Feb. 1st Wed. Night Bible Lesson Notes

On February 1st during our Wednesday night Bible study lesson we looked at the first chapter of the book of Joshua.  Israel was delivered from Egypt's demeaning bondage and was also on the back side of forty years wondering in the wilderness because of unbelief.  These were indeed historical events but not just historical.  God speaks through this example given to us in history as a picture of our own deliverance from the demeaning bondage of sin.  Paul also speaks to this in 1 Corinthians 10:6 and 10:11.  The central act of deliverance in this Old Testament account  was the promised rest of the land of Canaan; the central act of redemption in the New Testament is the work of Jesus on the cross.

The land of Canaan was the destination of God's people after they were set free from bondage.  But this was not  the ultimate destination for Israel.
  Biblically, this land that was over the Jordan river, the promised land, does not speak of Heaven.  Hebrews chapters 3 and 4 gives us a picture of the rest and victory that can be enjoyed by every believer.  F.B. Meyer describes a spiritual walk of promise and victory that is ours with Jesus on this side of Heaven.  In our Christian life today, we are brought out of our sin in order that we my be brought in to abundant life (John 10:10) - the wilderness is never God's permanent destination for us.

In the book of Hebrews 4:8-9, Paul answers the objection that Canaan was the final rest of God.  He answers this by saying if the rest of God did indeed mean Canaan, why would He speak of another future day of rest?  In verse 9, Paul uses the word "therefore" because God does "speaks of another day".  Remember, Paul is not speaking about the Old Testament story at this point, he is addressing the people of his day and saying, "There remaineth."  A still to be realized day by "some (who) must enter therein" (Heb 4:6).  And because some were rejecting his rest then Paul's mission was to spread the Gospel to the World.  God, when creating the universe, rested or had a Sabbath-rest, on the seventh day.  As there will be many Sabbath-rest days before time is over, there is one coming that is perfect and eternal.

The "rest" in Heb 4:8 is Greek, "catapausis;" Hebrew, "Noah"; rest from weariness, as the ark rested on Ararat after its tossings to and fro; and as Israel, under Joshua, enjoyed at last rest from war in Canaan. But the "rest" in this Heb 4:9 is the nobler and more exalted (Hebrew) "Sabbath" rest; literally, "cessation": rest from work when finished (Heb 4:4), as God rested (Re 16:17). The two ideas of "rest" combined, give the perfect view of the heavenly Sabbath. Rest from weariness, sorrow, and sin; and rest in the completion of God's new creation (Re 21:5).
— Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

The words of Jesus in John 10:10 was spoken by one who was "God with us."  He said, "... that they might have it more abundantly."  Not to merely preserve but to impart life and communicate its rich and unfailing enthusiasm.  He came to give life and to give it in abundance.

Israel wondered in a wilderness for forty years because of unbelief and because of that unbelief some missed the rest that was promised from their deliverance of bondage.  As Christians, let us not miss our rest here.  We know a more perfect day of rest is coming but don't miss the overflowing joy our Salvation brings to us now.  It may not be perfect yet, but it is a taste of the perfect rest that will come.

"If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."
-John 3:86

... and that is reason enough to rejoice!