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, we thank You for the promise that if we want to know Your will, You will make it known to us. Please teach us now as we study Your word for Christ’s sake; Amen
This is the third day in the study of this passage. Today we will concentrate on verse two of our promise, “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.” Other translations use the term “good news” which is synonymous to gospel. I believe “good news” is a precise translation in this context, as it compares the Christian gospel, to the report that Joshua and Caleb brought back to Moses and the people, when they went up to spy out the land of Canaan (Numbers 13: 30, 14: 6-9). These men were filled with faith; they were sure that they would be able to take the land since God had promised it to them. They “preached” that gospel to the people. Notwithstanding, the good report, the “good news,” was not mixed with the faith of those who “listened” to it. Consequently, it did not “save them;” they did not “enter into the rest.”
It is no small wonder that the apostle admonishes us, that “while the promise of entering [God’s] rest is still open, let us take care that none of you should seem to have failed to reach it. For indeed the good news came to us just as to them[.]” In other words, we must be very careful that history does not repeat itself! They heard the message, but missed the boat, because they did not believe what they heard: we are in danger of the same thing happening to us. We are not immune to doubt! There is a saying in Spanish (translated), “When you see your neighbor’s beard burning, put yours to soak.” Stated differently, Whenever possible, learn through observation, not by experience. You do not have to suffer the same tragedy as others to learn a lesson.
It would indeed be a tragedy, if after learning of the Israelites’ wanderings in the desert for forty years, and dying on the very border of the promised land, without entering, “Just as soon as all the warriors had died off from among the people, the Lord spoke to me, saying, ‘Today you are going to cross the boundary of Moab at Ar’ ” (Deuteronomy 2: 16-18), that the same fate should befall us. Equally tragic, is the fact that because of our unbelief, we can cause others to lose their rest. This was the experience of Moses, “But the Lord was angry with me on your account and would not heed me. The Lord said to me, ‘Enough from you! Never speak to me of this matter again! Go up to the top of Pisgah and look around you to the west, to the north, to the south, and to the east. Look well, for you shall not cross over this Jordan’ ” (Deuteronomy 3: 26, 27).
The counsel to us is, “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” May God help us to give heed to His word, season it with faith, and by His grace, enter into the rest that He has prepared for us. If you decide to take this step, I would love to hear from you. Blessings!