The Son of God greater than Moses, so Unbelief towards Him incurs a Heavier Punishment than befell Unbelieving Israel in the Wilderness. Heb. 3:6-8
- 9. They tempted me and proved me. That is, they put my patience to a thorough trial. “Israel’s terrible sins in the wilderness are here set forth under two terms: they “tempted” and “proved” Jehovah, the latter being added as an explanation of the former. To tempt one is to try or prove whether he be such as he is declared to be, or whether he can or will do such and such a thing. By tempting God Israel found out by experience that He was indeed the God, He had made Himself known to be. Men tempt God by two extremes: one is presumption, the other is distrustfulness. Both these arise from unbelief. That distrustfulness arises from unbelief is without all question. And however, presumption may seem to arise from overmuch confidence, yet if it be narrowly searched into…it is because they do not believe that God will do what is met to be done, in His own way.” Pink Arthur W
- And saw my works. Ex. 19:4; 20:22, Deut. 4:3, 9; 11:7; 29:2, Jos. 23:3; 24:7, Lk. 7:22. “That is, my miracles, or my interpositions in their behalf. They saw the wonders at the Red Sea, the descent on Mount Sinai, the supply of manna, &c., and yet while seeing those works they rebelled. Even while sinners look on the doings of God, and are surrounded by the proofs of his power and goodness, they rebel, and provoke him to anger. Men sin when God is filling their houses with plenty; when he opens his hand daily to supply their wants; when they behold the manifestations of his goodness on the sea and on the land; and even in the midst of all the blessings of redemption, they provoke him to wrath.” Bernes, Albert, Frew, Robert
- Forty years. Nu. 14:33, Deut. 8:2, 4, Jos. 5:6, Ac. 7:36; 13:8. The whole time during which they were passing from Egypt to the promised land. “He had shown Himself strong on their behalf. The “works” of God mentioned here are the many and great wonders which He did from the time that He first took them up in Egypt until the end of the wilderness journey. Some of them were works of mercy. He delivered them from enemies and dangers, provided things needful, the plagues upon the Egyptians, and their destruction at the Red Sea. The Cloud which led them by day and fire by night, the awesome proofs of His presence on Sinai, and the Shekinah glory which filled the tabernacle.” Pink Arthur W
- 10. Wherefore I was grieved. Gen. 6:6, Jug. 10:16, Ps. 78:40, Is. 63:10, Eph. 4:30. The word here means that he was offended with, or that he was indignant at them. They do always err in their heart. Ps. 78:8, Is. 28:7, Hos. 4:12, Jn. 3:19, 20; 8:45, Rom. 1:28, 2Th. 2:10–12. “A man who during forty years will live in sin, and resist all the appeals of God, shows what is in his heart, and no injustice is done if then he is summoned before God, and he swears that he shall not enter into his rest.” Bernes, Albert, Frew, Robert
- And they have not known my ways. Ps. 67:2; 95:10; 147:20, Jer. 4:22, Rom. 3:7. They have been rebellious. They have not been acquainted with the true God; or they have not approved my doings. The word know is often used, in the Scriptures, in the sense of approving, or loving; see Notes Matt. 7:23.
