Daily Devotions
Hebrews
For if Joshua had given them rest...
Text: Hebrews 4:8
PRESENTING THE GOSPEL
The writer of Hebrews was certainly skilled in the handling of the Scriptures. It would not be incorrect to surmise that he must have had significant experience in presenting the Gospel to people. In this segment of the Book of Hebrews the author worked hard at presenting the Gospel in as many ways as possible, in the hope that there would be good and favourable response.
RESISTING THE GOSPEL
In the experience of all who preach the Gospel, there would be instances where they will come across those who are resistant to the Gospel. Among those who were particularly resistant to the preaching of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ would be the hardened Jews.
1. Jesus encountered them
The Gospel writers identified some of the groups who resisted Jesus and His Gospel:-
a) The Pharisees
b) The Sadducees
c) The scribes
2. The apostle Paul encountered them too
a) They opposed him wherever he went.
b) The opposition was led by the Sanhedrin Council itself (Cf. Acts 23-24).
AN UNIDENTIFIED GROUP
The author of Hebrews seems to have gone into extraordinary length to discuss the subject of God’s “rest”. This group of people who seemed particularly hard to win over would most likely be Jews who knew the Scriptures. Once again, we see another attempt to discuss the subject of the word “rest”.
“For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward
have spoken of another day.”
Hebrews 4:8
1. There were some who apparently limited the word “rest” only to geographical Canaan.
2. This historical approach limits the idea of “rest” to Joshua leading the children of Israel into the Promised Land.
The author of Hebrews begs to differ on very strong grounds!