Paul claimed that the good news was preached to the Jews of the first century AD, just as it was preached to the ancient Jews under Moses (Hebrews 4:2). Therefore, the Jews of the first century were just as responsible for entering God’s rest as ancient Israel had been. Moses told ancient Israel that the Lord offered them rest (Deuteronomy 12:9-11; 25:19), and he commanded his people to “go up and posses it,” that is, the land which was a type of the rest of God (Deuteronomy 1:20-21; Judges 18:9-10).
Jesus told the Jews of the first century to come to him, all who were weary and heavily burdened, and he would give them rest (Matthew 11:28), even in the labor they would do in Jesus’ name, believers would find “rest for their souls” (Matthew 11:29). Moreover, Paul invited all who were laden down with trouble to rest with other believers and trust the Lord for their deliverance (2Thessalonians 1:7-8). Of course, we know that in the case of ancient Israel, Moses words fell on deaf ears, and they would not enter the rest that the Lord offered them.
The reason the word of God had no effect upon ancient Israel was, because they simply would not trust the Lord to do as he said he would do. Ancient Israel constantly provoked the Lord by demanding signs that he would do as he claimed he would do from the beginning. Likewise, in the New Covenant all the miracles Jesus did weren’t enough for the scribes and Pharisees (John 12:37). They continually provoked him, demanding signs of their own choosing to prove himself to them (cf. Matthew 12:38-39; 16:1-4; Mark 8:11-13; John 2:18; 6:30).
Paul explains that God made a promise to ancient Israel that he would give them rest once they entered and took the Promised Land (Hebrews 4:3). Those who believed God understood they already had victory over their enemies. In other words, if the Lord had given them the land, Israel couldn’t be defeated (Numbers 14:7-9; Joshua 2:24). The problem was Israel, as a whole, didn’t believe God Numbers 14:1-4), and, because they didn’t trust him, he refused to bring them into the Promised Land and give them victory over their enemies who dwelt there (Numbers 14:27-29, 32-34).
Nevertheless, God made a promise to have his people enter into his rest (Deuteronomy 12:9-11; 25:19), and his promise was not made in vain. He promised to bring those who did believe him into the land (Numbers 14:30-32). Therefore, the promise of rest can be obtained only by those who believe and trust God. In other words, trusting God is that rest.
As this pertains believers in the first century AD, to trust Jesus is to enter into his rest (cf. Matthew 11:28-29). This rest was not a rest from trouble from others. Rather, it was a rest that expressed one’s peace with God. That is, the rest of God is man’s ability to come into the Lord’s presence without shame or judgment. To believe Jesus is to rest in the presence of God. Nevertheless, all others who have not placed their faith in Jesus remain in rebellion and at war with the Lord since the days of their father, Adam.
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