Unfinished Business

Text - Hebrews 4.8-9

Hebrews 4:8–9 NASB95

For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.

Title

“Unfinished Business”

Background

God’s Plan for Israel and Against the Inhabitants of Canaan

God showed Israel what He intended to do with the inhabitants of Canaan

Genesis 15:18–21 NASB95

On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land, From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates: the Kenite and the Kenizzite and the Kadmonite and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Rephaim and the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Girgashite and the Jebusite.”

Deuteronomy 7:17–26 NASB95

“If you should say in your heart, ‘These nations are greater than I; how can I dispossess them?’ you shall not be afraid of them; you shall well remember what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt: the great trials which your eyes saw and the signs and the wonders and the mighty hand and the outstretched arm by which the Lord your God brought you out. So shall the Lord your God do to all the peoples of whom you are afraid. “Moreover, the Lord your God will send the hornet against them, until those who are left and hide themselves from you perish. “You shall not dread them, for the Lord your God is in your midst, a great and awesome God. “The Lord your God will clear away these nations before you little by little; you will not be able to put an end to them quickly, for the wild beasts would grow too numerous for you. “But the Lord your God will deliver them before you, and will throw them into great confusion until they are destroyed. “He will deliver their kings into your hand so that you will make their name perish from under heaven; no man will be able to stand before you until you have destroyed them. “The graven images of their gods you are to burn with fire; you shall not covet the silver or the gold that is on them, nor take it for yourselves, or you will be snared by it, for it is an abomination to the Lord your God. “You shall not bring an abomination into your house, and like it come under the ban; you shall utterly detest it and you shall utterly abhor it, for it is something banned.

Warnings were given against not fulfilling God’s purpose

Deuteronomy 12:28–32 NASB95

“Be careful to listen to all these words which I command you, so that it may be well with you and your sons after you forever, for you will be doing what is good and right in the sight of the Lord your God. “When the Lord your God cuts off before you the nations which you are going in to dispossess, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land, beware that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, ‘How do these nations serve their gods, that I also may do likewise?’ “You shall not behave thus toward the Lord your God, for every abominable act which the Lord hates they have done for their gods; for they even burn their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods. “Whatever I command you, you shall be careful to do; you shall not add to nor take away from it.

IMPORTANT MESSAGE

God’s promised blessing to Israel is the Land. Whatever happens to the Land will affect how they will enjoy God’s blessings.

Events after Joshua

The conquest of Canaan seemed to have proceeded in two stages:

Stage 1 - an initial rapid and overwhelming strike which substantially weakened the Canaanites

Stage 2 - a protracted process of removing the remaining Canaanites and their strongholds.

The Book of Joshua records the first stage (1-12) and some parts of the second stage (ex. 15.14-19)

Judges 1 continued the second stage after the death of Joshua

At the time of Joshua’s death the second stage remains to be completed

he warned against following the remaining Canaanites into idolatry

Joshua 23:11–13 NASB95

“So take diligent heed to yourselves to love the Lord your God. “For if you ever go back and cling to the rest of these nations, these which remain among you, and intermarry with them, so that you associate with them and they with you, know with certainty that the Lord your God will not continue to drive these nations out from before you; but they will be a snare and a trap to you, and a whip on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good land which the Lord your God has given you.

Much work remained after Joshua’s death

Judah joined with Simeon in the conquest of Jerusalem, and the Canaanites and Perizzites in his allotted territory. Judges 1.1-10

Caleb and Othniel captured Debir (kiriath-sepher). Judges 1.11-15

The Kenites lived with Judah. Judges 1.16

Judah and Simeon captured Zephath and Gaza territory. Judges 1.17-18

Unfinished Work

Israel did not finish the work the way God had wanted it

Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites

Judges 1:21 NASB95

But the sons of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem; so the Jebusites have lived with the sons of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day.

The House of Joseph (Manasseh and Ephraim) left a Canaanite family alive

Judges 1:22–26 NASB95

Likewise the house of Joseph went up against Bethel, and the Lord was with them. The house of Joseph spied out Bethel (now the name of the city was formerly Luz). The spies saw a man coming out of the city and they said to him, “Please show us the entrance to the city and we will treat you kindly.” So he showed them the entrance to the city, and they struck the city with the edge of the sword, but they let the man and all his family go free. The man went into the land of the Hittites and built a city and named it Luz which is its name to this day.

Manasseh did not take possession of certain cities and left Canaanites alive there

Judges 1:27–28 NASB95

But Manasseh did not take possession of Beth-shean and its villages, or Taanach and its villages, or the inhabitants of Dor and its villages, or the inhabitants of Ibleam and its villages, or the inhabitants of Megiddo and its villages; so the Canaanites persisted in living in that land. It came about when Israel became strong, that they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but they did not drive them out completely.

Ephraim did not drive out the Canaanites in Gezer

Judges 1:29 NASB95

Ephraim did not drive out the Canaanites who were living in Gezer; so the Canaanites lived in Gezer among them.

Zebulun did not drive out the inhabitants of Kitron and Nahalol

Judges 1:30 NASB95

Zebulun did not drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, or the inhabitants of Nahalol; so the Canaanites lived among them and became subject to forced labor.

Asher chose to live with the Canaanites in his territory

Judges 1:31–32 NASB95

Asher did not drive out the inhabitants of Acco, or the inhabitants of Sidon, or of Ahlab, or of Achzib, or of Helbah, or of Aphik, or of Rehob. So the Asherites lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land; for they did not drive them out.

Naphtali also chose to live among the Canaanites

Judges 1:33 NASB95

Naphtali did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh, or the inhabitants of Beth-anath, but lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land; and the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath became forced labor for them.

Dan was forced by the Amorites into the hill country

Judges 1:34–35 NASB95

Then the Amorites forced the sons of Dan into the hill country, for they did not allow them to come down to the valley; yet the Amorites persisted in living in Mount Heres, in Aijalon and in Shaalbim; but when the power of the house of Joseph grew strong, they became forced labor.

IMPORTANT MESSAGE

Whenever God gives a task to His people, He expects it to be completed (finished, accomplished) according to His plan and purpose.

1 Samuel 15:22 NASB95

Samuel said, “Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.

Beware of shortcuts and compromises! Even soldiers can get tired of battles. When we get tired of warfare, we may give in to shortcuts, settlements, and compromises instead of completely destroying the work of the enemy.

What is “unfinished business”?

Unfinished business means tasks are left undone.

Unfinished business is God’s command done in a different way.

Is there unfinished work in your life?

The Consequence of Incomplete Conquest

God was angry at Israel’s disobedience

Judges 2:1–2 NASB95

Now the angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim. And he said, “I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land which I have sworn to your fathers; and I said, ‘I will never break My covenant with you, and as for you, you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars.’ But you have not obeyed Me; what is this you have done?

IMPORTANT MESSAGE

God does not take disobedience lightly!

God decided to never drive the Canaanites out of the land

Judges 2:3 NASB95

“Therefore I also said, ‘I will not drive them out before you; but they will become as thorns in your sides and their gods will be a snare to you.’ ”

The next generation succumbed to the way of the Canaanites

Judges 2:7–10 NASB95

The people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who survived Joshua, who had seen all the great work of the Lord which He had done for Israel. Then Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of one hundred and ten. And they buried him in the territory of his inheritance in Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. All that generation also were gathered to their fathers; and there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord, nor yet the work which He had done for Israel.

IMPORTANT MESSAGE

When the enemy continues to co-exist among us, the next generation will suffer the most.

Apparently, Israel also seemed to have failed in educating the next generation.

Judges 2:11–15 NASB95

Then the sons of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals, and they forsook the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed themselves down to them; thus they provoked the Lord to anger. So they forsook the Lord and served Baal and the Ashtaroth. The anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and He gave them into the hands of plunderers who plundered them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies around them, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies. Wherever they went, the hand of the Lord was against them for evil, as the Lord had spoken and as the Lord had sworn to them, so that they were severely distressed.

Israel failed to achieve complete victory

Throughout the days of the Judges, Israel went multiple cycles of backsliding.

Israel sins against God

God becomes angry and punishes His people

Israel cries out and repents

God delivers

Israel sins again

This pattern continued beyond the days of the Judges into the era of Kings.

IMPORTANT MESSAGE

JOSHUA DID NOT GIVE THEM REST. Joshua finished his part of the work. But since Israel failed to complete their part of the work - there was NO REST.

Israel’s entering the land of Canaan did not constitute the true REST. Israel’s practicing the weekly and other sabbaths did not constitute the true REST.

GOD SPOKE OF ANOTHER DAY

Hebrews 4:6–7 NASB95

Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience, He again fixes a certain day, “Today,” saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before, “Today if you hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts.”

The story of the Book of Judges proves the limitations of the Old Covenant (Law):

God does His part, but Israel must also do her part.

God cannot fail, but Israel will always fail, being a sinner by nature.

Therefore, no flesh is truly and fully justified in the Law Covenant!

The Finished Work of Christ

Christ announced His intention to finish the work

John 4:34 NASB95

Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.

Luke 12:50 NASB95

“But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!

Christ did finish His work!

John 17:4 NASB95

“I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do.

John 19:28 NASB95

After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, said, “I am thirsty.”

John 19:30 NASB95

Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

accomplish, finish - from Grk. teleo, fully accomplished; perfected

Joshua died while the conquest remained incomplete. But Jesus completed the work before He died on the cross!

John 16:33 NASB95

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

He declared “I have overcome the world” even before He died.

Then on the Cross He cried out “IT IS FINISHED!”

John 19:30 NASB95

Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

The Results of Christ’s Finished Work

Saints are “perfected for all time”!

Hebrews 10:14 NASB95

For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.

“Perfect work” results in “perfected saints”

Saints are “complete” in Christ!

Colossians 2:10 NASB95

and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;

“You have been MADE COMPLETE” IN HIM

It means all your needs as a person can be found in Christ Jesus!

All have to do is invoke the blessing in the name of Jesus!

Ask in the name of Jesus

Declare your needs in the name of Jesus

God’s people can now TRULY REST!

There is rest because the work is complete!

Jesus Himself ‘RESTED’!

Hebrews 10:12–13 NASB95

but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet.

The saints can ALSO REST

Hebrews 4:9–10 NASB95

So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.

From His Throne in heaven, Jesus Christ sends His Holy Spirit to wrap up the work in our lives!

Mark 16:19–20 NASB95

So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed. And they promptly reported all these instructions to Peter and his companions. And after that, Jesus Himself sent out through them from east to west the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation.

Philippians 1:6 NASB95

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 2:13 NASB95

for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

IMPORTANT MESSAGE

If it is truly finished, why are we still engaged in spiritual warfare?

The enemy is not giving up easily. But we are fighting from His victory! We use His Name, His Word, His blood! We follow His orders!

Conclusion

In Christ, there is not more “unfinished business”!

In Christ, everything is “Mission Accomplished”!