Hebrews 4:1-13
There is a subconscious push to recreate God as a sugar-daddy who loves mankind to the point He would never destroy them for their sin. Exploring a bit on who God is indicates that God is Holy and Righteous and cannot abide sin.
Hebrews 4 begins with a warning that though their is a rest promised, it is possible to come up short of it. Throughout Hebrews 4 the word Rest is used nine times and is referring to five different types of Rest: past, present and future. Fear in verse one means a humble reverence at the awesomeness of God!
The Land of Canaan was meant to be a rest from bondage and as we discussed last week, the stiff-necked, stubborn and rebellious Israelites could not enter into that rest. Later we see an obedient generation entering into the Land of Canaan under the leadership of Joshua. Even though this obedient generation was able to enter into the rest, it was not the final rest. It was merely a rest from their bondage.
We could look further at how they maintained their rest, but suffice it to say through unbelief they became enslaved to the ungodly yet again.
Are you eeking out a living in the wilderness or have you entered into a rest from bondage?
The second type of rest is seen in verses 3,4. The Sabbath Rest which was instituted at Creation. God created for six days and then rested from His works.
The creation account has six individual days with clearly marked evening and morning. The seventh day, however, has no such distinction. The Rabbis interpreted this to mean that God’s rest has no end, or that His creative work is finished.
There is a belief that God has bowed out of the lives of the people He created after setting in motion the laws that govern them. Jesus indicated and is proof of the contrary to be true. Jesus used the phrase “My Father works, therefore I work”. John 5:17, John 10:37 Jesus, as God takes a special interest in His fallen creation and has been working to redeem it.
There is a standing invitation to mankind to enter into God’s Sabbath Rest, where our strivings in our flesh, all our attempts to be righteous can be laid at the feet of Jesus.
“Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28-30
The Christian, though he has entered into God’s rest, will never be inactive. Our labors to be righteous will end and God’s Righteousness will be seen working out of our lives.
If we have entered into the rest that is prepared for us, why do we struggle so?
Rest for the Christian is not yet complete, and Satan knows it. We become tempted to sin through our weakness and then some get led away of their own lusts. James 1:14,15; Romans 7:8,11,23,24
Commentators almost universally agree that in verse 8 the name Jesus is actually meant to be Joshua. Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua. So now, let’s look at what it says. “For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he afterward have spoken of another day.” This verse begins with an insinuation. For if Jesus had not given them rest. I am thinking that Jesus means Jesus our messiah and that the writer of Hebrews is saying if our Messiah had given the children of Israel rest, it would have been the final rest, or the best rest. When Joshua lead the Israelites into their rest, sure Jesus was the instigator of that rest, but He was not physically leading them into it like He is leading us into our final rest.
There are actually two types of rest after the rest of the Israelites. One of the rest types that they didn’t experience is the rest of the soul in trusting God for spiritual protection and guidance. The other is the final rest that all the Godly will experience.
God’s rest can only be entered by obedience. “If any man thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall”. Galatians 6:3, 1 Cor. 3:18, 1 Cor. 8:2, 1 Cor. 10:12
This unbelief or lack of trust may or may not meant to be a blatant disregard of God and His provision; but even Eve, who was deceived lost her rest along with Adam who had openly rebelled.
John 1:1, John 1:12
Some people view verse 12 as a threat but is it informing us of a tool which we must use to keep our hearts in subjection? The Word of God is alive and dynamic. When we allow the life within God’s Word to move within us, our sinful nature will be separated from our soul and spirit. This Word of God pierces our flesh and reads our thoughts and intentions.
God is able through His Word to see into our lives as if it were laid open by a scalpel.
The Land of Canaan was meant to be a rest from bondage and as we discussed last week, the stiff-necked, stubborn and rebellious Israelites could not enter into that rest. Later we see an obedient generation entering into the Land of Canaan under the leadership of Joshua. Even though this obedient generation was able to enter into the rest, it was not the final rest. It was merely a rest from their bondage.
We could look further at how they maintained their rest, but suffice it to say through unbelief they became enslaved to the ungodly yet again.
Are you eeking out a living in the wilderness or have you entered into a rest from bondage?
The second type of rest is seen in verses 3,4. The Sabbath Rest which was instituted at Creation. God created for six days and then rested from His works.
The creation account has six individual days with clearly marked evening and morning. The seventh day, however, has no such distinction. The Rabbis interpreted this to mean that God’s rest has no end, or that His creative work is finished.
There is a belief that God has bowed out of the lives of the people He created after setting in motion the laws that govern them. Jesus indicated and is proof of the contrary to be true. Jesus used the phrase “My Father works, therefore I work”. John 5:17, John 10:37 Jesus, as God takes a special interest in His fallen creation and has been working to redeem it.
There is a standing invitation to mankind to enter into God’s Sabbath Rest, where our strivings in our flesh, all our attempts to be righteous can be laid at the feet of Jesus.
“Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28-30
The Christian, though he has entered into God’s rest, will never be inactive. Our labors to be righteous will end and God’s Righteousness will be seen working out of our lives.
If we have entered into the rest that is prepared for us, why do we struggle so?
Rest for the Christian is not yet complete, and Satan knows it. We become tempted to sin through our weakness and then some get led away of their own lusts. James 1:14,15; Romans 7:8,11,23,24
Commentators almost universally agree that in verse 8 the name Jesus is actually meant to be Joshua. Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua. So now, let’s look at what it says. “For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he afterward have spoken of another day.” This verse begins with an insinuation. For if Jesus had not given them rest. I am thinking that Jesus means Jesus our messiah and that the writer of Hebrews is saying if our Messiah had given the children of Israel rest, it would have been the final rest, or the best rest. When Joshua lead the Israelites into their rest, sure Jesus was the instigator of that rest, but He was not physically leading them into it like He is leading us into our final rest.
There are actually two types of rest after the rest of the Israelites. One of the rest types that they didn’t experience is the rest of the soul in trusting God for spiritual protection and guidance. The other is the final rest that all the Godly will experience.
God’s rest can only be entered by obedience. “If any man thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall”. Galatians 6:3, 1 Cor. 3:18, 1 Cor. 8:2, 1 Cor. 10:12
This unbelief or lack of trust may or may not meant to be a blatant disregard of God and His provision; but even Eve, who was deceived lost her rest along with Adam who had openly rebelled.
John 1:1, John 1:12
Some people view verse 12 as a threat but is it informing us of a tool which we must use to keep our hearts in subjection? The Word of God is alive and dynamic. When we allow the life within God’s Word to move within us, our sinful nature will be separated from our soul and spirit. This Word of God pierces our flesh and reads our thoughts and intentions.
God is able through His Word to see into our lives as if it were laid open by a scalpel.
