Heeding the Voice of God
What is the right thing to do when you hear a fire alarm? Most of us know the correct answer: we should make your way safely and quickly out of the building by route of the designated exit. The fire alarm is a warning of danger, and the prudent person quickly responds accordingly to stay safe. In Hebrews 4, an “alarm” is sounding. The issue at the heart of this chapter is simply this: What is the correct response to hearing the Word of God? When the sound of God’s Word reaches our ears, what are we to do?
The writer of Hebrews is mindful of the fact that a former generation heard God’s Word and didn’t respond with faith. The people of Israel had been rescued from slavery in Egypt and were on their way to their own land – a land that God had promised to give them. Spies were sent into the land to scope it out and two of them, Joshua and Caleb, retuned with the news that the land was good. They reminded the people of God’s promise that He would give them the land, but the people took fright when they heard of the strength of the people of the land. They lost faith, disbelieved God’s promises, and fell under the judgment of God. None of that adult generation of doubting Israelites was allowed to enter the land. There is a lesson in all of this for us today: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, where you fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years.” (v. 7)
The stakes are high when it comes to hearing to the word of God. The Word of God is “living and active, sharper than a two-edged sword.” (v. 12) It cuts through everything, including us. It divides soul and spirit, getting to the furthest depths of the human person (ve. 12). It pierces to the division of joints and marrow, judging the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And once the Word of God has penetrated to the depths of our being – there is no more hiding. As verse 13 explains, “And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
Once the Word of God has cut us open, as it were, we lie open, as though on the surgeon’s table or even the butcher’s block. Our heart of hearts is exposed to the eyes of the Lord himself. But here is the good news: the same Lord who judges our hearts and sees all that is within—the good, the bad, and the ugly—is the same Lord who our great high priest. As verse 14 declares, “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (v. 14)
What then should we do when we hear the Word of God? We are to receive it—and obey it—in glad faith. The righteous Lord who judges us is also our blessed Savior who lives to intercede for us. Let us, then, “with confidence draw near to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in our time of need.” (v. 16)