Return To Rest by Andrea Sloma

In the book of Exodus, you can read the account of the Israelites living as slaves in Egypt under the reign of Pharaoh, their miraculous escape to freedom through the leadership of Moses, and their journey to the Promised Land. If you are familiar with this saga, you no doubt—like most readers—find yourself frustrated with the Israelites’ constant disobedience and lack of faith on their pilgrimage to Canaan, a journey that, as a consequence of their own choices, ends up taking forty years.

I, too, have read this account and have wondered how the Israelites could be so quick to forget all that God had done for them. As I recall the list of miracles they witnessed—the ten plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, manna from Heaven—it feels easy and even justified to judge their disobedience. But as I’ve grown in my faith, I’ve come to learn that maturity as a Christian includes recognizing that I, too, am an “Israelite.” I am prone to quickly forget all that God has done for me. I forget His promises. I forget His love.

The author of the book of Hebrews recounts the Israelites wandering in the wilderness and urges us not to make the same mistake. As I read Hebrews chapter 4, three things stand out to me:

• God’s promise of rest for the Israelites was the Promised Land; for us today, rest is found in Him, and it is available now.

• Only those who believe can enter His rest (Hebrews 4:3).

• My disobedience is what will prevent me from experiencing God’s rest (Hebrews 4:6).

“So God’s rest is there for people to enter, but those who first heard this good news (the Israelites) failed to enter because they disobeyed God. So God set another time for entering his rest, and that time is today. God announced this through David much later in the words already quoted:

‘Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts.’”  

Hebrews 4:6–7, NLT

God is always ready, willing, and able to fulfill His promises of freedom and rest. Only one thing stops Him—our unbelief or lack of faith. God desires for us to receive His wonderful blessings and freedom from the things that bind us, but these can only be received by faith. Just as the Jews of Moses’ day didn’t believe what God told them, we too sometimes allow the difficulties of the present moment to cause us to doubt God’s promises.

Life is hard and painful at times. When life feels the heaviest, we must intentionally fix our minds on God’s promises. Faith in Christ—not in our own efforts—is the only way to true rest.

God’s offer of rest can look like:

• Peace with God, ourselves, and others

• Healthy relationships

• The ability to cope in healthy ways

• Faith and perseverance

Let’s take an honest assessment of where we might be preventing our own rest. Here are some questions to ponder and pray over:

• In what area of my life am I being disobedient to God?

• In what area of my life am I not trusting God’s promises?

• Where have I seen God’s love and goodness—places I can lean on as reminders of His faithfulness? If you struggle with this one, ask God to help you remember.

I want a faith that trusts God on the best of days and the hardest of days. I don’t want a faith that is quick to forget all the times God has “parted the sea” for me. So when I’m tempted to disobey because of a lack of faith, I remind myself of the words of David:

“Return to your rest, my soul,

for the LORD has been good to you.”  

Psalm 116:7, NIV