and responsive to His leading lest we, too,  
fall short of His Promised Rest.  
 
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