3.18.2006

Moses prepares the people for entry to the Promised Land, knowing that he will not be leading them in himself. Moses must give way to the New Moses named Yehoshua, Jesus. Moses has led them this far, but God has made it clear to him that he will not cross the Jordan to take possession of the land. Rather, Moses will die...
From Steve Schlissel's "A New Way of Seeing," E. Calvin Beisner, ed., The Auburn Avenue Theology: Pros and Cons, Ft. Lauderdale: Knox Theological Seminary, 2004, p.27 lines 381-384. This is a very small statement in Mr. Schlissel's essay, and really has nothing to do with his overall topic: the views of the Federal Vision, which is a huge ordeal within reformed (particular presbyterian) circles. It's also not what I wish to write about today. This quote draws a very interesting and striking parallel in the OT to the NT that I have not seen before. It may very well be something merely of coincidence, but I still find it interesting. Here Schlissel describes Christ Jesus as "the New Moses," which is a term that I have never heard before. The bit that I find particularly interesting is that in Israel's history, a man named Joshua was chosen to be Moses' successor, and the one to lead them to the promised land. The names "Joshua" and "Jesus" are basically equivalents in their original languages: Yehoshua, "Jehova is salvation." The parallels are simply astounding: Joshua was comissioned to do what Moses could not: bring Israel to the land promised from God. In like manner, Christ brings salvation to His people in the stead of the law, which was powerless to save. Joshua was the true believer from the time Israel set foot on the banks of Jordan. He was one of the twelve spies, and one of the two spies that believed in the promises of God. In the same way, Christ is the only "true believer." We have the faith of Christ, as ours is nothing but filthy rags. Joshua is told that "the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. (Jos. 1:8)" In the same way, Christ is the one who writes the law on the hearts of His people in the new covenant. Thank God for providing a way that we may be saved from the law of sin and death, and walk in the promises that He has for us. Thanks to Jehovah, who is salvation.
# posted by Sir Omer : 3/18/2006 03:50:00 PM
Comments:
Keith is starting a sermon series on Joshua on Sunday nights. This Sunday morning and evening, his introductory messages were on Moses and his final instructions to the Israelites and his non-admittance to the Promised Land.

(By the way, your dancing banana drives me crazy!)
MOM
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : 4/24/2006 06:35:00 AM
 
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