¹⁶ For who provoked Him when they had heard? Indeed, did not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses?

It is one of the ironies of the Christian life that we strive to hold on to that which we are laid hold of: “Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:12). So here too, in Hebrews the writer just challenged his readers to “hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end.” This will be a sure sign, a significant evidence of our having become “partakers of Christ.” We had the assurance when we first believed. Now we need to keep hold of that assurance—not that we might lose our salvation, but that we might lose our assurance. For without assurance, we fall back into fear which feeds the compulsion toward legalism, that is, to revert to trying to win God’s favor and enter His rest by human efforts of righteousness.

So the apostle continues in his letter to the Hebrews warning them by way of OT Israel’s example of disobedience. Abandoning loyalty to God and His truth has dire consequences. For Israel, it resulted in provoking God. The underlying word is found only here in the NT, but is related to the word for “bitter.” Israel’s behavior created acrimony with God. We speak of the temperature being “bitter cold.” God’s reaction caused by Israel was “bitter antagonist.” Sin provokes God!

We are reminded that this rebellion came from those who followed Moses out of bondage in Egypt. If it happened under his leadership, it can also happen to those who follow Christ as well. In fact, if God’s reaction was so strong to the followers of Moses, how much stronger should followers of Christ be warned—for Christ is greater than Moses.

Again, does this mean Christians are in danger of losing their salvation? No. That is not the point. So, why warn the Christians? The answer is this: why would someone who is genuinely a “partaker of Christ,” sanctified “once for all” (10:10) and who has been “perfected for all time” (10:14) want to provoke God through unfaithfulness the way OT Israel did? We have someone far greater than Moses—One who is not a servant in God’s house, but who is a Son over God’s house. And we are His brothers. Why live like that when God has given us “better things … that accompany salvation…” (6:9)? We, who are secure in the household of God, should not live like those who are not secure.