God told faithful Moses to expect His presence. In context, God’s people faced great challenges in the Exodus. “The LORD replied, ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest’” ( Exodus 33:14). Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Gordon Images The Scriptures are clear that Jesus is the only way to enter into Sabbath rest, because He is the only One who satisfied the requirements of God’s holiness, His holy law, and the need for atonement for sin. The writer of Hebrews urges readers to “enter” this Sabbath rest provided by Jesus - to turn to Him through repentance and faith. So, Sabbath rest was designed to relieve believers from their physical labors, but also, Jesus came to relieve people from any attempts to gain salvation by works. God “made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” ( 2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus paid it all! Believers could finally rest in God and the provision of His Son for sin. In the sacrifice of Christ, there was a cessation from the Jewish “labor” of atonement. The Jews longed for the coming of their Messiah, who would provide a permanent rest from the burden of sin. They were temporary remedies for sin - a shadow of the ultimate sacrifice in Jesus ( Hebrews 10:1, 12). Animal sacrifices and sin offerings were instituted so the people could come to God for forgiveness and ongoing fellowship. On it you shall not do any work.” Keeping the Sabbath holy meant being sure it was set apart from the rest of the week for rest.Īlso, under Jewish law, the Jews were constantly trying to make themselves acceptable to God, but they couldn’t keep all the regulations. In Exodus 20:8-10, the Israelites were told to “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. The Hebrew word for this is shabbat -a day made holy by God. He didn’t need to rest - He simply ceased from His labors - but He set aside the seventh day as a day of rest for humans. The first mention of the Sabbath was in Genesis 2:2-3, where, after God created the world, He rested. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest.” 4:9-11a says, “So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. This Scripture is somewhat related to the first. “So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God” ( Hebrews 4:9). Resting in His salvation, we are free to worship Him. While keeping the Lord’s commands after salvation is in some ways harder because it involves the heart - not simply outward compliance - what brings the Christ-follower to a place of true spiritual rest is the truth that Jesus has already carried the weighty penalty for our sin ( 2 Corinthians 5:21 Ephesians 1:7 1 Peter 1:18-19 2:24). Unlike the rules of the Pharisees, obedience to Christ is “ not burdensome.” It involves repentance and faith, a surrendered life, and commitment to follow the Lord. In contrast to legalism’s requirements, the Lord’s yoke is “light” and easy to carry. God’s provision in Jesus was to relieve that heavy burden. No amount of self-righteous works can ever bring a sinner into a right relationship with a holy God. This yoke of legalistic law-keeping was an impossible, oppressive burden that results in self-righteousness and frustration. The “burden” was the weighty system of good works for salvation that the Pharisees placed on Jews’ backs ( Matthew 23:4). People seek rest for their soul, and Jesus invites the weary and burdened to come to Him. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. This verse is part of a larger passage, Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” ( Matthew 11:28).
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