(A) INTRODUCTION
This is my continual study of REST AND CREATION. The entire study of Sabbath Rest can be found at:-
Part 1:- Rest (Psalm 95/ Hebrews 3)
Part 2:- Rest And Creation
Part 3:- Rest And Canaan
Part 4:- Rest And Double Edged Sword
It shocked me to read that entering into Canaan is NOT entering into His rest.
For years, numerous bible teachings have been published saying the Promised Land (Canaan) is the rest
(B) CANAAN NOT THE REST
Certainly, Moses did not bring old Israelites into the Canaan land. But Joshua did lead His people into the Canaan (Promised Land), but scripture is saying if Joshua had succeeded in giving old Israelites rest, they wouldn’t be another “TODAY” of His rest.
The AMPC gives an even direct answer that the Canaan (Promised Land) is NOT the place of Rest. The reference is below,
| Hebrews 4:8 NLT | Hebrews 4:8-9 AMPC |
| 8 Now if Joshua had succeeded in giving them this rest, God would not have spoken about another day of rest still to come. | 8 [This mention of a rest was not a reference to their entering into Canaan.] For if Joshua had given them rest, He [God] would not speak afterward about another day. |
| 9 So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. | 9 So then, there is still awaiting a full and complete Sabbath-rest reserved for the [true] people of God; |
I have due respect for modern teaching that advocates “Rest” as Canaan (the Promised Land). But scripturally, Canaan is NOT the REST that Joshua brought them into.
Should Canaan be the Promised Land, how can gentle Christians enter into the REST today?
Does that mean believers have to fly to Canaan every 7th day?
Likewise, if Rest is the “Spiritual Promised Land” in heaven, how can Christians enter into heaven now? I do hear preachers suggesting praying in Tongues will lift them into heaven; the promised land now. But that is not biblical.
Of course, if take a straight quotation from Psalm 95:11 from the AMPC bible, the REST was the Promised Land
| Psalm 95:11 AMPC | Hebrews 4:8 AMPC |
| 11 Wherefore I swore in My wrath that they would not enter My rest [the land of promise]. | 8 [This mention of a rest was not a reference to their entering into Canaan.] For if Joshua had given them rest, He [God] would not speak afterward about another day. |
Thank God, Hebrews 4:8 EASY bible gives an even more detailed explanation. Yes, Joshua did lead His people into Canaan physically. And, physical Canaan was the Promised Land then.
| Hebrews 4:8 EASY |
| 8 This shows that Joshua did not bring God’s people to the place where they could rest. Later, God had to speak again about another day of rest. |
| 9 So we see this: God still has a place ready for his people, where they can rest. They will rest AS GOD RESTED on the seventh day. |
(C) MAKE AN EFFECT TO ENTER INTO REST
Besides, verse 9 says God is awaiting true Christians to enter His rest, “AS HE IS RESTED”.
Hence, believers can not claim that Jesus has already entered into the Rest for His people. Instead, Christians have to make an effort to enter into His Sabbath Rest on their own.
The true meaning of Rest is not about resting from employment laboring. It is about spiritual resting from associating with deeds of spiritual darkness of rebellion, disobeying and disbelieving the Almighty. This was how God rested in Genesis chapters 1 and 2.
Christians have to Enter the Sabbath Rest, and keep it holy. By so doing, they shall receive His blessings. Because God blessed the 7th day, the day of the Sabbath.
Furthermore, the opening verses in Hebrews 4 states:-
| Hebrews 4:1 NTL |
| 1 God’s promise of entering his rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it |
| 2 For this good news—that God has prepared this rest—has been announced to us just AS IT WAS TO THEM. But it did them no good because they didn’t share the faith of those who listened to God |
As I mentioned in “REST (PSALM 95/ HEBREWS 3)”, God never changes His theme, way of doing, and doctrine. Throughout the Old and New Testaments, God has been giving and sending the same messages.
The “Good News (Gospel)” of entering into His Rest was firstly offered to Old Covenant people. It is open to New Covenant believers now.
If Jesus has already entered on behalf of the Christians, the scripture needs not exhorting New Covenant Christians to abide too.
Again, I am not making a case on modern teaching that says “In Him, we find complete rest from the labors of our self-effort”. Should Jesus have already entered the Rest for all the believers, the scripture needs not in exhort New Covenant Christians to abide too (Hebrews 4:1).
With the exhorting believers to enter into His rest, it means “Sabbath Rest” does not do away as claimed by some Christians in this era.
The anonymous author of the Book of Hebrews reminds Christians that as the Old Covenant people were unable to enter into rest because of “Faith/ Disobedience”, so shall it be for them (New Covenant Believers).
| Hebrews 4:6 | Hebrews 4:11 |
| 6 So God’s rest is there for people to enter, but those who first heard this good news failed to enter because they DISOBEYED God. | 11 So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we DISOBEY God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall. |
(D) CLOSING
In closing, the calling of “Entering His Sabbath Rest” is still valid in the current Church age. As the same Good News (Gospel) declared in the Old Covenant, is the same calling in the New Testament.
Moreover, “Entering into His Sabbath Rest” is ceasing from sinful, dark living. It is not entering Canaan (the promised land). If Joshua successfully brought His people to Rest, there wouldn’t be another “TODAY”, calling Christians to enter His rest. Amenbible
SERIES OF STUDIES ON SABBATH REST:-
Part 1:- Rest (Psalm 95/ Hebrews 3)
Part 2:- Rest And Creation
Part 3:- Rest And Canaan
Part 4:- Rest And Double Edged Sword
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