Archive
Our Heavenly Joshua Magnified (with audio)
“On that day the LORD magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.” – Joshua 4:14
We know of the Exodus of the Children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage and that the LORD God used Moses to lead them up to the Promised Land. After the death of Moses and just before Israel crossed over into the Promised Land, God raised up another leader by the name of Joshua. The LORD had Joshua lead the children of Israel across the Jordan River into the Promised Land. On the day that God stopped the waters of the river and the dry ground appeared for Israel to cross over that was the day that the LORD magnified Joshua. This special act by God, testified that Joshua was without a doubt divinely-appointed. Moses was dead, which meant that Israel could not go back to Moses for leadership or advice. In fact, Deuteronomy 34 teaches that God buried Moses in an unknown place, which meant that Moses finished his ministry never to be dug up by man. Joshua now has the credentials and the people recognized it and rejoiced in it. Joshua’s authoritative power was a matter of great importance – no one dared to question him. Moses was dead and now the people only looked to Joshua for the words of God. This is a wonderful picture of our Lord Jesus.
While Moses was alive, he spoke of a greater Prophet than he that would come after him and speak to the people. It would be this Prophet that they should hear (Deut. 18:15,18). Now we would automatically think that Moses was speaking of Joshua, but not so. The apostle Peter explains in Acts chapter 3 that Moses was actually prophesying of Jesus Christ. God’s providential hand was in this because the names Joshua and Jesus both mean “Jehovah’s saves.”
We read where “the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). The importance is that in the Law of Moses there is no grace, no mercy, and no power to help anyone to keep the law perfectly as God requires. The Law was always about justice, judgment, condemnation, and punishment. However, Jesus Christ, the Greater Prophet, is all about grace according to truth. It was He who kept all of God’s law perfectly for us, and as our Substitute, He then took all our sins to the cross and paid for them by giving His life for us. Therefore, because of His willing sacrifice and perfect obedience, God did magnify this Heavenly Joshua. Much of what the Old Testament Joshua did in the early days of Israel was a spiritual picture of what our Heavenly Joshua has done and is doing today for Spiritual Israel, the Church. There is no need to go back to Moses, when our Heavenly Joshua, Jesus, will lead us over the river of death safely into heaven, our Promised Land.
David C. Hale, pastor
Published in the Marshall County Tribune, Lewisburg, TN
Our Heavenly Joshua Magnified (Audio)
Speak to the Rock!
“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Take the rod, and gather the assembly and speak unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water… and Moses took the rod from before the LORD… and said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank.”
Numbers 20:7-11
In our passage, Moses was instructed to “speak” to the rock. Instead Moses in anger spoke to the people, and smote the rock disobeying the LORD God.
Now think with me! Is not Moses at fault? So why would God command Moses to take the rod if he was commanded only to “speak” to the rock? Understand that the rod of God was identified with judgment. It was the same rod used in judgment against the Egyptians. Also the rod was used to strike the rock some thirty-eight years earlier (Exodus 17), which pictured the judgment that was to come upon Christ “our Rock” (1 Corinthians 10:4).
Moses was commanded to “speak” to the rock in order to show grace, but instead he struck the rock with the rod of judgment and that was emblematic of re-crucifying Christ. God is not pleased with man-made religious rituals that re-sacrifice His Son. God’s children are “sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:10). Only one sacrifice for sin and therefore the rock was to be smitten only once.
Clearly, this is teaching that judgment is in the background when grace is given. If judgment did not lurk in the background then how would we understand God’s amazing and sovereign grace? Israel seeing the rod may fear, yet if Moses spoke to the rock it would produce a river of grace. Moses in anger struck the rock – but God graciously did not withhold water from the people. Nevertheless, the reaction of Moses was not without consequences. Moses did not sanctify God’s holiness before the people and therefore he was not allowed to enter the Promised Land (Numbers 20:12).
We all need to be reminded that God’s holiness will never be compromised. Wonder of wonders it is that God in His sovereign purpose gives grace to the lost in a way that does not violate His holiness and His purpose, through His Son Jesus Christ. That is why Christ “our Rock” was smitten on the cross, which both satisfies God’s holy justice and reconciles lost sinners. What a plan! The Holy God remains holy, and sinners receive abundant grace. I hope you can see that it is a joy for God to pour out abundant grace for those who “speak” to the Rock. (Printed in the Marshall County Tribune)
David C. Hale, pastor
New Life Community Church
Lewisburg, TN 37091
REASONS 4 BELIEVING 