Hebrews 3:7-11 “Entering Rest”

Hebrews 3:7-11 NIV

Suggested Praise Songs:

• Promises – Maverick City Music
• Another In The Fire by Hillsong UNITED & TAYA
• I Will Wait For You (Psalm 130) – Shane & Shane
• Rock of Ages – BridgeImpact Praise (Korean Praise w/ ENG SUB)
  • Click [CC] and select ‘English’ Subtitles/CC in Setting [Gear Wheel]

Resources for Family Worship (with Children):

• Eureka! Remember Verse | Psalm 95:3-4 | Preschool/Kindergarten
• God Is On the Move (Fast) – Song for Kids
• Your Power Will Pull Us Through | Rocky Railway VBS | Group Publishing (Fast) – Song for Kids
• Nothing Can Keep Me From You | Blast Off VBS | Group Publishing (Slow)– Song for Kids
• Discussion Questions for Children & Youth located in the section after Explanation, Meditation, and Prayer (at the end of this email/blog).

Explanation:

Here, the author quotes a portion of Psalm 95. He begins by saying, “Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says” (v. 7), but a more accurate translation would be “is saying.” Since this is a present tense verb, it can also be translated as “continually says.” The author reveals his belief that “All Scripture is God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16). The Holy Spirit speaks to those reading now through the words written in the past. This is why we read and meditate on the Word daily.

Psalm 95 can be divided into two main parts: verses 1-7 are an exhortation to praise God, our Creator and Savior, while verses 8-11 contain a warning from God. Here, God reminds His people that their ancestors in the wilderness witnessed many miracles yet still hardened their hearts and rebelled. As a result, God urges His people to be fully devoted to praise and worship, ensuring their hearts do not become hardened. Those ancestors who rebelled against God did not enter His “rest” (the land of Canaan).

The author of Hebrews quotes the latter part of Psalm 95, which is the warning given by God. This warning is understood as the voice of the Holy Spirit speaking to the readers of Hebrews “today.” Among the readers of Hebrews, there were some whose hearts had become hardened like their ancestors (v. 8). Their ancestors had witnessed God’s works for forty years and therefore knew well who He was (v. 9). Despite this, they “always went astray in their hearts” (v. 10) and rebelled against God. As a result, God swore, “They shall never enter my rest” (v. 11).

Through this quotation, the author warns that if the readers continue to harden their hearts, they too will fail to enter “my rest” — that is, God’s salvation.

Meditation:

When reading about Israel’s wilderness journey from Exodus to Deuteronomy, it may seem as though God’s miracles and wonders happened daily. However, this impression arises because only the significant events that occurred over forty years are selectively recorded. In reality, there were longer periods when it seemed as though God was absent or when they felt abandoned by Him.

This reveals that our relationship with God is not so different from theirs. They rejoiced and were filled with awe when they witnessed clear signs of God’s presence and care. But when those signs were not evident, they doubted, complained, and distrusted Him. As a result, the first generation that came out of Egypt perished in the wilderness, and only Joshua and Caleb were allowed to enter the land of Canaan.

The journey of faith is much like walking through the wilderness. We entered this journey upon hearing about what God has done through Jesus Christ, and as we continue on this path, we come to experience that God is indeed alive personally. However, this journey is filled with challenges that can shake our faith. There are times of spiritual drought when God’s presence feels distant. Difficulties such as trials, setbacks, doubt, suffering, or even persecution can deeply unsettle our beliefs. During such times, we must remember how God has been with us in the past and endure. Without this remembrance, we, too, risk perishing like the Israelites who failed to enter God’s rest.

To hold firmly to our faith today, we must focus more deeply on Jesus Christ each and every day—”today”—and recall the grace God has shown us throughout our lives. This is the only way to keep our hearts from becoming dull or hardened.

Prayer:

Lord, we thank you for preserving our faith until today. It was not by our strength that we held on but by your grace that you upheld us. Please continue to guide us in our steps today so we may complete this faith journey and enter into your rest. Help us continually hear the Holy Spirit’s voice, so that our hearts may neither grow dull nor become hardened. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Discussion Questions for Children & Youth:

Key Point: Even when we can’t see or feel God, He still guides and cares for us. We can trust Him by remembering how He has helped us before.

• For Preschool-Lower Elementary
  • Can you think of a time when you felt scared or alone? Who helped you feel better?
  • What ways does God show He loves and takes care of us daily?
• For Upper Elementary-Middle School
  • Why do you think trusting God is hard when things aren’t going well?
  • What’s one way you can remind yourself of God’s love when you feel distant from Him?
• For High School
  • When have you faced a challenging situation where you doubted God’s presence? How did you get through it?
  • How can remembering God’s past faithfulness help you stay strong in your faith today?

“Memory Stones/“Post-It” Note” Activity for All:

• Decorate small stones with words or symbols or Write/Draw on “Post-It ” Notes that remind them of times when God helped them.
• Encourage them to place these stones/“Post-It” Notes in a visible spot at home/work as a reminder to trust God, even in hard times.