The Land Of Promise (Hebrews 3)

Did a generation that kept a weekly rest day, NOT find rest in the land of promise? Was it because of their lack of faith, evidenced by their disobedience? Let’s find out in Hebrews 3.

Upon whom should we fix our thoughts? Was Jesus also an apostle, one sent, in His case sent from heaven?

Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. (Hebrews 3:1 NIV)

Was Jesus faithful to God? Was Moses faithful?

[Jesus] who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house. (Hebrews 3:2 NKJV)

Does Jesus deserve more glory than Moses? Was Jesus, as God the Son, the builder of everything?

But Jesus deserves far more glory than Moses, just as a person who builds a house deserves more praise than the house itself. For every house has a builder, but the one who built everything is God. (Hebrews 3:3-4 NLT)

How are we Christ’s house, by membership in an exclusive church led by men, or holding fast to our confidence and hope?

Moses indeed was faithful in all his house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were afterward to be spoken, but Christ is faithful as a Son over his house. We are his house, if we hold fast our confidence and the glorying of our hope firm to the end. (Hebrews 3:5-6 WEB)

Under Moses, these recently freed slaves entered into rest each Sabbath day, so was there another rest that they were denied? Were they denied a land of rest because of their rebellion?

So, as the Holy Spirit says, Today, if you hear his voice, don’t have stubborn hearts as they did in the rebellion, on the day when they tested me in the desert. That is where your ancestors challenged and tested me, though they had seen my work for forty years. So I was angry with them. I said, “Their hearts always go off course, and they don’t know my ways.” Because of my anger I swore: “They will never enter my rest!” (Hebrews 3:7-11 CEB Psalm 95:7-11)

Could we also easily fall into rebellion? Should we encourage one another daily? Will we hold tightly to our faith until the end?

My friends, watch out! Don't let evil thoughts or doubts make any of you turn from the living God. You must encourage one another each day. And you must keep on while there is still a time that can be called “today.” If you don't, then sin may fool some of you and make you stubborn. We were sure about Christ when we first became his people. So let's hold tightly to our faith until the end. (Hebrews 3:12-14 CEV)

What warning from the Psalms does the writer include? Is it a warning for today?

As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” (Hebrews 3:15 ESV Psalm 95:7-8)

Is not being allowed to enter a rest in the land of promise linked to their rebellion against what they heard?

For who heard and rebelled? Wasn’t it really all who came out of Egypt under Moses? And who was He provoked with for 40 years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? (Hebrews 3:16-17 HCSB)

Why did a Sabbath keeping people not enter the rest of the promised land? Are disobedience and unbelief connected?

And to whom did he swear that they would never enter his rest? It was to those who disobeyed him, was it not? So we see that they were unable to enter because of their unbelief. (Hebrews 3:18-19 ISV)

Did a generation that kept a weekly rest day, NOT find rest in the land of promise? Was it because of their lack of faith, evidenced by their disobedience? You decide!