By David Parsons, ICEJ Senior Vice President & Spokesman

Throughout the pages of the Bible, we find a golden thread of God’s salvation plan for humanity woven into the enduring covenants He made with Israel – whether with Abraham, Moses, David or the new covenant sealed by Jesus on the Cross. This includes His sworn covenant promise that Israel will one day enter its rest in the Land promised to Abraham as an “everlasting possession”. (Genesis 17:8) This profound concept, which courses throughout Scripture, offers not just hope for the Jewish people, but illuminates God’s faithfulness to all His saints.

The journey begins in the Wilderness, where God makes a pivotal declaration to Moses: “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest” (Exodus 33:14). This promise, born from a moment of intercession by Moses, sets the stage for a recurring theme throughout Israel’s history – the assurance of eventual peace and security in the Promised Land.

But what exactly is this “rest” that God promises? It’s far more than mere physical repose or ceasing from labour. This divine rest encompasses Israel’s freedom from its enemies, and from striving for righteousness before God through its own works.

As we trace this promise through Scripture, we encounter it again in Deuteronomy. Moses reminds the people that their conquest of Canaan is not just about claiming territory – it is about entering into God’s rest. “When the Lord your God gives you rest from all the enemies around you in the land He is giving you to possess as an inheritance…” (Deuteronomy 25:19). This rest is intrinsically linked to Israel’s covenant relationship with God and their obedience to His commands.

However, the fulfillment of this promise has proven to be a complex journey. Even after Joshua led the Israelites into Canaan, and they enjoyed periods of relative peace, the true, lasting rest which God originally intended has remained elusive. The book of Hebrews sheds light on this, explaining that if Joshua had truly given them rest, then God would not have spoken later through the Psalmist about another day of rest (Hebrews 4:1, 8-9).

This unfulfilled aspect of the promise points to a greater rest that transcends the physical and temporal. It is a rest that finds its ultimate expression in the atoning work of Yeshua, and it still has a future fulfillment for Israel as a nation.

The writer of Hebrews draws our attention to Psalm 95, where God, in His anger, declares to the unbelieving generation: “They shall not enter my rest.” This stern pronouncement serves as both a warning and an invitation that we should strive to enter God’s rest by faith.

For Christians, this rest has a present reality in Christ. “We who have believed enter that rest,” Hebrews 4:3 assures us. Through faith in Jesus, we cease from our own works of righteousness and rest in His finished work on the Cross. Yet, intriguingly, the author of Hebrews also declares, “There remains, therefore, a rest for the people of God.” (Hebrews 4:9)

This points us to a future day when Israel will fully embrace their Messiah and experience the complete fulfillment of God’s covenant promises to them.

The promise of rest for Israel is not just a historical curiosity or a theological abstraction. It is a visible testament to God’s unwavering faithfulness. Despite centuries of dispersion, persecution, and hardship, the Jewish people have returned to their ancestral homeland. Yet, even now, true rest eludes them as conflicts and tensions persist.

This ongoing struggle serves as a powerful reminder that God’s ultimate rest for Israel is yet to come. It will be a time when, as the prophet Amos declared, God will “plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them” (Amos 9:15). This promise points to the Messianic age, a time of universal peace and the righteous reign of the Messiah.

For those who love and support Israel, this promise of rest offers both encouragement and a call to action. It reminds us that God’s purposes for Israel are still unfolding, and that our support aligns with His divine plan. It challenges us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and to stand with the Jewish people in their ongoing journey.

Moreover, the promise of rest for Israel holds profound implications for all believers. It reassures us of God’s faithfulness to His word. If God will fulfill His ancient promises to Israel, how much more can we trust Him to keep His promises to us in Christ?

As we reflect on this enduring promise, we are invited to examine our own hearts. Are we striving in our own strength, or have we truly entered into the rest that Christ offers? Are we living in the peace and assurance of His finished work, or are we still attempting to earn righteousness through our own efforts?

The promise of rest also challenges our worldview. In a world often marked by conflict and unrest, particularly in the Middle East, it calls us to look beyond current events to God’s ultimate purposes. It reminds us that true and lasting peace will come not through human efforts alone, but through the fulfillment of God’s promises.

As we await the full realisation of this divine rest, we are called to be agents of peace and reconciliation in our own spheres of influence.

In conclusion, the promise of rest for Israel stands as a beacon of hope in a troubled world. It testifies to God’s faithfulness, points to the coming Messianic age, and offers a profound lesson in trusting God’s promises. As we embrace this truth, may we find our own rest in Christ, support God’s ongoing work among the Jewish people, and look forward with anticipation to the day when God’s rest will encompass all of Creation.

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Main photo: Painting by Abraham Jozsef Molnar; Hungarian National Gallery.