Rest from War
THE MAIN IDEA
Our spiritual warfare can only be won when we rest in Christ.
WE FIND REST IN THE WORD OF GOD
We will never get the rest we need unless we have complete confidence in the absolute truth of the word of God. When reading Joshua 10-11, we get the impression that Israel had completely conquered the entire region and annihilated all their enemies. We also get the impression from 11:23 that the fighting was completely over. But neither was the case. Sometimes we find apparent contradictions in the word of God that aren’t real contradictions. And so to find rest in Christ, we have to read and accept the word of God through the lens of faith.
WE FIND REST IN THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD
We will never get the rest we need unless we have complete confidence in the sovereignty of God. The sovereignty of God means that God is the One who is in control over all things, including our lives. That does not mean that God controls even our emotions so that we will act in a particular way. It means that God is the all-powerful, all-knowing, eternal Engineer of our circumstances who is somehow everywhere at the same time, and that God is always working in our lives to lead us to His will. And so the question of God’s sovereignty is basically this: Are we going to obey God’s will or are we not? And that means that the whole goal of the Christian life is obedience. Because obedience to Christ will lead us to rest in Christ.
WE FIND REST IN THE POWER OF GOD
We will never get the rest we need unless we have complete confidence in the power of God. By the power of God, the Israelites were even able to drive out the Anakites (huge, fierce warriors who were rumored to be demigods descended from the Nephilim, Numbers 13:33). Figuratively, we all have to face our giant monsters sooner or later. But God is not some genie who exists merely for our sake. Rather, everyone of us, and this entire universe, was created for the sake of the glory of God. And if we are not living for the glory of God, the glory of God, and all His power that comes with it, will not be revealed in us. Living for the glory of God simply means to make God’s purpose the priority of your life (Matthew 6:33). That doesn’t mean having to give up school, career, relationships, hobbies, dreams. It’s about aligning those things under God’s purpose as given in His word. That is how we live for His glory, and experience His power, and find rest in Him.
WE FIND REST IN THE SON OF GOD
We will never get the rest we need unless we have faith in the Son of God. Verse 23 says –23 So Joshua took the entire land, just as the LORD had directed Moses, and he gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal divisions. Then the land had rest from war. That statement is not merely a report of something that happened in history. It is a declaration of God’s faithfulness and a promise of the rest that He will give to us through faith in Jesus Christ, in whom and through whom we have the gift of eternal life. And we live in an age when we need to find our rest in Jesus Christ more than ever. And Jesus has the answer (Matthew 11:28-30): “Come to Me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
DISCUSSION QUESTION: Why do you think that it is so challenging and difficult for us to actually “rest in Christ”? Do you find it challenging and difficult? If so, why do you think that is the case?
