Gods Sabbath

72

E NTERING INTO G OD ’ S S ABBATH R EST

God’s Rest Still Remains

Paul goes on to argue that this precious opportunity is still open to us. We can still enter into the experience of Sabbath rest where the Israelites of old failed. As we study chapters 3 and 4 of Hebrews , these thoughts become clear. Paul draws the follow ing conclusions: •God rested on the seventh day, the Sabbath ( Hebrews 4:4). •He invited Israel to enter into His Sabbath rest: • but those who departed from Egypt did not ( Hebrews 3:16, 17), •neither did the following generation who later entered Canaan under the leadership of Joshua ( Hebrews 4:8). •The reasons ancient Israel failed to enter into God’s rest included: · unbelief ( Hebrews 3:19; 4:2), · disobedience ( Hebrews 3:18; 4:6, 11), · hardness of heart through the deceitfulness of sin ( Hebrews 3:13). •The offer of entering into the Sabbath rest experience remains open to us ( Hebrews 4:6, 9). •The time of opportunity for accepting this offer is “Today” ( Hebrews 4:7). •We should be afraid lest we repeat Israel’s mistake ( Hebrews 4:1). •When we fulfil the conditions—faith and obedience—we can enter into this rest ( Hebrews 4:3, 11). •Sabbath rest consists in resting from our “own works” ( Hebrews 4:10). Because Paul uses ancient Israel to illustrate his conclusions about Sabbath rest principles, we will now consider some exam ples in their history, beginning with their experience at Kadesh Barnea.