Hebrews 4:1-3, 8-9Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into HIS REST, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. 3 For we which have believed do enter into REST, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into MY REST: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. … 8 For if Jesus had given them REST, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. 9 There remaineth therefore a REST to the people of God.

We took a break from Hebrews last Sunday to commemorate “Resurrection Sunday” or what many call “Easter”. We talked about the importance of the Resurrection of Christ, and explained how – without the Resurrection – there is no proof that Jesus of Nazareth is the One and Only Messiah. I brought out last Sunday that there were two very common names in Israel,

Mary or Miriam
Jesus or Joshua

Many parents named their daughters “Mary” because Mary or Miriam saved Moses from certain death as a baby, and put him in a little ark, floating him down the Nile River to where the Princess of Egypt was. She adopted little Moshe or Moses, and he grew up to be the Redeemer of imprisoned Israel. Parents who had little boys often named them “Jesus”, which is the Greek translation of the Hebrew name “Joshua”. Joshua was a hero to Israel because he trusted the Word of God, and did as God said, leading Israel to conquer nearly all the Promised Land. I also quoted the noted Pastor G. Campbell Morgan who wrote:

“The angel came to Joseph and announced the name, “You shall call His name Jesus.” It was just an ordinary Jewish name, about as common in Judea as John is common to us. .. Jesus is a Greek form of the Hebrew Joshua, meaning Savior. … the angel said: Give that name to this Boy; “It is He that shall save His people from their sins. … They are “His people.”… He is coming to identification with them.”

Why bring all this out? Because knowledge of what I’m telling you is necessary to understanding our passage today. We read in verse 8:

For if JESUS had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.

The King James translates the name correctly, for here is the Greek iēsous. But nearly every other translation of the Scripture translates this word as Yehoshua or Joshua. Verse 8 is not talking about Jesus Christ our Lord, but the context of the Scripture tells us that it is talking about General Joshua who led Israel into the Promised Land. Joshua was one of the twelve spies who came back from Canaan and told Israel to enter in. Joshua told the people:

Numbers 14:7-9 (AP) “The land that God has given us is very good. If the Lord delights in us as His people, He will give us the land. Please, don’t rebel against God. Hear His Word. Do not fear the people, for the Lord is with us.”

God SAVED Israel by His Word. God SENT Israel by His Word. God blesses us if we hear and do His Word.

Did Israel listen? No, they rejected the Word of God. That’s the whole point of Hebrews 3 & 4:

Hebrews 3:7-11 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, TODAY IF YOU WILL HEAR HIS VOICE, Harden not your hearts, AS IN THE PROVOCATION, in THE DAY OF TEMPTATION IN THE WILDERNESS, When your fathers tempted Me, proved Me, and saw My works forty years. WHEREFORE I WAS GRIEVED WITH THAT GENERATION, and said, They do always err in their heart; and they have not known My ways. SO I SWARE IN MY WRATH THEY SHALL NOT ENTER INTO MY REST.

Israel was to rest on the Word of God. The Word of God that they applied in Egypt saved them. The Word of God would lead them, and give them the land. Listen Beloved: God SAVES a people that He might be glorified through them. He SAVES us so that He might SANCTIFY us, set us apart for His glory. Jesus said:

Luke 17:20-21 … The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: … behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

The Church needs to understand what Israel failed to understand: THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES FOR WHAT YOU DO OR DO NOT DO. Have you ever thought about that word, “CONSEQUENCE”? The word “CON” means “with”, and a “SEQUENCE” is when one thing happens after another – like a sequence of events. Depart from the Word of God, fail to apply what God said, and you will not rest but will suffer. Adam departed from the Word of God and brought death and sin into the world. King David departed from the Word of God and, because of Bathsheba, brought death into His family. Judas Iscariot departed from the Word of God and brought death to himself.

If you hear the Word of God, but refuse to act on the Word of God, or decide to act against the Word of God, there is always a negative sequence of events.

To REST Is To Be BLESSED

In Chapters Three and Four the Bible speaks of the “REST” of God. Let’s count how many times God uses the word “REST” in these two chapters:

Hebrews 3:11 … they shall NOT ENTER INTO MY REST (1)

Hebrews 3:18 … to whom swore {God} that they should NOT ENTER INTO HIS REST (2), but to them that believed not

Hebrews 4:1 Let us fear, lest, a PROMISE BEING LEFT OF US OF ENTERING INTO HIS REST (3)

Hebrews 4:3 … We which HAVE BELIEVED DO ENTER INTO REST (4)

Hebrews 4:4 … and God DID REST (5) THE SEVENTH DAY from all His works

Hebrews 4:5 … If they shall ENTER INTO MY REST (6)

Hebrews 4:8 … If JOSHUA HAD GIVEN THEM REST (7)

Hebrews 4:9 .. There REMAINETH THEREFORE A REST (8) TO THE PEOPLE OF GOD

Hebrews 4:10 For HE THAT HAS ENTERED INTO HIS REST (9) has also ceased from his own works, as God did His.

Hebrews 4:11 … Let us LABOR THEREFORE TO ENTER INTO THAT REST (10) …

The word “REST” is repeated TEN TIMES
in these two chapters.

I don’t believe this is a coincidence. Do you remember how many plagues God brought on Egypt before Egypt would heed the Word of God and release Israel from bondage? TEN. TEN! The Tenth Plague brought the death of the firstborn children in every household where God’s Word was not honored. Now listen,

How many times did the first generation of Israel hear and reject the Word of God?

The Bible tells us that God was going to destroy Israel, but Moses prayed for them and God gave greater Grace. But God said:

Numbers 14:20-23 (ESV) … the Lord said, “I have pardoned, according to your word. 21 But truly, as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord, 22 none of the men who have seen my glory and my signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have put me to the test these ten times and have not obeyed my voice, 23 shall see the land that I swore to give to their fathers. And none of those who despised me shall see it.

Ten times Egypt rejected God’s Word, and then relented. Ten times Israel rejected God’s Word, and lost the blessings that would have come of their obedience. My commentary notes:

“What were the ten times the Israelites tested the LORD?

(1) Lacking faith before the crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 14:11–12)

(2) Complaining over the bitter water at Marah (Exodus 15:24)

(3) Complaining in the Desert of Sin (Exodus 16:3)

(4) Collecting more manna than they were supposed to (Exodus 16:20)

(5) Attempting to collect manna on the Sabbath (Exodus 16:27–29)

(6) Complaining over the lack of water at Rephidim (Exodus 17:2–3)

(7) Engaging in idolatry in the golden calf incident (Exodus 32:7–10)

(8) Complaining at Taberah (Numbers 11:1–2)

(9) Complaining over the lack of food (Numbers 11:4)

(10) Failing to trust God and enter the Promised Land (Numbers 14:1–4)”

Though “The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love” (Numbers 14:18), and though “The LORD is patient toward us, not wishing that any should perish” (2 Peter 3:9), God expects us to love Him and rely on His Word.

To REST Is To RELY ON GOD’S WORD

Hebrews 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

God in His Word has given us precious Promises, guarantees that He will bless us if we follow Him. When Israel got to the border of the Promised Land they feared the giants in the land more than they feared the God Who saved them.

Numbers 13:33 … we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

The “sons of Anak” were related to Goliath of Gath (2 Samuel 21:15-22; Joshua 11:22). Goliath himself was 9 feet 9 inches tall, a huge man! Yet God in His Word had told Israel that He was giving them the land. God is bigger than Goliath!

Hebrews 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

The Word of God, the GOSPEL – the Good News of God’s salvation – was preached to Israel, just as it was preached to us. The GOSPEL is to believe what God has said, and to trust in what God has said. Jesus said of the Gospel:

Mark 9:37 … whosoever shall receive Me, receiveth not Me, but Him that sent Me.

God the Father sent the Son to present and represent His Gospel. Jesus said “My meat is to do the will of HIM THAT SENT ME, and to FINISH HIS WORK” (John 4:34). He said “I came down from Heaven not to do My own will, but the will of Him Who sent Me” (John 6:38). Those who hear God’s Word and “MIX IT WITH FAITH” are those who are saved, and those who are blessed. The first generation of Israel was saved when they heard the Word of God and, in faith, responded to the Word of God. They sacrificed the lamb without spot and blemish, and put it’s blood on the doorposts of their homes.

To HEAR the Word, but not OBEY the Word in faith, does you no good.

Hebrews 4:3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

When the first generation of Israel BELIEVED God and REPONDED OBEDIENTLY to His Word, they “ENTERED INTO HIS REST”. When they did not move in faith, but balked at entering the Promised Land, God said “you will NOT enter into My Rest”. God said,

the works were finished from the foundation of the world

God has a Kingdom prepared for His people that was “prepared from the foundation of the world”. God wants us to live victoriously in Him. He wants us to live above the evil of this world, trusting His Word, loving one another as Christ loves us.

We must do His Word. We must love one another. Jesus illustrated this in

Matthew 25:34-40 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Israel rejected the Fatherhood of God, and refused to enter the Promised Land. Israel did not love God first, and love their brethren in the Kingdom.

They played fast and loose with the Word of God. And because of this, they lost the blessings that should have been theirs.

Hebrews 4:4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.

Why did God rest on the seventh day? Was it because God was tired? No. It was because HIS WORD IS RELIABLE. God spoke all things into existence in six days. He breathed into Adam the breath of life. God’s Word established all of creation. Then God stepped back a day so that we can see GOD’S WORD IS RELIABLE. The Word that created all, is the Word that sustains all.

Hebrews 4:6-8 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: 7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. 8 For if Jesus {Joshua, actually} had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.

Had Israel listened to Joshua and Caleb, they would have entered into the Promised Land, and took the land, just as God promised. But Joshua did not give them rest, for they would not hear God’s Word. So God promised “ANOTHER DAY”, that there would still be the promise of rest for Israel, but not for the unbelieving and undoing generation.

Hebrews 4:9-10 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10 For he that is entered into His rest {God’s Rest}, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

When we enter into God’s Rest, hearing and doing what God says, we “cease from OUR own works”. We stop trying to do it our way, and seek to do it God’s Way.

We are saved by faith in His Word, that Jesus Christ made payment for our sins. We do not try to “be good” to be children of God. We receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. We trust in the Word of God, which says:

John 3:15-21 whosoever believeth in {Jesus} should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

We are to DO TRUTH, to DO HIS WORD, to believe that His Word is truth (John 17:17). His Word saves us, and His Word blesses us. We do not pick and choose the parts of His Word that we do. We do it all, just as He said.

Labor To Enter Into His Rest

Hebrews 4:11-12 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

That is a very interesting phrase, “Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest”. What does that mean? There is a constant temptation – because of our old sin natures – to modify or negate the Word of God. We constantly are tempted to do so. So we LABOR to enter into His Rest. We strive against our own fallen natures, and surrender to His Word. Only by faithfully doing His Word do we not receive the Grace of God in vain. The Apostle Paul talked about this in:

1 Corinthians 15:9-10 (ESV) … I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

Paul was saved by Grace, by believing in Jesus on the Damascus Road. Paul went on to serve God by doing not his will, but the Will of the Father. He heard the Word of God, and did it. Paul went on to encourage us:

2 Corinthians 6:1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

God did not save you just to take you to Heaven. He saved you to bring you into His Kingdom. He saved you so you can walk with Him, in victory, through this present life and into the next. You will not be blessed if you reject His Word. Remember the Admonition:

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (AP) You are not your own … YOU ARE BOUGHT WITH A PRICE. Glorify God in your body and in your Spirit, for you belong to God.

Word Study: The Word of God is “quick, and powerful, and sharper”. The word “QUICK” (Greek zaō, means LIFE GIVING) means that it is the Word of God that saves us from spiritual death. But this same word that saves us is also “powerful” (Greek energēs, means EFFECTUALLY POWERFUL). The Word of God not only gives us life, but gives us a GREAT LIFE, a BLESSED LIFE. The Word of God is also “sharper” than any man-made thing, any philosophy or science. Every time you both HEAR and DO it, the Word of God changes your life for the better.

Beloved, it’s time to get off the fence and follow the Word of the Lord. If not, you can expect the same judgment that God placed on Israel, and on Egypt, to be on you. May God lead you to cherish and do His Word.

Amen.