Let’s read through the book of Hebrews one verse at a time in 2023. Every day explore a single verse and its cross references. AI-generated text draws the passages together. RSS feed.
For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses?
The cross references for Hebrews 3:16 all relate to the idea of rebellion against God. In Numbers 14, it is the people of Israel who grumble against Moses and Aaron and wish to return to Egypt. In Deuteronomy 1, God declares that none of the people who rebelled will enter the Promised Land, except Caleb and Joshua, who followed Him faithfully. Psalm 78:17 reinforces this idea, as it mentions how the people rebelled against the Most High in the desert. All of these references point to the same theme of disobedience and rebellion against God, which is what Hebrews 3:16 is referring to.
| Passage | How It’s Related (AI-Generated) |
|---|---|
| Numbers 14:2: And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! | Both passages refer to the same event: the people of Israel’s grumbling against Moses and Aaron after leaving Egypt. Hebrews 3:16 is a rhetorical question that reflects upon the people's refusal to trust in God despite the signs and wonders they witnessed. Numbers 14:2 records the people's complaint that they would have been better off staying in Egypt than facing the difficulties of the wilderness. |
| Numbers 14:24: But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it. | Both passages address the story of the Israelites leaving Egypt. Hebrews 3:16 is emphasizing the disobedience of the Israelites who rebelled against God's command to enter the Promised Land. Numbers 14:24, on the other hand, praises Caleb for his faithfulness and obedience, and promises that his descendants will inherit the land. Both passages demonstrate the importance of faithfulness and obedience to God's commands. |
| Numbers 14:30: not one shall come into the land where I swore that I would make you dwell, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun. | Both passages refer to the Israelites' journey out of Egypt. Hebrews 3:16 references the Israelites' initial rebellion against God's commands while in the wilderness, while Numbers 14:30 mentions the two faithful followers, Caleb and Joshua, who were allowed to enter the Promised Land. The contrast between these two passages serves to emphasize the importance of trusting and obeying God, even in the face of difficulty. |
| Numbers 14:38: Of those men who went to spy out the land, only Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive. | Both passages refer to the Israelites' journey to the Promised Land. Hebrews 3:16 is a rhetorical question that alludes to the Israelites' lack of faith in God and their rebellion against Him, which was shown through their refusal to enter the Promised Land. Numbers 14:38 refers to the two spies who were faithful to God and did not rebel against Him, and were the only two of the original twelve spies who were allowed to enter the Promised Land. |
| Numbers 26:65: For the Lord had said of them, “They shall die in the wilderness.” Not one of them was left, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun. | Both passages refer to the Israelites' journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. Hebrews 3:16 reflects on the Israelites' failure to enter the Promised Land due to their lack of faith and rebellion against God. Numbers 26:65 confirms that none of the Israelites who left Egypt were allowed to enter the Promised Land, except for Caleb and Joshua, who had remained faithful to God. |
| Deuteronomy 1:35-36: ‘Not one of these men of this evil generation shall see the good land that I swore to give to your fathers, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh. He shall see it, and to him and to his children I will give the land on which he has trodden, because he has wholly followed the Lord!’ | Both passages refer to the Israelites who left Egypt and were led by Moses. Hebrews 3:16 is a rhetorical question that alludes to the Israelites' failure to trust in God and their subsequent punishment. Deuteronomy 1:35–36 highlights the faithfulness of Caleb and the reward he and his descendants received for their faithfulness. |
| Deuteronomy 1:38: Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you, he shall enter. Encourage him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it. | Both passages demonstrate God's faithfulness in leading His people. Hebrews 3:16 emphasizes the faithlessness of the Israelites in rebelling against God, even after He had delivered them from slavery in Egypt. Deuteronomy 1:38, on the other hand, highlights God's faithfulness in providing Joshua as a leader for the Israelites, who would eventually lead them into the Promised Land. |
| Psalm 78:17: Yet they sinned still more against him, rebelling against the Most High in the desert. | Both passages discuss the Israelites' rebellion against God during their exodus from Egypt. Hebrews 3:16 references the Israelites' rebellion as an example of how those who heard God's word can still choose to disobey it. Psalm 78:17 further elaborates on the Israelites' rebellious behavior, describing how they continued to sin against God even after they left Egypt. |
Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your faithfulness, even in the face of our rebellion. We acknowledge that You are the Most High and that You alone are worthy of our trust and obedience. We thank You for Your grace and mercy in giving us Joshua and Caleb as examples of faith and courage, even in the midst of our grumbling and disobedience.
Help us to be more like them, Lord, and to wholly follow You. Give us the strength to stand firm in our faith, even in the wilderness of this world. May we never forget the consequences of our disobedience and the blessings of Your faithfulness. In Jesus' name, Amen.
This reading plan reads through a single verse each day, six days a week, paired with the most-popular cross references for the verse. AI-generated (and human-reviewed) text provides an opening thought and concluding prayer along with an explanation for how each cross reference relates to the verse. In 2023, this reading plan works through Hebrews one verse at a time. Every seventh day is a catchup day. Want more info? Try this blog post.
Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com.