Joshua: The Foreshadowing
What’s in a name? Well, when it comes to God – everything.
Joshua: Comes from the two Hebrew words
(1) Jehovah= “the existing One”
(2) To save, be saved, be delivered, to be liberated, to be saved (in battle), be victorious to save, deliver from moral troubles, to give victory to.
Why is this important? Because God, through His written Word, is give us a prophecies. Some come as a warning. Some come as a promise. Either way, prophecies give the Believer a chance to order his or her life accordingly. It can the difference between life and death or between success and ruin. The consequences or blessings can be temporal or eternal.
The Book of Joshua gives us both, God’s warnings and God’s promises, and it is supremely prophetic.
These verses, when read with the correct understanding, are able to lead you to a source which contains an unimaginable power, and explosive power. And, this power can radically and thoroughly transform your life and your experience. When the work of this Prophetic Word is accomplished, you would hardly recognize the person you were beforehand.
Your circumstances will miraculously conform (yes, miraculously conform) to reflect the changes that will have taken place within you. Changes which God has wrought within you. Even your family and friends will wonder what happened to the person they once knew, who now goes about in your name.
Read these verses from Joshua, with me, considering them in the model of The Trinity of God: The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit. As God is Three, so we will find The Trinity in His Word: The physical (soma), the soul (pseuche – mind, will and emotions) and the Spirit (Pneuma).
Joshua chapter 1 verses 1 – 4
(A mighty picture of conquest, victory and salvation)
Some believe that once a prophecy is given and occurs, then it is fulfilled. However, much of the prophecy we read about in the Bible which has occurred, has a future fulfillment and may repeat until it is consummated.
Jesus says, “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill the law. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.” Matthew 5:17-18
One of the most obvious prophecies which have repeated is the destructions and rebuilding of the Jewish Temple, foretold in Ezekiel, Jeremiah (the 1st Temple) and by Daniel and again by Jesus in the New Testament (2nd Temple).
The 1st Temple
The Hebrew Bible says that the First Temple was built by King Solomon. About 2600 years ago, the Babylonians invaded Judah (the southern part of the land of Israel) and took many Jews, including Daniel, as captives to Babylon. The Babylonians also destroyed the city of Jerusalem and the Temple, in 586 B.C.
The 2nd Temple
Around 20 BCE, the building was renovated and expanded by Herod the Great, and became known as Herod’s Temple. It was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE during the Siege of Jerusalem.
Joshua was a “type” of the prophesied Messiah, a foreshadowing of the coming Savior. Joshua Chapter 1, verses 1 through 4, not only gives us a mighty picture of conquest, victory and salvation, but a prophesy, applicable both to the coming Messiah (Jesus) and for our daily lives.
VERSE 1
The Verse: 1 Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, that the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying,
The Prophetic Transcription: Gods says, I will draw you out of your current circumstances. God says I will cause you to rise up and become powerful, you will endure to the end, you will pass over all difficulties, as you lay prostrate before me, you will be saved.
Your Application: The old way of drawing you out of your former life, is dead; now therefore rise up, now, and come into The enduring power and you cross over from this descended position of being lost without hope to an Eternal Hope in Christ.
VERSE 2
The Verse: 2“Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel.
The Prophetic Transcription: You are become the sons and daughters of God, I am to build you, to establish you. God prevails, God is mighty, God is giving you His Strength.
Your Application: You and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the eternal sons of God, prevail, you are now made mighty by God in His strength
VERSE 3
The Verse: 3“Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses.
The Prophetic Transcription: “Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses. All, in totality, as you bow yourself down before God, walking in His Spirit, every place you foot treads, is yours – you have victory and dominion in Him.
Your Application: Every place and everything you touch, bow yourself to God, and the touch of God will grant you dominion in all circumstances.
VERSE 4
The Verse: 4 “From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory.
The Prophetic Transcription: “From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, From the time you lived in wilderness, and the speech of your mouth was dead, I, God, purify and give life to your heart and your mind and you break forth in fruitfulness.
All the place of terror, the low places that come to you and that you to enter in, God gives you dominion over
Your Application: From the time you were wild in your imaginations, without a (heart) living spirit within you or a mind, until God broke forth and gave you a fruitful heart and gives you a mind, an awareness of of Him and in Him; you have dominion over all the terrors and low places you encounter in your life until you enter into His Kingdom of eternity, all of this is yours
VERSE 5
The Verse: 5“No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.
The Prophetic Transcription: No man of any kind, neither great or powerful, without exception, can stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you;
The Application: You will not sink down today. I will not relax on your behalf. You will not drop back, you will not be disheartened. You will know that I am always with you and I never forsake you, nor will I let you be alone, I never show slack.
VERSE 6
The Verse: “Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.
The Prophetic Transcription: Be strong and take hold of my strength, and be strengthened, hardened, and prevail. Be encouraged, and secure even obstinate in your assurance for I am making you superior in your strength. Again I say, you are strong.
The Application: You have already inherited this. The land is now yours, that is all the earth. This is the oath, My Oath, which I swore to your fathers. Now, you possess it. (This is the Self evident ‘promised’ or Prophesied Outcome)
v7 “Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. (This is the Self evident ‘promised’ or Prophesied Outcome)
v8 “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. (This is the Self evident ‘promised’ or Prophesied Outcome)
v9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (This is the Self evident ‘promised’ or Prophesied Outcome)
v10 ¶ Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,
v11 “Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, saying, ‘Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you are to cross this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you, to possess it.’” (DO THIS – it is the Self evident ‘promised’ or Prophesied Outcome)
This is what God said – and this is what
God continues to say
about what has come to pass
This was said to Joshua at a specific time for a specific purpose. But, it is a Prophetic utterance and is applicable to all peoples for all times. God is still saying it today, for you, for today.
Jesus’ Return is near – very near. And, we are to be ready to “arise, you and all this people”.
Now therefore rise up and come into The enduring power and you cross over from this descended position, to the land which I am giving to you, to the eternal sons of God, to prevail, made mighty by God in His strength.
Every place and everything you touch, bow yourself to God, and the touch of God will grant you dominion with Him.
Let’s Get this done and be found “doing” when He returns!
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
Whitestone Fellowship 