There remains therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also has ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. (Hebrews 4:9-11 KJ2000)

The verses quoted above summarize a long dissertation from Hebrews 3 and 4 dealing with coming into the rest of God. The entire passage makes it clear that we cannot enter into God’s rest if we follow the ancient Hebrews’ “example of unbelief.”  What example was that?   The references in Hebrews 3 and 4 show us that it is the unbelief that caused every adult in Israel to die in the wilderness except for Joshua and Caleb when they came out of Egypt.  Like almost all other historical accounts in Scripture, the Exodus is a parable.  In this parable Joshua represents Jesus (in Hebrew Joshua is pronounced “Yeshua” and means “salvation.”  It is the Hebrew name for Jesus).  Caleb (which means dog or male prostitute in Hebrew) represents every person who truly believes in Jesus. The parable of the Exodus, then, shows us that no natural man entered the promised land, but one, and that one was no better than a dog.  The other man was Jesus.  Remember, there only exist two men in Scripture, the first man, Adam, and the second man, Jesus Christ. How in the world did a man named “dog” make it into the promised land?

And, how can we Christians today escape the same fate as all the Hebrews except for Joshua and Caleb? The Hebrews passage above tells us that we must be careful not to follow their same example of unbelief.  What exactly were the signs of their unbelief?  Paul tells us specifically in his first letter to the Corinthians:

Moreover, brethren, I want not that you should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual food; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be you idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us test Christ, as some of them also tested him, and were destroyed by serpents. Neither murmur you, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come. Therefore let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it. Therefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. (1 Corinthians 10:1-14 KJ2000)

Paul sums up all the sins listed here as idolatry.  So, what is idolatry?  The word idolatry comes from the Greek word eidololatreia (i-do-lol-at-ri’-ah) and means “image worship.”  Yes, ancient cultures worshipped man-made images as part of their religions, but we have to get away from thinking that this alone denotes the concept of idolatry. The fact that Israel asked Aaron to make them a bull to worship is evidently included in the second of the sins Paul lists above, but let’s look at them all: 1) lusting for, or desiring, evil, 2) idolatry, 3) sexual immorality, 4) putting God to the test, and 5) murmuring, or grumbling, against God.  Remember how John the beloved ended his first letter.

And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in wickedness. And we know that the Son of God is come, and has given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. (1 John 5:19-21 KJ2000)

Idolatry thus looms as the preeminent sin of mankind and as the besetting sin which keeps Christians from entering God’s rest.  Let us seek to understand idolatry so that we may enter into rest.

Part 2