BIBLE READING: Hebrews 3:7-19

KEY BIBLE VERSE: That is why the Holy Spirit says, “Today you must listen to his voice. Don’t harden your hearts against him as Israel did when they rebelled, when they tested God’s patience in the wilderness.” (Hebrews 3:7-8)

Hard-heartedness is the result of failing to obey God’s Word. In many places, the Bible warns us not to “harden” our hearts. This means stubbornly setting ourselves against God so that we are no longer able to turn to him for forgiveness.

The Israelites became hard-hearted when they disobeyed God’s command to conquer the Promised Land (“when they rebelled,” see Numbers 13; 14; 20; and Psalm 95). Be careful to obey God’s Word, and do not allow your heart to become hardened.

We must put forth a conscious effort to listen to what God is saying.

There is a difference between hearing and listening. The main difference is that hear is to receive or to become aware of a sound through your ears whereas listen means to make a conscious effort to perceive the sound. The difference between hear and listen is similar to that of see and watch.

Hear – Meaning and Usage

We use hear to say simply that a sound came to our ears. Here, we do not make an effort to receive or understand the sound; we are not paying attention or waiting for the sound. So hear means simply to become aware of a sound.  We always hear sounds, noises and voices around us, but we don’t actively pay attention to them.

Hebrews 3:15 (KJV)
¹⁵  While it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

1 Samuel 3:10 (KJV)
¹⁰  And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.