Hebrews 12:26-29 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.
In a world trembling with uncertainty–political unrest, economic turmoil, natural disasters–God is speaking again. Not in whispers, but with the shaking that reorders lives, redefines kingdoms, and removes everything that cannot stand in the presence of His glory. He is preparing us for a kingdom that cannot be moved. But in the midst of the shaking, there is rest — a deep, unshakable rest reserved for the people of God. Not rest as the world gives — temporary relief or distraction — but the kind that anchors the soul in the storm, the kind that is rooted in Yeshua (Jesus), our rest.
Just as Israel left the wilderness and entered Canaan, so we are invited to leave the wilderness of striving and fear and step into our inheritance. Canaan was not heaven — it had battles, failures, and victories. But it was still the land of promise and rest. For us, that rest begins even now as we walk by faith and obedience. Hebrews tells us, “There remains therefore a rest for the people of God” (Hebrews 4:6-9). That rest is both present and future — entered by faith today and fulfilled in glory at His return. It is the rest of knowing that He is enough. That the battle is His. That the inheritance is secure. And that nothing eternal can be shaken.
Rest is not passive — it is the result of surrender. We rest by trusting in the finished work of Yeshua. We rest by obeying His voice even when the ground beneath us quakes. Faith and obedience are not burdens–they are the wings that carry us into divine peace. Every shaking strips away the false securities of this world and drives us deeper into the one foundation that cannot be moved. The enemy cannot shake what God has sealed. Not our calling, not our future, not our peace. When everything else is removed, what remains is the eternal.
The greatest rest is still to come. When Yeshua, our greater Joshua, returns, He will calm every storm, crush every enemy, and establish His reign of perfect peace. What Canaan only foreshadowed, His Kingdom will fulfill — freedom from toil and tears, fullness of joy, and unbroken fellowship with our King. No more struggle — only triumph. No more shadows — only light. And best of all, we will dwell forever in His presence, having entered His perfect Rest. So begin today — begin this Shabbat — to step into that rest. Lay down your striving, lift up your eyes, and let His peace rule in your heart as a foretaste of the glory to come.
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[worthy_plugins_devotion_single_body]David’s faith and courage in volunteering to fight Goliath was an embarrassment to his big brother Eliab, an officer in King Saul’s army. I imagine his thinking went something like this; “If my little brother wins everybody will ask, ‘How come you didn’t go out and fight him?’” The Bible records that Eliab “burned with anger at David and asked, ‘Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the desert? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is…’” These are devastating words from an older brother. Before David could defeat Goliath he first had to overcome the attitudes, accusations and words, of those close around him.
The noted English architect Sir Christopher Wren was supervising the construction of a magnificent cathedral in London. A journalist thought it would be interesting to interview some of the workers, so he chose three and asked them this question, “What are you doing?” The first replied, “I’m cutting stone for a shabby 10 shillings a day.” The next answered, “I’m putting in 13 hard hours a day on this job.” But the last said, “I’m helping Sir Christopher Wren construct one of London’s greatest cathedrals.”
It is among popular “Christian” belief that an abundance of material and other blessings follow those whose hearts are truly after God and that those who seem to consistently struggle to that end, cannot possibly be in God’s perfect will. I want to submit to you a realization I had about this very thing. I think we might have it all backwards.
A National Geographic article published a few years describing a real celestial event which took place at the time of the birth of Jesus reminded me of Risto Santala’s explanation in his book, “The Messiah in the New Testament in the Light of Rabbinical Writings”. He wrote about a conjunction of major planets that took place which could have led the wise men from the east, to Israel.
The Shema is recited every Shabbat in Israel and throughout the world: “Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One.” The emphasis is on hearing—not just with our ears but our hearts. That same emphasis runs through the Gospels, where Yeshua (Jesus) repeatedly says, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” This isn’t just a phrase; it’s a life-changing command.
Many families across the U.S. are gathering today to celebrate “Thanksgiving.” But let’s take a moment to turn our hearts to the ultimate source of thanksgiving: God Himself. Psalm 100 is often called the “Psalm of Thanksgiving,” and it’s a perfect guide for how we should approach God—not just during Thanksgiving but every day.
For nearly twenty years, Romans 13:12 has been my signature verse on every email I send. For me, it’s a constant reminder that the long, dark night of this world is almost over, and the Day of the Lord is just about to dawn.