Hebrews
Week 2

Day 4

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READ Hebrews 4:1-13 – “A Superior Rest Found in Christ”

QUESTIONS:

  1. To start out today, READ Psalm 95. In the space below, summarize the overall meaning of Psalm 95.

  2. In Psalm 95, who is the “rest” specifically offered to? Who is Psalm 95:11 talking about?

The author of Hebrews is doing something amazing here in chapter 4. He is taking the rest of the Promised Land, offered to Israel in the wildness, and is comparing/contrasting it to the rest that is offered to us today in Christ! Let’s see how the author compares and contrasts the 2 different rests offered from God.

COMPARE:

  1. Read verses 1-2.  What did Israel have to do to enter into the Promised Land and how do we have to enter into the rest of God?  What kept Israel from entering the Promised Land?  What will keep us from entering the rest of God?

  2. How did Israel become aware of a Promised Land waiting for them? (Hebrews 4:6, Exodus 3:8 & 4:28-31) How do we become aware of our rest in God? (Ephesians 6:19, Romans 10:17)

CONTRAST:

The rest that God offered Israel was offered at a specific time to a specific people.  If you or I wanted to enter into the Promised Land of God, we couldn’t because it’s already come and gone.  We can’t enter into the Promised Land today that was promised to Israel.  But God, being so gracious, never intended for that to be the ultimate rest.  It was only pointing to a greater rest that is much bigger than the Promised Land.  How do I know this? 2 ways:

  1. Read Hebrews 4:7-8. If the ultimate rest of God was the Promised Land, after Moses died and Joshua led the people of Israel into the Promised Land, why did Joshua (who led Israel into the Promised Land) and David (who was the greatest King of Israel in the Promised Land) speak of another, greater rest still to come? Why did David say, “TODAY, do not harden your heart…(you) shall not enter my rest.” What rest could they be looking forward to?

  2. God promised Israel the Promised Land. To enter it they had to believe and have faith. But to go into the land there was still something to do. The land was full of enemies and inhabitants. Before Israel entered the rest of the Promised Land, what would they have to do? (Hint: Here’s an example – Joshua 8:1-3)

The rest of God is different than the rest of the Promised Land.  We enter into it a different way.  

  1. READ Hebrews 4:4 & 9-10. What example did God set for us in Creation on the 7th day?

  2. Did God rest because he was tired or did he cease from working?

  3. How do we enter into the rest of God? (v.10)

  4. How is this different than the way Israel had to enter the Promised Land?

  5. How is the rest found in Jesus superior to the rest of the Promised Land?

CLOSING QUESTIONS:

Read Hebrews 4:12-13.

Entering into the rest of God has always been based on the Word of God.  God spoke to Abraham that he would be the father of a nation.  He believed and entered into that covenant.  God spoke to Moses and told him he would lead his people out of Egypt and into a Promised Land.  He believed.  God’s Word is powerful and able to judge your heart.  God will judge each of us by his word and that will determine if we enter into his Ultimate Rest.

  1. Explain v. 12 in your own words.

  2. Explain v. 13 in your own words.

God is the perfect judge!  We can’t fool him.  His word is accurate and has the ability to condemn us.  Israel wandered in the desert for 40 years due to unbelief.  That generation that did not believe died in the desert.  It was only the next generation that believed and was allowed to enter the Promised Land.

  • If your heart and actions were held up against the perfect Word of God…would you be allowed to enter into the Rest that is Jesus?  Explain why?