If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
We are all thirsty. This world can be a really desert. The springs of water which nourish us are frustratingly uncommon.
Why did you lead us out of Egypt,
only to bring us to this wretched place
which has neither grain nor figs nor vines nor pomegranates?
Here there is not even water to drink!”
God is always speaking to us, telling us that he cares for us. He is always reminding us to trust in him. But because we live in a desert there is always the temptation to let circumstances harden our hearts. Hearing "trust me" and experiencing dryness can result in cognitive dissonance. The enemy uses this to temp us to rebel. Ultimately if we let our flesh and blood have the last word we will find ourselves rebelling too.
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
Peter is an example for us in this. The Father reveals the truth of who Jesus is through faith. Flesh and blood will not reveal it to us. But through faith we may know that he is the living water for whom we thirst (cf. Joh 4:10).
We have to listen in stillness and in faith to receive this revelation. The world will tell us a lot about who Jesus is and what true fulfillment is. But the world is consistently wrong about these things. It displays its error readily in its lack of fulfillment and joy. It a desert, unable the quench its own thirst.
Even Peter stops listening when circumstances become too much for him.
From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples
that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly
from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised.
Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him,
“God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.”
Seeing Peter make mistakes like this is reassuring. Jesus is quick to rebuke him, but only to set him straight. He wants him at his side so he must make him aware when he turns away from the voice of the Father. He wants him to know that he hardens his heart so that it may again be softened.
Jesus listens to the voice of the Father perfectly. He does not turn aside no matter what he faces. The cross is not an option. It is precisely from the cross that these streams of living water pour fourth (19:34). This is the true water from the rock (cf 1 Cor 10:4). Let our thirst be quenched in him.
Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
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