Tuesday: The “Example” of Rest
Besides the examples we’ve already looked at, this idea of types and symbols can apply to the biblical concept of rest, as well. To see this, we go to the New Testament book of Hebrews.
Read Hebrews 4:1-11. What is the remaining promise of entering His rest referring to? How does Israel’s experience during the Exodus and the wilderness wanderings offer additional insights into the idea of entering into God’s rest?
Image © Damon Bowie from GoodSalt.com
The theme of perseverance and faithfulness is very important here. Though talking about the seventh-day Sabbath, the main focus of these verses (and what came before; see Hebrews 3:7-19) is really a call for God’s people to be persevering in faith; that is, to remain faithful to the Lord and the gospel.
These passages remind the reader to take the lessons learned from God’s leading in the past seriously, “so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience” (Hebrews 4:11). Pay attention, this is an opportunity! Israel did hear the gospel, the text continues, but the word did not profit them. Instead of having their faith strengthened by trust and obedience, they chose rebellion (compare with Hebrews 3:7-15), and thus, they never experienced the rest that God wanted for them.
Hebrews 4:3 points to the close relationship between faith and rest. We can enter into His rest only when we believe and trust the One who promised rest and who can deliver on this promise, and that is, of course, Jesus Christ.
Read Hebrews 4:3 again. What was the main problem with the people referred to? What lesson can we take from this for ourselves, we who have had the “gospel … preached to us as well as to them” (Hebrews 4:2)?
The early Christian community accepted God’s prior revelation (what we call the “Old Testament”) and believed that Jesus Christ was the Lamb of God, the sacrifice for their sins. And by faith in the sacrifice, they could experience salvation in Jesus and the rest that we are offered in Him.
| How can an understanding of what it means to be saved by the blood of Jesus help us enter into the kind of rest that we can have in Jesus, knowing that we are saved by grace and not by works? |
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When Carmel and I crossed Australia on the way to my first job in Perth, we had to cross the Nullarbor Plains. In those days the road across the Nullabor consisted of 400 miles of badly maintained gravel road. It had huge potholes that could swallow a car, and these were filled with red dust known colloquially as "bulldust". Driving across the Nullarbor was hard work. And the fact that I had a 20-year-old Holden FJ made it all the harder. I had an uncle who lived in Perth and he had told me previously that when I crossed the Nullarbor I should take time to rest at the end of the rough road. He explained that too many people made it safely across the Nullabor but when they reached the sealed road they kept on driving, relaxed and fell asleep at the wheel.
So we took his advice, pulled into the service station late in the evening after a day of hard-driving, had a shower and parked the car in a rest area and went to sleep in the car (There were no motels there in those days and we could not have afforded one anyhow!) The next day we drove on towards Perth, rested, refreshed and alert.
Hebrews 4 tells the story of the Israelites crossing the desert to enter the promised land. But they were prevented from entering the land of rest because of their unbelief. Paul draws the parallel with the embryonic Christian church being given the promise of entering into the rest that Christ promises but not accepting that rest because of their unbelief.
Listen to what Paul says:
Is Paul talking about some future rest, or rest that is available now? Is this rest the Sabbath or is the Sabbath a "type" of the rest being offered here?
Just as I needed to rest on my journey across the Nullarbor is God offering us much needed rest in our journey through life now?
Great illustration.
Can you explain Hebrews 4:3, within this context?
Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,
“So I declared on oath in my anger,
‘They shall never enter my rest.’” Heb 4:3NIV
This is of course a quote from Psalms 95:11 where the context is about the Israelites digging in their heels and refusing to accept God's leading into the promised land. God essentially said to them, "Too bad! You are all going to wander in the wilderness for 40 years and none of you will enter the promised land. Only your children will get there!"
The application is of course; are we Christians not accepting God's leading now and not receiving the present blessing of salvation?
Like a lot of short quick answers, my answer could be simple, elegant, and wrong! So I would like to hear what you think this verse means too.
Hallo Allen,
The wording in Hebrew 4:3 is all about what choice you make.
1. Now we who have believed enter the rest. Meaning that you have made a bold choice to remain true to the command given to observe the seventh day rest. The seventh day rest is simply paying allegiance to God as the creator by saying, God, you created me. Deuteronomy 4:1 says Obey and live-meaning, trust in Gods' promised and see them come to pass. The commands of God can not be broken-when man sinned, God did not remove(lessen) any of the command to suit the condition of man but rather retained them and looked for a better way to redeem the image and relationship of man and that was the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. 2. Just as God has said, "So I declare on oath in my anger, They shall never enter my rest". God declared in "ANGER", meaning He was not happy with the Israelite despite His favour towards them. They had made a choice to disobey by the hardening of there heart and decided not to celebrate in His rest.
Judges 10:6-16 The Israelites chose not follow Gods command in his worship. What happened? They did not have peace/rest for eighteen years. They were oppressed by the Philistines and the Ammonites. Despite the oppression, they worshiped God partially and until they gave themselves fully to God, they did not experience the rest God had promised them. The rest God is assuring us does not mean that we will not face challenges, yes will face challenges life but let us persevere, out of the perseverance develop a character and out of a character hope. An everlasting hope in Christ. Jesus.
True Sabbath rest is the rest of grace in the loving arms of the One who created us,the One who redeemed us, and the One who is coming again for us.
The Sabbath is God's rest(Gen 2:3). He rested on the seventh day as a divine acknowledgment that His work was completed.
Taking a look on Hebrews 4:9,10 likens God's rest at the end of Creation week when He ceased from His works, to us ceasing from our human works entering Christ's salvation rest.Hebrews puts it this way:"There remains therefore a rest of people of God.For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His"-Hebrews 4:9,10
NKJV.
According to the Scripture, our Sabbath rest is an act of 'supreme worship' in which we rest totally in Jesus for our salvation.
The journey of Israel from Egypt to the Promised land is symbolic too. Egypt was symbolic of God-defiance (Exodus 5:2) and was consequentially a "house of slavery/bondage" (Exodus 20:2). This precisely parallels 'living' in accordance with the principles and practices of sin - with sin being lawlessness (1 John 3:4 - anomia) or being out of harmony with the laws/principles that alone can promote and sustain true life. 'Living' in accordance with the principles and practices of lawlessness can only therefore promote and produce enslavement/bondage to destruction and death. This is 'the law of sin and death' (see Romans 8:2) and is a cause-and-effect dynamic (Romans 6:23).
Canaan, the Promised Land, was where God was seeking to take the newly liberated Israelites to. It was described as a land "flowing with milk and honey" - in other words, a place of living characterised by abundance. This parallels the "abundant life" that Jesus came to make available to all who were willing (John 10:10; 3:16). In Hebrews, Paul is referring to 'rest' as the arrival in the Promised Land of abundance where there would be rest (and restoration) from the former slavery and bondage. Abundant living would not come from merely physically entering the Promised Land, but more primarily from simultaneously living in harmony with the Principles of Life and Living that God was attempting to educate them in whilst living in the physical space of the Promised Land. All of this was based upon Israel seeing God as trustworthy enough to follow Him and His teachings - walking by faith.
Resting in Jesus is an oasis in the desert of life! We all go through tough times, and it is a lie to say that in this planet we won't have troubles! But God promises to be with us all the way! And when we are not able to bare our own cross, Jesus reminds us that His cross were taken just because of you and me! Are you tired of your own desert? Are you stressed because you were betrayed by your own family or friend? Let us be sure that a man named Jesus suffered much more than us, just because He loved us first! So let us rest in His love, because there is nothing else safer to be done! Have you any better way out? Do we really have any other idea to balance out this life's struggle? How can we find happiness when we look at the Universe and think that everything happened by chance? Is all this super perfection and orderly galaxies, or nuclei acids in our own cells, existing just out of luck?
It would appear from this passage in Hebrews 4 that the rest spoken of is the Rest Jesus offers all who “take my yoke upon you, and learn of me”(Matt 11:28-30). This rest is entered into by accepting Jesus' invitation.
The main problem, pointed out in verse 2, is lack of faith, or, unbelief. The lesson we should learn from the example pointed to is to exercise faith if we are seeking the Rest being offered.
Why this focus on “not by works”? Is anyone saying we are saved by works? We cannot be justified by our works, but only by the pardon offered to all who accept Jesus' propitiating sacrifice for their sin by repentance(turn away from sin). Yet salvation is not simply being justified, but must include a transformed life(Rom 12:2) that results in the obedience of faith shown by good works instead of the former life of “works of the flesh”. So being SAVED is both justification and sanctification, meaning that while we will never be justified by our works, we cannot be saved without works of righteousness which result from being sanctified by “the power of God unto salvation”(Rom 1:16). We will be judged by our works(Eccl 12:13,14, Rev 22:12), not our profession of faith. No one will be fit for dwelling in God's presence who is not sanctified(Acts 20:32; 26:18, Rev 22:14). Works of righteousness are the evidence that sin no longer reigns in the life of those who repent and believe the gospel. This rest from our (sinful)works is not without overcoming sin. Holiness IS the Rest, since the wicked “have no rest”, and “the way of Peace they have not known”(Rev 14:11, Rom 3:17).
Error versus Truth - I think understanding and finding God's Truth is the first step in the journey for the living soul to join 'God's Rest'.
When we find and accept God's Truth, only then can we define error; it does not work the other way around.
As I understand 'Rest', it is a Type which is the reflection of the Ante-type - God's Rest. I believe that 'Rest is a Truth' revealed and taught by the heavenly Father to all who seek His Truth.
Once found, the person will know that they found it as the ever restless, seeking heart will stop its search and enter its rest in His Truth of Grace and Mercy, establishing peace and loving kindness in the heart of the sons and daughters of God.
If you have gone'through this week lesson, then you will agree with me that, it talks more about Rest.
I think the question now should be, how is Jesus our Sabbath rest! And How can we enter into God's rest? And now to answer the first question that says' how is Jesus our Sabbath rest! I wish to begin by saying, The key to understanding how Jesus is our Sabbath rest is the Hebrew word sabat, which means "to rest, or stop, or cease from work." The origin of the Sabbath goes back to Creation.
After creating the heavens and the earth in six days, God "rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made" (Genesis 2:2). This doesn’t mean that God was tired and needed a rest.
We know that God is omnipotent and all-powerful." He has all the power in the universe, So, what does it mean that God rested on the seventh day?
Simply that He stopped what He was doing. He ceased from His labors. This is important in understanding' the establishment of the Sabbath day' and the role of Christ' as our Sabbath rest.
Okay, let me briefly talk about my second point which is, How can we enter into God's rest?
The concept of entering into God’s rest' comes from Hebrews 3—4.
What is this “rest” the Hebrew writer' is talking about?
How do we enter it? And how do we fail to enter it?
okay, let me begin by saying,
God’s rest is a state,
or place,
where God rule
and manages his creation,
free from the chaos, and disorder, brought about by sin, and rebellion.
All who will rest' from their own work' of bringing their own life under control,
can enter into this God’s rest. And that's why in this; I must say,
the promise that still stands
is the promise of salvation' through God’s provision—Jesus Christ.
He alone can provide the eternal rest
of salvation
through His blood shed on the cross, for the redemption of sins.
God’s rest, then, is in the spiritual realm,
the rest of salvation. Faith, is the key' to entering this God’s rest.
Hebrews 4: 10-13
explains the nature' of this faith.
The kind of faith
that enables us to enter into God’s rest
is a faith that first demands, that we rest, from relying on our own works.
For anyone' who enters God’s rest, also rests from his own work, just as God did from his.
Let us, therefore,
make every effort to enter that rest,
so that no one will fall' by following the example of disobedience, done by the children of Israel.
Yes, the Hebrews' had the gospel preached to them,
just as the Israelites knew the truth about God, but the messages were of “no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.
Some had heard' the good news of Christ, but they rejected it' for lack of faith.
All that was required'
from the children of Israel, was to fully trust in God'
and His promises.
However, they refused to obey Him.
Instead, they murmured against Him, even yearning to go back' to their bondage
under the Egyptians.
I pray the lord, to help us stop trusting' on ourselves!
But help us instead'
to place our full trust in God, and his promises.
For certainly'
We can enter into God’s rest
by first understanding our total inability
to enter God’s rest' on our own.
One of my favourite Scripture texts, one that is permanently etched on every communication from our church’s Home and School department, comes from Isaiah 54:13. It says, “And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children.”
“Children need to know that having faith in the Saviour and following Him will help them receive peace in this troubled world,” Says Coleen K. Menlove.
So do we, as adults.
What I gather matters most, according to this week’s lesson, is that we know the truth about the contrast between the enemy’s punitive, condemning, enslaving influences, and the freeing sacrificial gift of Christ’s redeeming blood. That understanding and commitment to get more of the Redeemer’s unperishable gift is incomparable!
My Prayer is:
Claim our lives, Dear Lord! May we, along with our boys and girls rise before you, TODAY, as righteous men and women ...to enter into your eternal rest.
Thank you for the lessons of your supreme and unmatched sacrifice to save us from repeating the follies of generations before us!
We were created to glorify you, Dear Lord. Increase our faith, so we can grow into that place of peace and rest that comes only when we trust and obey You implicitly. I pray this in Thanksgiving. Amen!
God’s intention for his Promised Land was to occupy territory now in the possession of Satan, the Adversary, and make it his dwelling place, a place where his presence would be unmistakably present. The Promised Land was his promise to Israel to possess his Land.
True rest is found in the presence of God. His intent was that all his people (every kindred, tongue and people) would accept his invitation and enter his rest. This was also revealed to Nebuchadrezzar in a dream which Daniel interpreted (Daniel 2), that is, the Rock that crushes the earthly kingdoms to dust and then fills the earth to occupy it completely.
It was on Friday, just before sundown, at the cross that the Rock of Ages struck and shattered the foundation of the kingdoms of this earth, making a spectacle of them and finishing his work of our salvation. He rested on the Sabbath, confident in the promise of his Eternal Father, committing his spirit into his Father’s hands. Then on the first day, our Joshua led the way to our Father’s presence – our Eternal Rest.
We have only to believe his word, and being one with him, enter that Rest. Do we believe the word of our Forerunner? “Follow me,” he says. He is resting now in our Father’s presence. Will we enter his Sabbath rest? Or not? Will we believe his report of the Promised Land? Or not? It is our choice.