Hebrews 3: 7-19. Godamprsquos rest.
God told the Israelites that because of their hard hearts and their rebellion against his sovereignty they would never enter his rest. Nothing new there. Adam and Eve were expelled from Eden because they rebelled against one simple command, Donamprsquot eat the fruit from that tree. Preceding them was Satanamprsquos hard heart and rebellion against Godamprsquos sovereignty because he strove to be God and not a loving worshipper who would naturally want to obey his Lord. And me? Well, Iamprsquom very tired and I want some rest, but is it really Godamprsquos rest I seek or just peaceful sleep at the end of easier days? What is Godamprsquos rest anyway?
In the story of Moses, Godamprsquos rest is worshipping God in the promised land flowing with milk and honey. All the Israelites had to do to get there was to trust in God, go through the desert, defeat the people who already occupied the promised land of Canaan, and take over, all with Godamprsquos guidance and help. The original group who left Egypt with Moses didnamprsquot make it, nor did Moses and Aaron, only Caleb and Joshua did after forty years because they never rebelled and never hardened their hearts towards God.
Those Israelites were lucky because they had their path laid out for them even though it was through a desert. All they had to do was obey, just like Adam and Eve, and theyamprsquod make it, but they didnamprsquot. Thatamprsquos my story too.
Godamprsquos path for me was to be an educator, but I allowed my passions, lusts, and pride to distract me from that simple path until God closed all other doors and I became a teacher and then a principal. Along the way I continually rebelled like the Israelites in the desert, wanting the fleshpots of Egypt instead of the word of God and a spiritual community. But God in his mercy kept trying to give me what I needed instead of what I wanted, and in the end I arrived at Wooridle Church.
Right now my wife is sick and she who cared for me all these years worrying about my health and energy and stamina is the one who needs care. This is Godamprsquos gift to me. Because I paid no attention to Godamprsquos call to care for her in the way of a loving, supportive, guiding husband, he seems to be allowing her declining health so that I will pay attention at last. My sin, her suffering.
I am trusting the Lord that in learning to care for my wife in ways I never did before I will begin to find his rest. The message of the Bible is that in sacrificing yourself you find yourself and Godamprsquos rest. ampldquoTake my yoke upon you and learn from me,amprdquo said Jesus, ampldquofor I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your soulsamprdquo (Matt 11:29). I donamprsquot know how much time I have left in this life, but I pray it will be enough to learn what I have avoided, which is to love, and to find Godamprsquos rest.
Application: Make my wifeamprsquos lunch so that she will eat something at noon, and remind her to make the appointment with the doctor.
Lord, let me not be caught in my world of work anymore, let me not be forgetful of who and what is important, first you and my worship, and then those you have given to me to care for.
