THE LORD MAGNIFIED JOSHUA
Joshua 4:10 For the priests which bare the ark stood in the midst of Jordan, until every thing was finished that the LORD commanded Joshua to speak unto the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua: and the people hasted and passed over. 11 And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over, that the ark of the LORD passed over, and the priests, in the presence of the people. 12 And the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh, passed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses spake unto them: 13 About forty thousand prepared for war passed over before the LORD unto battle, to the plains of Jericho. 14 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.
As has already been noted, Joshua of the Old Testament is a vivid picture of our Lord Jesus Christ in the New Testament. Their names are so interchangeable that the 1611 King James translators use Jesus in the Greek for “Joshua” in the Hebrew, in Hebrews 4:8.
And Joshua had a special relation with Moses, superseding him, and bringing the children on into the land of promise. So also did our Lord Jesus Christ! John 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. Matt. 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
And we read in verse ten above, that the earthly Joshua received commands both from the LORD, and from Moses! And of our Heavenly Joshua we read in Galatians 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. He too, received commands from the Father and from the law!
Again in Matthew five we hear the very Son of God stating, For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. (Matthew 5:18).
For there is nothing wrong with the law! Romans 7:12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. It is righteous not to kill, or to steal. The problem is in our fleshly nature; in our inability to keep the law! Romans 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
(Please note: The condemnation was for sin – Never again for the redeemed sinner! Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.)
For the Lord Jesus not only kept and fulfilled the law, but he always was completely obedient to his Father’s voice! John 8:28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. 29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. 14:31 But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.
Joshua’s Magnification
The word magnified, is found translated from the Hebrew in Genesis 12:2 as, and made … great. And that same Hebrew word is in Isaiah 28:29 translated as, excellent in. And as the Lord made the earthly Joshua to be magnified, great and excellent in the eyes of Israel, so he does the Lord Jesus Christ in the eyes of every justified soul!
But when did he do this? This is a valid question, and not outside of the pale of revelation. For then it would only be a matter of sinful speculation! For the same verse that states that this magnification was done, begins with the words, On that day. The when we are looking for is listed in verse eleven. For there we read that it came to pass only WHEN all the people were clean passed over! Glory to God, and the Lamb forever! Not a single soul left behind! Not a single casualty in the crossing of the swollen Jordan!
For not a single soul of those chosen in him before the foundation of the world shall ever perish! (Ephes. 1:4). Our Lord addresses this when he states, All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:37 & 40)
The exaltation and magnification of both “Joshua’s” took place when all the ransomed church of God were saved from the old world and all brought into the new. The Heavenly Joshua (Christ), as a lion, roared out from the cross his victory cry, It is finished! And so it was!
His cross work actually did something! His cross work actually changed everything! The entire multitudes of all believers, of all ages were provided justification, to be applied at the time of their being granted spiritual life! Romans 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. And a definite purchase was made! … the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. Acts 20:28.
Therefore we read that this was the point of his exaltation. Hebrews 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; There again is our when. The actual point of his exaltation is marked as the time of his accomplishment of the purging our sins! The Lord Jesus Christ is the presently reigning Lord! The Father has already set him down at the right hand of His Majesty! And it was at the point of the accomplished redemption.
This has satisfied the Father. Why is it that it does not satisfy Christendom?!? Some had rather believe Scofield’s “Bible” than God’s word! Just listen for a moment at God’s inspired word. (You do know that Mr. Scofield’s notes are not ‘inspired,’ don’t you?) Isaiah 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. And it was there that the Father “magnified” him.
For the very next verse brings in a “Therefore,” revealing the Father’s point of exaltation of his Son being at the redemption of every one elected in him from before the foundation of the world. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Listen to this in the Apostle Paul’s inspired writings. Philippians 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
My dear readers, make no mistake about it! Look not at the disorder of present day society! For everything in this present realm is exactly as the Lord of Glory has purposed it. It may not fit the mould of the form of religious order that moralism demands. But it is according to God’s eternal purposes! Eph. 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Never allow the outward look to be the determining factor for your unbelief in the present, absolute reign of the Lord Jesus Christ! It is the upward look that shall sustain your peace in knowing that Thy God reigneth.
Psalm 47:8 God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.
Psalm 93:1 The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.
Psalm 96:10 Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.
Never allow anyone, or any doctrine to convince you that Christ has yet to ascend his throne! Have you noticed that word, till in 1 Corinthians 15:25? For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
That does not say, “He shall one day begin to reign, WHEN!” It clearly states that he shall continue his present reign UNTIL every enemy is subdued! And that means that he is presently reigning in his Mediatorial reign, and shall continue to do so until the last enemy is destroyed. 1 Cor. 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. And he shall destroy that last enemy at the resurrection of the dead!
And these times are even according to the foretelling of it in his word. Matthew 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
2 Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
Even these times of the falling away from the by-product of morality in the general public, that imputed righteousness produces, is fore told. 2 Thessalonians 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
And that man of sin is the modern day hypocrite, sitting in the local church, believing that he is a god unto himself. He has swallowed Satan’s lie to Eve that he can determine what is good and evil for himself!
Psalm 50:20 Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother’s son. 21 These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes. 22 Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.
Fear Not, Little Flock
Luke 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Look unto Jesus! Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb 12:2). For the Lord has everything well in hand! Psalm 91:7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
He is infinite in both his wisdom and in his power. None of this ‘escapes’ his knowledge! None of this is out from under his control! He shall preserve the church so that not a hair of their heads shall perish, and shall do that in the very midst of all this evil. For not one evil person, or their evil deeds shall go unpunished!
2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
2 Peter 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
For the day of his vengeance upon the wicked, and the time of his redemption of all believers, are not contrary parts that he cannot handle at one and the same time! Isaiah 63:4 For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Our assurance that one eternal day we shall be glorified, and be like him, is strengthened by the fact that the man, Christ Jesus, the Head of the Body of believers, is already sitting upon the throne of glory! And Satan, knowing that, has done all he can to prevent it from being preached in our day in order to attempt to keep the church from her victorious reign, here on earth with him!
Pastor Gene Breed
December 1, 2011
