God’s Rest - Hebrews 4:1–13

Whenever we have our GS Inquirer’s Class, where folks come to learn about the beliefs and story of our church, we always begin with a fun icebreaker by asking everyone to tell the group three things: their name, where they were born, and where in the world they would like to visit. 

Everyone can think of somewhere they would like to go on vacation. I’m sure you could name a place, somewhere you could see the sights, relax, and rest. 

But even if you could go on that dream vacation, eventually you would have to return to your life. You may sometimes imagine a permanent vacation from all troubles: no more financial issues, health issues, family issues, neighbor issues, aging issues, and so on. We will likely never resolve all of those things, but even if we did, some new trouble would find us. I don’t mean to be pessimistic, but this world simply cannot supply permanent, perfect rest. 

And yet we often expect it to, don’t we? We look for lasting rest in the places, things, and people of this world; we work to attain it, we plan and maneuver to achieve it, but it eludes us. And yet the Scriptures describe rest, help in our toil and trouble, rest that is available through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. 

It is God’s rest, but it is accessible to you and me. And it is a lasting rest; it is a true and complete rest. God’s rest meets our deepest needs in a way that even the best places, things, and people in this world never could. If God offers this kind of rest, we should pursue it, shouldn’t we? If you are tired, the suggestion of this rest should cause your heart to leap. At the very least, it should make you curious.

But what is God’s rest? Hebrews 4 supplies insight for us, with three characteristics that help us understand what it is and how to pursue it. You can find an outline on page 6 of your WG. God offers a rest which He alone possesses, bestows, and guarantees. God has this rest; he willingly gives it; and he insures it. So let’s look closer at it now.

First of all, it is a rest which God alone possesses. This terminology of “rest” came up in the previous chapter related to the ancient nation of Israel and their entry into the promised land of Canaan. To give some background, Moses led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. They willingly followed Moses across the Red Sea, which God miraculously parted, and they journeyed into the desert. This was their “exodus” from Egypt. But that exodus generation consistently strayed from God and rejected his ways because they did not trust that in him there was rest to be found. 

They were not at rest during their time of bondage in Egypt. They were oppressed and mistreated. God delivered them from that bondage and offered them immediate rest in Him: being with the one true God, knowing Him, and living according to his plans and ways. 

But it was a rest that could only be theirs through faith in God, through trusting him and demonstrating that trust. They had to journey into the unknown trusting that God would be with them and sustain them. They had to trust that God was in control and that he cared for them. 

Only two men of that exodus generation, Caleb and Joshua, genuinely trusted God and believed that God could provide rest in the promised land. So as judgment, God did not allow the exodus generation (minus Joshua and Caleb) to enter Canaan. Over a period of forty years that exodus generation slowly passed away, and at the end of that time, preparations were made to enter the promised land, to enter the rest which God would provide. 

However, even after the next generation entered the land, the disobedience continued; the mistrust persisted. This was demonstrated in their evil ways and their desire to worship and live like the nations around them. This went on even until the reign of King David, who wrote what we know as Psalm 95. David warned the Israelites of his day by saying, “Today, if you hear his [God’s] voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” 

David was referring to the rebelliousness of the exodus generation who did not trust in Him. David warns the Israelites of his day that God said, “As I swore in my wrath, they shall not enter my rest.” But it’s important to recognize that during David’s reign as king, the Israelites were in the promised land. So apparently, that geographic location did not equal perfect and lasting rest.

David was warning his people that if they went astray from God, and did not embrace His ways, they could not enjoy God’s rest. Of course, we know from biblical history that they did go astray, and eventually the promised land was taken away from them. Even after they were able to return to the land years later, things were not the same, things are not the same now, and they never will be the same. 

But to this day there remains a better rest not found on a piece of land, but rather, found in trusting God, humbling ourselves before him, and following His ways. The writer of Hebrews references God’s rest here in chapter 4, and he is very concerned about his listeners, that they might fail to enter God’s rest. 

This is interesting because most of his congregation were likely Christians who were ethnically Jewish, who previously practiced Judaism before coming to faith in Jesus. They were related to Abraham by blood yet they were in danger of not entering God’s eternal rest, just as the exodus generation failed to enter because of their unbelief, their lack of trust or faith. 

Look again at verse [1], he says, Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. He’s telling the NT church that God’s promise of rest is still intact and the promise remains for those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. But beware, literally be terrified by the reality that some of you may fail to reach it. 

It could have been that some who were listening and who have made a public profession of faith in Jesus were, in fact, not truly born again. Can you hear the gospel and say, “I believe,” but not be truly saved? Look at verse 2, he writes, For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.” The exodus generation that followed Moses was evangelized. They heard the good news of God’s salvation.

The language here in the Greek communicates the completeness of the good news that God was saving them and bringing them into relationship with Himself, into a relationship in which they could know lasting rest even in this present life. Granted, the exodus generation did not know all that Jesus Christ would do, but they were told unequivocally, in a way that left no doubt, that the one true God was granting them favor which they had done nothing to merit. 

God was showing them a love that they did not earn. They were being offered salvation by grace through faith, and it was not their own doing; it was the gift of God, not a result of their works, so that no one could boast. God was inviting them to live according to his ways, in light of his truth, and to rest in him. 

Now look at verse [3] For we who have believed enter that rest,” It is important to understand that the rest, in the first century and in the year 2021, just as at the time of the exodus, is not all future rest. The rest is available now; we who are born again have entered and can enjoy now, because the rest is spiritual in nature. Look at the rest of verse 3, “as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest,’” although his works were finished from the foundation of the world.” 

The Hebrews author brings up the creation of the world. God rested when he completed the work of creation, and he has been resting ever since; not that God hasn’t been doing anything, but that what he created was complete. Adam and Eve, our first parents, enjoyed that completeness, that rest with God in the beginning. 

You see, this rest has been available through the entire history of the created world. God alone has possessed it, from the time he completed creation. Even after Adam and Eve fell into sin, the rest remained intact because it belongs to God. 

Notice verse [4] For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” [5] And again in this passage he said, “They shall not enter my rest.” Over the course of six days, God created the world, then on the seventh day, he rested, not because he was exhausted, but because his creation was complete. And for all the destruction that came upon the world at the Fall into sin, God’s rest remained undamaged, perfect. We even get a hint in Genesis 3 as God pronounces judgment on the serpent, Satan, that God’s people will one day rest in Him again. 

Do you come to God alone for lasting rest, or do you seek it elsewhere? In Matthew 11, Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” God alone possesses this rest, and God alone bestows it.

Look at verse [6] Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, [7] again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” These first century Christians needed to understand that the word “today” applied to them as it did to the people in David’s era, 1000 years earlier. 

But it’s a greater rest than the land of Canaan, than any earthly place. Notice verse [8] For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. What does this mean? It means that the promised land of Canaan was not the fulfillment of the promise of God’s lasting rest. David lived hundreds of years after Joshua. 

I want to jump ahead in the book of Hebrews to give you a better understanding of this. Chapter 11 speaks of those who were faithful to God over generations, and it says they were mistreated in the world and persecuted but they desired “a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.”

This is new Jerusalem on the new earth, when all things are made new at the return of Christ. Look at verse [9] So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, [10] for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. That eternal, lasting rest - complete in nature - is coming, in the future. At that time, we will know the completeness and wholeness of it.

It’s often thought that all a believer needs is Jesus. Don’t need the church, don’t need the Word of God, don’t need preaching or fellowship, just Jesus. I mean to take nothing away from the sufficiency of Jesus; however, His Word and His church are necessary means for knowing and resting in Him. 

Back in Hebrews chapter 3, the preacher says, “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. [13] But exhort [comfort, urge] one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” God alone possesses this rest, and he alone bestows it on those who trust in Him; and yet, God very often bestows His rest on You through the ministry and love of other believers. That doesn’t take away from His glory.

Are you seeking that rest from God in fellowship with other believers? Do you have those with whom you can be entirely honest? Are you teachable? Do you have a posture to humble receive from the Lord, by the power of His Spirit at work in you, through His Word, and through His church?

Now finally, God offers a rest which He alone guarantees. Look at verse [11] Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. We are in this together; it must be our desire that none of us would fall. In Galatians 6, the apostle Paul writes, [1] Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.” And so we comfort one another, we spur each other on to love and faith and good deeds. We speak the Word of God to each other, and we know that the Word of God is everlasting. 

If God says it, it will surely come to pass. If God says there is a rest for us in Him, then there is such a rest. If he says there is rest in walking by faith in Him, well then it is so. God spoke this promise of rest for his people long ago; His promise still stands; His word is not dead or paralyzed by sin. Look at verse [12] For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword.” This idea here is that the word God spoke long ago is still in full effect.  

At that time in the first century, the sharpest object you could have was a double-edged sword. Razor sharp on both sides. It was an accomplishment when that was invented. But God’s Word is sharper still. The sword of men cuts flesh and bone; the sword of God, you see, is sufficient for, “piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” God’s Word slices the soul wide open.

Now you may think, “I’ve spoken the Word to this person I know. They don’t respond.” Not true. People always respond. Imagine a husband and wife sitting on the couch watching TV. One spouse asks the other to go to the kitchen and bring them a drink and a snack. Maybe the spouse will, maybe they won’t, but either way, they respond! 

In Isaiah 55, God says, [10] “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, [11] so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” Some hearts will be made softer by the Word; some will be made harder. 

But we must speak the Word to one another. And when the Word goes out, it judges the thoughts and intentions of our hearts. God’s word cannot fail. Look at verse [13] And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. God’s Word exposed the faithlessness of the exodus generation, of the subsequent generations of Israel, of the NT church in the first century, and it exposes our faithlessness even today.

God works today in the same basic ways that he always has. Certainly the circumstances are different, and we are at a different place on the timeline of redemptive history. But God is the same, and the rest which he possesses and bestows is the same, and it is absolutely guaranteed for those who come to Him.

As we go to the table today, we literally come to Jesus. We come to him who gives us access to God’s rest. We don’t partake of this table to pat ourselves on the backs for what we’ve done.

We don’t come to celebrate our righteousness. We come to remember that we must give ourselves wholly to him who gave himself wholly for us. A friend shared with me this quote, which is very relevant here. In his book Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis writes, “The terrible thing, the almost impossible thing, is to hand over your whole self—all your wishes and precautions—to Christ. But it is far easier than what we are all trying to do instead. For what we are trying to do is to remain what we call ‘ourselves’, to keep personal happiness as our great aim in life, and yet at the same time be ‘good’. We are all trying to let our mind and heart go their own way—centered on money or pleasure or ambition—and hoping, in spite of this, to behave honestly and chastely and humbly. And that is exactly what Christ warned us you could not do.”

Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Please bow with me in prayer.