Heb. 4:1-13, Be Diligent to Enter God’s Rest

We have said there is an issue of “rest” in our daily lives.  This is true.  But it is also true that what happened at Kadesh and what was about to happen at Jerusalem were unique.  The people had one opportunity to obey.  If they disobeyed there would be no opportunity to “undo” their predicament.  In Num. 14, on the day following their refusal to enter the land, the people tried to go to war with the inhabitants of the land and God refused to help them.  It was hopeless for that entire generation.  They died in the wilderness and never entered the land.  Likewise, in the days leading up to 70AD, entering Jerusalem would result in experiencing God’s judgment on the nation that had rejected their Messiah.  There was one opportunity to trust God.

Heb. 3 commands, do not become hardened in your heart.  Heb. 4 commands, be diligent to enter that rest.  Heb. 4:2 says “the gospel” was preached to the “Hebrews” and to the Israelites at Kadesh.  What “gospel” is he talking about?

·       The people at Kadesh had heard the good news of salvation in Egypt.  It involved Passover and the placing of the blood on the doorposts.  All who were at Kadesh had believed that message.  But at Kadesh they heard this good news from Caleb and Joshua: the land is good and it is God’s provision for us (Num. 14:6-9).  That good news they did not believe.

·       The “Hebrews” had heard and believed the gospel preached by Christ and His Apostles (Hb. 2:1-4).  But now they were hearing the good news of deliverance from God’s judgment on the nation.  The message was to “flee Jerusalem” (Lk. 21:20-24).  Would they believe that good news and enter God’s rest?  You may wonder how “believers” can be guilty of “unbelief?”  The answer is that we walk by faith; how we begin is how we live each day (Col. 2:6-7). 

The argument in Ch. 4 is fascinating.  God has rested from all His works of creation (v3-4), works that included creation of the “land of milk and honey” that He promised to Abraham.  Israel at Kadesh failed to enter into that rest and thus would never enter that rest (v5).  Yet, in Psalm 95, this rest is still being offered to Israel in the time of David, at a time when they were “in” the land (v6-8).  If just entering the land brought rest then why did David speak of God’s rest for Israel on “another day?”  The answer is that there remains therefore a rest for the people of God (v9).  Those who enter that rest cease from their works as God did (v10).  It is the rest of faith, of believing and obeying God’s word.

Therefore, the command is, be diligent to enter that rest.  We must be diligent in believing because there are many hindrances to faith, especially the pride that causes a person to trust his own good works instead of trusting the word of God.  That is the point of 4:12-13.  God has spoken (Hb. 1:1-3).  His word reveals the heart of those who hear.  It will reveal the presence of unbelief or will prove the genuineness of the one who hears.