CREATION
Verses 3-5 - Here, we see God rested after creation – remember, in Genesis, he creates for 6 days, and, after completed all of creation, he RESTED.  The Garden was God’s invitation into REST.  He created everything we needed to PERFECTION, and we were invited to REST WITH HIM.

MOSES/WILDERNESS
Verse 6 – Here, the author is referring to the wilderness, after God had rescued his people from Egypt, given them PROTECTION by destroying their enemies, and PROVISION by the LAW, MANNA, CLOUD BY DAY and FIRE BY NIGHT – Yet, over 40 years, they were so disobedient that he let them wander for 40 years, and an entire generation including Moses died before they crossed over the Jordan into their land of PROMISE, into God’s REST.

DAVID/PROSPERITY
Verse 7 – The author references again Psalm 95: “TODAY, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts” – These are the words of David, Israel’s greatest king, written at a time when they were living in prosperity and power as a nation – and, in the midst of their greatest time as a nation, God is inviting them not to glory in their greatness, but to live with soft, pliable hearts, and find REST in Him.

JOSHUA/CANAAN
V8 – The author seemingly got these out of order – But Joshua who followed Moses as the leader of the Israelites, and got to lead them across the Jordan – However, the REST of GOD is not a geographical location, or the story would’ve ended there- remember, Joshua sent spies to check out the land before they crossed over, and the spies came back and said, “there are giants” – and they had no weaponry, so God gave them the plan: Put together a marching band, and march around the city of Jericho, and I will take care of the rest – Can you imagine waiting for your promise from God, and when the day comes, he gives a counter-intuitive plan enter into HIS REST? God’s REST is not a destination, but a way of life – It is dependence on HIM for every next step, and the confidence that HIS WAY IS BETTER.

SABBATH/TODAY
V9-10 – This is a beautiful picture of SALVATION – God created and then RESTED from his work – in the same way, when you say yes to Jesus, you are entering the REST of GOD, resting from your works, and relying on WHAT HE HAS ALREADY DONE – at the end of the day, God’s SABBATH is your SALVATION – We saw in chapter one that Jesus, did the heavy lifting at the cross and Hebrews 1:13 says HE SAT DOWN – He RESTED because HIS MISSION WAS ACCOMPLISHED, and now YOU can enter HIS REST.

CLOSING POINTS

You were made to experience God’s REST. God created everything in perfection and placed man at the center to enjoy – the Garden in Genesis 2 is the same as the Garden in Revelation 22 – the story of the Bible is God’s pursuit of MAN, for you to be RESTORED to a place of REST and PEACE.

God’s REST is not a destination, but a way of life. God’s rescue from Egypt or the entry into Canaan didn’t produce REST, because it wasn’t the point. God’s invitation is DEPENDENCE – Rest and peace comes in daily dependence that HIS WAY IS BETTER.

PROSPERITY and POWER don’t bring PEACE. Pretty clear that more stuff or getting to the top of the food chain is not what produces the REST of GOD – He brings peace and rest outside of the construct of what the world offers as a solution for the SOUL.