Gods Sabbath

L ABORING TO E NTER G OD ’ S R EST

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“The L ORD replied, ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’” Exodus 33:14. God’s desire was to give them spiritual rest as well as the phys ical rest necessary for their lifework. But this promise was obvious ly not fulfilled to the first generation who died in the wilderness. Picture that saddened host trudging across hot, burning plains through clouds of fine choking dust. See them setting up camp each night, only to tear it all down again the next morning and tramp on through another wearisome day. There was no rest in that. They were going nowhere, accomplishing nothing; just filling in time un til they died. What a tragic contrast to what they could have been doing—dwelling on verdant farmlands rich with maturing har vests, in comfortable homes, settled and serene. That would have been physical rest, and God intended that they should have that. The following generation achieved physical rest to some degree. After Joshua brought them into the promised land it is written: “The L ORD gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their forefathers. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the L ORD handed all their enemies over to them.” Joshua 21:44. “... a long time had passed and the L ORD had given Israel rest from all their enemies around them ...” Joshua 23:1. “For David had said, ‘Since the L ORD , the God of Israel, has granted rest to his people and has come to dwell in Jerusalem forever ...’” 1 Chronicles 23:25. But God wanted to give them much more than mere physical rest. He purposed that they should experience an inner peace that would distinguish them from every other religionist and make it evident that they were children of the all-wise Plan Maker. Such spiritual rest even this later generation did not ob tain. Paul states this quite definitely in Hebrews : “It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience. Therefore God again set a certain day, ... For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day.” Hebrews 4:6–8. “So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.” Hebrews 3:19. Sadly, God’s purpose for Israel was not fulfilled. They did not enter into the spiritual rest which He had provided for them.