What does Paul emphasize about unbelief in Hebrews chapter 3?
Paul emphasizes that unbelief kept Israel out of the Promised Land and provoked God against that generation. He stresses that God did not ultimately hold their golden calf and immorality against them, but their unbelief—their refusal to believe the Word of God.
Les teaches that Paul makes a big deal of unbelief, especially in Hebrews chapter 3, repeatedly asking why they did not get into the Promised Land and why God was so provoked with that generation. Les points back to Mount Sinai, the golden calf, and gross immorality, but says that is not what God held against them. What He held against them was their unbelief. Les then traces unbelief through Scripture: Esau was a grief of mind to Isaac and Rebekah because in his unbelief he married Canaanite women; Ishmael's basic problem was unbelief; Saul did not become the great king David did because of unbelief, even going to the witch of Endor; and mankind refused to believe the Word of God.