“Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not high minded, but fear”. – Romans 11:20
Comment: The natural Jews were the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob or Israel. God founded them in Egypt in the days of Joseph, the son of Israel. They dwell in the land of Goshen in Egypt under God’s protection despite the wickedness of Pharaoh that did not know Joseph. When they cried to God, He heard them and sent Moses and Aaron to deliver them from the hands of the wicked Pharaoh whom He destroyed in the Red Sea with his host. – Genesis 15 – Exodus 15.
These acts of God were enough to make the Israelites who left Egypt with wealth to trust God, but they rebelled and disobeyed. As a result, they were overthrown in the wilderness and never reached Canaan.
The apostle Paul warned, that we should not harden our hearts if we hear the voice of God today. He noted that the Israelites who sinned and disbelieved were the ones God was grieved with for 40 years. Their bodies fell in the wilderness, and God swore they would not enter His rest because of their unbelief. Hebrews 3:15-19.
So, “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world….Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, …To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. For if Jesus(Joshua) had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.” – Hebrews 4:1-9.
Rest for God’s people is obtained in God’s Kingdom fully established but to be in it as St. Peter put it, we must show all diligence, and good qualities and concluded, “……Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. -2 Peter 1:5-11
Prayer: Help us our Father in heaven to beware of unbelief in You and Your way of holiness so that we may do things that will make us enter into Your rest in God’s Kingdom fully established through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.