Hebrews 4 - Tuesday, October 29

Hebrews 4

New International Version (NIV)

A Sabbath-Rest for the People of God

 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. ² For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed. ³ 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.’”

And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world. ⁴ For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “On the seventh day God rested from all his works.” ⁵ And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.”

⁶ Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience, ⁷ God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted:

“Today, if you hear his voice,
    do not harden your hearts.”

⁸ For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. ⁹ There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; ¹⁰ for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. ¹¹ Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.

¹² For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. ¹³ Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

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ESCAPE?
  Of all the Israelites who escaped from Egyptian bondage (who were over twenty years old at the time), only two entered the Promised Land.  Their names were Joshua and Caleb, and they were permitted to enter because, early on, they trusted that God would enable them to win victory over the land of Canaan and to live in peace and freedom there.  They tried to convince all the Israelites, but the group chose to listen to the other spies who said victory was impossible.
   These two men got to experience the fulfillment of their dreams and rejoiced as God's people eventually conquered the land.  The others could only experience the Promised Land as a dream yet to be accomplished because they did not trust that God could lead them to victory.  They perished in the wilderness and it was their children and grandchildren who would experience the actual "land flowing with milk and honey."

   The writer of Hebrews reminds us of this truth because he wants to be sure that a worse thing doesn't happen with the eternal Promised Land.  That is, he does not want God's people to lose heart and faith because they fall into the trap of disobedience, and ultimately lose out on their future reward.
   He is right.  Sin can so easily grab hold of us and lead us down a slippery slope.  The Tempter wants to use whatever tools are at his disposal to erode our faith into nothing.
   Let Joshua and Caleb be reminders to us that our God is a God of promise and victory.  His Promised Land is real, and we need to continue to fight the battle against our sinful desires, or they may lead us away from His heavenly promise.
   Thank God that we have a King who fights for us, and in Jesus Christ has already won the war.  As we trust in Him, He enables us to battle against The Enemy and to bring him to naught each time he seeks to lead us astray.  And so, as we trust in Him, we know that the Promised Land is ours!

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Jesus the Great High Priest

¹⁴ Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. ¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. ¹⁶ Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.