Joshua 3 and 4 describe the entry into the Promised Land by crossing the River Jordan and the memorialisation of that event. The parable together with the literal crossing tell of Jesus - the Greek form of the Hebrew word Joshua (the salvation of Yahweh) - leading his people into the Kingdom of God (the focal point of all God's promises). Jesus went before, like the ark to show us the way). The Jordan means 'the descender' teaching us that as in Adam all die. Note that in Yahweh's salvation the waters that finished in the Dead Sea (the lowest land point on earth) were rolled back passed Adam v16 cp Romans 5 verses 12-21. We notice that the ark of God goes before the people of the LORD to seek for them rest - Numbers 10verses 33-36. The distance between the ark, symbolising our Lord Jesus Christ, and the holy nation is two thousand cubits perhaps representing the passage of time from when our Lord entered into his rest and the time after which his faithful followers will enter theirs ie 2,000 years.
In Joshua 4 we are told of how this significant event in Israel's history was commemorated. Verses 2-4 tell that under instructions from Joshua twelve stones are taken from the midst of the Jordan River as Israel were crossing, and set up on the bank of the river in the Promised Land as a memorial heap. Verse 5 tells us that this was done as a witness and prompt prompt to future generations, when the children would ask why the stones were placed there. It is most likely that John the Baptist was making reference to these stones at Bethabara - meaning "the house of the fords", the probable location of Israel's entry into the land under Joshua - see
Matthew 3 verse 9. Joshua's instructions are carried out as the LORD's witness to Isra. They had crossed the Jordan at the time of the spring flooding and had witnessed an incredible miracle. Forty thousand troops accompany them from the tribes whose inheritances were to the east of the Jordan. The miracle is described in verses 16-18 as occurring when the feet of the priests carrying the ark touched the water. The waters stood up in heaps on either side of Israel's path - somewhat akin to the crossing of the Red Sea under Moses. And as Joshua 3 verse 16 tells were rolled back to the city Adam on the upstream direction and trickling away to nothing neat the Dead Sea. Representing our Lord Jesus Christ's sacrifice eventually rendering sin powerless. The parents' response to the questions of their children is to be a witness not only to the nation, but indeed to the entire earth - Joshua 4 verses 23-24.
Isaiah 9 verses 1-7 describes the birth and development of Immanuel. Typically this was Isaiah's second son, born of a young woman, but in reality speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus was the child born for the salvation of the human race and this was only possible because he was the Son given by the Father. Our Lord was blessed with attributes, that is characteristics from his Father, which made that victory possible - see Psalm 80 verses 15-17; Isaiah 11 verses 1-5. These early verses of chapter 9 outline his prowess and accomplishments which are in the main due to Jesus' divine begettal and his cooperation with his Father's education - Isaiah 50 verses 4-9. The titles given to this divine and incomparable Son are listed in verse 6 as "Wonderful (or miraculous), Counsellor (instructor of wise counsel), Mighty God (El Gibor - or mighty warrior) and Everlasting Father (Avi Ad: father of futurity ie the father of the kingdom age see
Hebrews 2 verses 10-13) - relating to Jesus as Messiah. Jesus was the one who would bring light to the people of the LORD as Isaiah 9:2 prophesies and finds its fulfilment in Jesus' preaching in Galilee
(Matthew 4 verses 13-17). The confusing state of the kingdom of Judah is described in Isaiah 9 verses 2-5. The prosperity of Messiah's coming Kingdom on his return to the earth is spoken of in verse 7 where we are told that Christ will be put on the restored throne of David - see Acts 1 verse 3, 6-11. Righteousness, justice and peace will be the hallmarks of Messiah's reign and it will be his Father's zeal which will accomplish this. Verses 8-21 tell us that Judah's Sovereign will execute judgment against all injustice and oppression that was being practised at that time in the nation. The Omnipotent Creator could not ignore these wrongs and will have to outstretch His hand against the perpetrators of evil.
1 Thessalonians 5 reminds us that the Scriptures provide graphic detail of the times (Greek 'chronos' which God has explicitly revealed through His Scriptures and particularly in His prophetic word) and that He has adjusted ie patterned the world's eras around His Son, the Christ (Hebrews 11:1). Time in this chapter is made up of longer periods called "times" and shorter periods known as "seasons". The shorter seasons characterised by specific signs compel us to believe that our Lord's coming is imminent (Luke 21 verses 24-36). These signs urge us to watchfulness and to lives that are consistent with us being the children of the DAY. That is the day soon to dawn when the sun of righteousness will arise with healing (Malachi 4 verse 1). We are exhorted us to lives consistent with the character required of the children of our Father in verses 4-11. The chapter concludes with patterns of behaviour befitting the children of the kingdom (cp 2 Peter 3 verses 10-18).
Penned by Warwick Rosser and his team, produced by Christadelphianvideo.org
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