We Who Believe Enter Into Rest

“Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, that no one fall by the same sort of disobedience.” Hebrews 4:11. “So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.” Hebrews 3:19. It is impossible to believe in God and at the same time understand His leading. “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of thins not seen. For by it the men of old received divine approval.” Hebrews 11:1-2.

We read about Abraham and his faith. Years passed, and to the natural mind it appeared increasingly impossible that the promise in which he had believed could be fulfilled. He considered his own body, which was as good as dead, and Sarah’s barren womb, yet he grew strong in faith because he gave God the glory. Romans 4:19-21.

All unrest comes from a person’s reasoning, because he does not believe God’s Word. We learn this from the example of Israel’s journey through the wilderness to the Promised Land. The Israelites were constantly murmuring; but we read that what they were murmuring about were God’s wonders! When they received help, they rejoiced. In spite of all the miracles, they did not learn to believe so that God could have His way with them. That is why they never entered into rest, but came no further than sojourning in the wilderness and the forgiveness of sins.

In Hebrews 4:12-13, we read what the Word must do in order to led us into rest. First, it must pierce to the division of soul and spirit. The soul—which, because of its five senses, thinks it knows everything—is the cause of much unrest; the example of Israel by the Read Sea is a clear illustration of this. We must be so humble that the Word is allowed to separate and remove all our own thoughts about a matter, so that in our spirit we can rest in God. Likewise, we must allow the Word to pierce to the division of joints and marrow, so that we come to realize that we shall not carry out God’s will in our own strength, but that He shall instruct us and empower us to do His will. Then we have to do with Him alone, before whom everything is open and laid bare.

This is where we can learn from Jesus. He did not grow restless and revile in return. He did not have such high thoughts abut Himself that He believed He could judge righteously. He was not yet perfected. That is why He entrusted everything to the Father. 1 Peter 2:21-23.

We read further in chapter 4 that if, in our sufferings, we know how to partake of Christ’s sufferings, then our glory will be great at His appearing. Then there will be much rejoicing. Further, Peter mentions different kinds of suffering, and he counsels us to entrust our souls to a faithful Creator and continue to do good. That is the only way we can enter God’s rest. However, we must humble ourselves and become meek, the very thing Jesus invites us to learn of Him. Matthew 11:28-30.

The intention is that we shall become Jesus’ brothers. God knows what it takes for us to be conformed to His image. Romans 8:28-29. We do not know what we should pray for. That is why we should not form any opinions about God’s leading in our lives; rather, we should rest in Him who has given us our heavenly calling. Romans 8:26; Hebrews 3:1.

Ecclesiastes 3:16-17 shows us how restless people are. It hasn’t occurred to these people that trials are just what they need; consequently they become restless. In all these trials we are to rest in God and work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is working. The children of Israel were rebellious, and God ceased working to lead them into the Promised Land. After Moses had prayed for them, God forgave them their sin, but He also drove them back into the wilderness, where they died. Numbers 14:20-23. “Now these things happened to them as a warning, but they were written down for our instruction, upon whom the end of the ages has come.” 1 Corinthians 10:11.