Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said[.] Hebrews 4: 1-3a, NKJV
Dear Lord, how important it is for us to understand the rest You have prepared for us. So speak to us we pray, in Jesus’ name. Amen
Today, we continue with the thought we began yesterday, of trusting in the Lord with all our heart. The promise of rest is given to those who are willing to trust in God wholeheartedly. But what rest is the apostle talking about? Is he referring to a 24 hour Sabbath rest? Is it an eternal rest? Or, is it a rest from our efforts to save ourselves? Perhaps if we look at what he said previously, and what he says later, we can get a clearer idea. The last four verses of the preceding chapter talks about the Israelites under the leadership of Moses (Hebrews 3: 16-19). It mentions that God was angry with them because of their unbelief. What did they find hard to believe?
From what we have read they did not believe that God would, or should I say, could, bring them into the land flowing with milk and honey, “And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, but they said, ‘We will not come up! Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the wilderness, that you keep acting like a prince over us? Moreover you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards…’ ” But there were those who believed God, and trusted in Him with all their hearts. Here are two examples:
Joshua. Joshua, Moses’ assistant, had lived a life that was characterized by his trust in the LORD. When a representative from each of the twelve tribes were sent to spy out the land of Canaan, Joshua was one of the only two who returned with a good report (Numbers 14: 6). He would also lead his family to trust and serve the Lord (Joshua 24: 15). Moses could depend on him in times of difficulty and need (Exodus 17: 9, 10, 13). You see, my friends, when we depend wholeheartedly on the Lord, others can depend on us. Because of his faith in God his life was spared (Numbers 14: 38). Therefore, “he entered into the rest.” He not only entered the rest, God chose him to lead Israel into the rest, “But your assistant, Joshua son of Nun, will enter it. Encourage him, because he will lead Israel to inherit it” (Deuteronomy 1: 28). Trusting in the Lord, wholeheartedly, has its rewards!
Caleb. Caleb was the other spy who was willing to trust God to bring to pass what He had promised (Numbers 14: 6); as a consequence His life was spared when everyone twenty years and older were smitten in the desert (30). Caleb, at age eighty-five, was willing, and able, to take a mountain in the promised land. You see, my friends, when we put our complete trust in the LORD, this faith in God rejuvenates us (Joshua 14: 10-15), it energizes us (Joshua 15: 13-15), and eventually saves us (Deuteronomy 1: 34-36)!
Because of their steadfast trust in the Lord, Joshua and Caleb entered the earthly rest. Yet, “There remains therefore a rest for the people of God” (Hebrews 4: 8). This is a rest that you and I, along with our loved ones, cannot afford to miss out on!
We will continue with this topic. Have a blessed rest!