Hebrews 4:2 English Standard Version (ESV) For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.[it did not meet with faith in the hearers]

The context of Hebrews 4 is those who followed God in the wilderness experience. This is a dangerous position to take in any bible study. It can lead to judgment of others when we say it is possible to follow God without faith.

That is for God to judge. We can only report what happened during the journey and not the eternal results. That is up to God to judge. We must look within ourselves to determine during this walk with Christ if we have mixed His word with faith and united them together in all that we are as individuals.

It is difficult to see faith as being more than just one thing. There is faith in His Word. If He is going to accomplish His will according to the Word He sent, then according to Hebrews 4:2 there is an expectation of meeting faith in us with faith in His Word. This union of faith is how He speaks to us, confirming in us what He wants us to know in truth.

If we discover faith has spoken to us in our Walk with Jesus it is still up to us to act in the world according to what we believe we heard and trust that God is at work in it.

Relating to what happened to those following God in their wilderness experience depends on our unity of faith. Do we access His Word by faith, or as an academic exercise?

2 Timothy 2:15 English Standard Version (ESV) Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,[passed the test] a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Some versions say “Study to show” so it is important to understand how to study by faith.

Galatians 5:17 English Standard Version (ESV) For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

Willful sin is the equivalent of not taking your medicine prescribed by Christ for our sin sickness.

The issue here is what we want to do. We did what we wanted in our past lives which placed us in a position to need Christ. Now that we have Christ we must not act as if we do not need Him.

Psalm 147:13 English Standard Version (ESV) For he strengthens the bars of your gates; he blesses your children within you.

Philippians 4:13 English Standard Version (ESV) I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

We will find His help in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. We must not leave one kind of medicine in the cabinet just because we do not like the taste of it.

Romans 8:28 English Standard Version (ESV) And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,[a] for those who are called according to his purpose.

Footnotes [a] Some manuscripts God works all things together for good, or God works in all things for the good

Whichever way you prefer to take it, our medicine is meant for good. What we should focus on is the love we have for God. When we were young our mothers gave us medicine and we took it because we trusted her. It is not that much different with God. If we love Him we must trust Him.

Isaiah 46:10 English Standard Version (ESV) declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’

Do we have to understand how this works to believe it does work? Does our lack of understanding hinder our belief? Does unbelief hinder our trust? Does lack of trust hinder our ability to do what is asked of us?

Faith answers all those questions for us.

Walking by faith does not need to know purpose. It only requires us to trust what God has built up in us. Did the medicine work? Did it accomplish His will by taking it with faith?