Author: iolaHC

I am an Artwork in progress

The Walls of Jericho – Part 2

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Hebrews 11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

The city was accursed including the people and many things inside the city, except when stated otherwise. Two commands were given on the accursed things: Keep yourselves from the accursed thing. All the silver, gold, and vessels of brass and iron shall come into the treasury of the Lord (Jos. 6:19). Anyone who broke the law of accursed things would not only be punished, he would bring a curse upon Israel (Jos. 7:1-26).

Joshua pronounced this ban on Jericho, a great and wealthy city, evidently by divine decree, and the severity of the doom that came to all violaters is illustrated in the punishment of Achan in Joshua 7:1-26. This curse was justified, not only because its inhabitants were part of a people who had filled up their cup of iniquity (Gen. 15:16), but by the fact that fighting men from many surrounding peoples were in Jericho helping to defend it against Israel (Jos. 24:11). Its destruction would serve to paralyze further resistance to Israel on the part of other Canaanite cities when they saw the mighty power of God in the miracle of the walls falling flat.

We see from Joshua 6:21 the utter destruction of all that was in the city. Such total destruction was unique, as firstfruits to God. It was also an example of His wrath on the depravity of Canaanites. In all other places, the laws of conquest were carried out, meaning that the stock and the spoils (including virgin women) belonged to Israel (Jos. 11:11-14; Num. 31:9-35; Deut. 20:14).

The Walls of Jericho – Part 1

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Hebrews 11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

‘By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.’ Israel – faith’s miracle (Jos. 6:1-27).

Five commands or conquest of Jericho: Circle the city with the men of war once each day for six days (Jos. 6:2). Seven priests with seven rams’ horns shall go before the ark each day around the city (Jos. 6:4). On the seventh day, circle the city seven times. At the end of the seventh time the priests shall blow a long blast on the rams’ horns and the people shall shout with a great shout (Jos. 6:5). Every man shall go straight forward to take the city.

The Canaanites must have laughed at the sight of armed men marching day after day in silence except for blowing trumpets. There was no effort to scale the wall, no weapons were used, no siege engines were brought up, and no other ordinary means of warfare were used. They had never seen or heard of such a foolish thing. Neither had the Israelites, but they obeyed the One who takes the “foolish” things to confound the wise and the weak things to destroy the mighty (1Cor. 1:18-31).

Jericho was accursed [Hebrew: cherem] “devoted to destruction”. It was the devotion of any idolatrous object – person, city, or thing – to utter destruction. When such a curse was pronounced on a city, it meant that all the people, animals, and treasures that would ordinarily be taken were to be completely burned in the fire or consecrated to the sanctuary (Jos. 6:19, 24).

To be continued…

Moses Leaving Egypt – Part 2

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Hebrews 11:27-29 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned. 

We see in Exodus 14:15-31 and 15:1-27 that Moses believed God and crossed the Red Sea on dry ground. “And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.” God used created things to perform His will. This was a miracle, not something accomplished by nature itself. Not only was this done suddenly by divine power, but it was likewise undone suddenly by the same power (Exo. 14:21, 26-31). A wind strong enough to make a 19-kilometre path through the sea and hold the waters up like a wall would have been strong enough to blow all the Israelites and Egyptians away. The waters were frozen solid on both sides of the people as they went through the sea (Exo. 15:8). The waters were frozen solid 23 to 30 meters high – the depth of the sea at the point of crossing. At dawn, the Egyptian army came to the sea in their pursuit of the Jews and the icy walls of the sea were suddenly melted and the Egyptians were all drowned (Exo. 14:26-31; 15:8). Not even Pharaoh escaped, fulfilling the prophecies of Exodus 14:3-4, 17, 26.

Six outstanding facts: The Lord saved Israel that day from the Egyptians (Exo. 14:30). Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the shore of the Red Sea. Israel saw the great miracle of making the path through the sea and of closing it again after they were safe (Exo. 14:31). Israel feared the Lord. Israel believed in the Lord. Israel believed in Moses as the servant of the Lord.

Moses Leaving Egypt – Part 1

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Hebrews 11:27-29 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned. 

‘He forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.’ Moses – faith’s fearlessness: this refers to his contest with Pharaoh and the exodus from Egypt (Exodus 5:1-14:31). He feared not the visible king because he saw the Invisible One.

‘He kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.’ Moses – faith’s protection (Exo. 12:1-51). The lamb was a type of Christ the Lamb of God (John 1:29; Rev. 5:6-10) who was without blemish (Exo. 12:5; 1Pet. 1:19). They dipped a bunch of hyssop in the blood and struck both side posts and the upper post (lintel) of the door (Exo. 12:7, 22-23). It typified the blood of Christ sprinkled for believers (Matt. 26:28; 1Pet. 1:2, 18-19; Heb. 9:13-14, 22; 10:19; 13:20). No blood was to be sprinkled on the threshold where the feet would trample on it (Heb. 10:29). The Jews were to roast the lamb and not eat any of it raw, as Egyptians who ate raw flesh in honour of Osiris. God was seeking every way to free Israel from idolatry. They also ate unleavened bread – bread without yeast – which is a form of ferment and typifies sin (2Cor. 5:6-8). The bitter herbs (perhaps it was chicory, wild lettuce, and horehound) were to be used with the meal. They were to remind Israel of their bitter slavery in Egypt from which God was now ready to deliver them (Exodus 12:29-14:31).

‘They passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.’ Israel – faith’s preservation: We see in Exodus 14:15-31 and 15:1-27 that Moses believed God and crossed the Red Sea on dry ground. “And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.”

To be continued…

Moses in Egypt – Part 2

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Hebrews 11:23-26 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment. By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. 

‘Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.’ Moses – faith’s declaration: Renounced sonship to Pharoah’s daughter and possible kingship of Egypt. He chose affliction with God’s people instead of enjoying the pleasures of sin (11:25). Esteemed the reproach of Christ greater than the riches of Egypt (11:26). Had his eyes fixed upon the reward of renouncing sin for Christ (11:26).

‘Refused’ [Greek: arneomai] is translated as refused (11:24; Acts 7:35) and denied 26 times (Matt. 10:33; 27:1-66; 1Tim. 5:8; etc.). He rejected sonship and kingship on earth to gain the same things in heaven.

‘Suffer affliction’ [Greek: sungkoucheo] to endure ill-treatment, wrong, hurt, or injury with another.

‘Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt.’ Moses had a revelation of the coming Messiah and looked forward to His day, as did Abraham (John 8:56).

Moses in Egypt – Part 1

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Hebrews 11:23-27 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment. By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. 

‘Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents.’ Amram and Jochebed -faith’s recognition (Exo. 2:2; 6:20; Acts 7:20). Jochebed took for Moses an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put him therein. Like Noah’s, it was made by divine command (Heb. 11:23; Rom. 10:17). It was a small boat made from papyrus reeds that grow 3 to 4,5 meters high above the marsh water of the Nile. The pith of the papyrus was used for food, and boats were made from the wood (Isa. 18:2). It was also used as paper (Isa. 19:7). Pharaoh’s daughter took Moses as her own child and her compassion defeated satan, preserved a nation, fulfilled prophecy, and furthered God’s plan for the Seed of the woman (Gen. 3:15; 12:1-3; 15:13-16; 46:3-4; 50:24). Josephus gives her name as Thermuthis and says she adopted Moses to succeed her father as ruler of Egypt. According to Josephus, Moses was put in command of the Egyptian war against the Ethiopians and conquered them completely.

God arranged it so that Moses’ own mother brought up the very child that was to defeat Pharaoh, and she was paid for it (Exo. 2:9). Moses’ parents, Amram and Jochebed, evidently lived nearby, for his mother knew the habits and character of the princess, and placed Moses where she would find him. Moses means drawn out and comes from the same root word as in 2Samuel 2:17 and Psalms 18:16. He is mentioned 813 times; his history is found in Exodus 2:10 – Deuteronomy 34:12.

‘Proper’ [Greek: asteios] pretty. Translated as “proper” (11:23) and “fair” (Acts 7:20).

‘Were not afraid of the king’s commandment.’ They must have had some revelation from God on which to base their faith, for faith comes from reading God’s Word (Rom. 10:17).

To be continued…

Joseph

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Hebrews 11:22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones. 

‘Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.’ Joseph – faith’s authority (Gen. 50:22-26). Joseph lived in Egypt ninety-three years and his father’s descendants lived there 215 years. Joseph’s body was not taken to Canaan at death as was that of Jacob. It stayed in Egypt for about 144 years (Ex. 13:19; Jos. 24:32). In Genesis 50:26 we see the first and last mention of a coffin in the Bible. Coffins were not used among the Jews as in Egypt (2Kin. 13:21; Matt. 27:59-60; John 11:1-57). Joseph was – at his death – sixty-five years younger than Abraham (Gen. 25:7); seventy years younger than Isaac (Gen. 35:28); thirty-seven years younger than Jacob (Gen. 47:28); seventeen years younger than Sarah (Gen. 23:1); twenty-seven years younger than Ishmael (Gen. 25:17); and ten years younger than Moses (Deut. 31:2).

Genesis begins with God and ends with man; it begins with the creation of the heavens above and ends with a coffin in Egypt.

Jacob

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Hebrews 11:21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. 

‘Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph.’ Jacob – faith’s tribal blessing (Gen. 48:1-22). Israel predicted that Ephraim, the younger, would be greater than Manasseh, the firstborn and that God would bring Israel to the promised land again. The tribe of Ephraim became greater in number, power and dignity (Num. 1:32-33; 2:18-20; Deut. 33:17). Ephraim became a name synonymous with Israel after the division of the kingdom of Israel (Isa. 7:2-17; 9:9; 11:13; 28:1-3; Ezek. 37:16, 19; Hos. 4:17; 5:13-14; 7:1-11; 8:9-11; 9:3-16; 10:6-11; 11:3-12; 12:1-14; 13:1-12; 14:8; Zech. 9:10-13; 10:7).

Jacob claimed Ephraim and Manasseh as part of the great nation that God had promised him. They became the heads of two of the twelve tribes of Israel. One took the place of Joseph and the other the place of Levi whose tribe became the priestly line and was not reckoned as one of the twelve tribes during the organization of the nation (Num. 1:1-15, 20-43; 2:1-34; 7:1-89; 10:14-28; 13:1-15; 26:1-65; 34:1-20; Jos. 13:7-33; Jdg. 5:14-18).

Jacob was named Israel (Gen. 32:28; 2Kin. 17:34; Hos. 12:3-4) by God, as well as his descendants (Exo. 9:7), and Christ (Isa. 49:3). The Hebrew word Yisra’el comes from sar, “prince”, meaning prevailed or ruled as a prince; and ’El, God, Strength, Mighty, the Almighty. It means Prince with God “for as a prince have thou power with God and with men, and have prevailed” (Gen. 32:28). He had prevailed with man (Gen. 25:29-34; 27:1-31:55); now he prevailed with God (Gen. 32:29-32).

The Old Testament is largely a record of the history of Israel and God’s revelation to Israel – their beginning as a nation (Gen. 29:21-30:43); their 430 years of sojourn (Gen. 12:1-Exo. 12:40); journeys and wanderings for over 41 years (Exo. 12:1-51 – Deut. 34:1-12); the conquest of Canaan (Jos. 1-24); experiences under the 16 judges (Judges 1:1 – 1Sam. 7) and under the 42 kings (1Sam. 8 – 2Kin. 25; 2Chr. 36:1-23); the captivities (2Kin. 25:1-30; Ezra 1:1-11); and the restoration as a nation under Ezra and Nehemiah. Scripture contains hundreds of prophecies concerning Israel.

Isaac

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Hebrews 11:20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 

‘Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.’ Isaac – faith’s material blessing (Gen. 27:1-40).

We see in Genesis 27:28-29 the 36th prophecy in Genesis that was fulfilled. It predicted that Jacob would be blessed above Esau in material and spiritual things. This is the first prophecy of Isaac (cp. Gen. 27:39-40). Jacob received a tenfold prophetic blessing: God will give you the dew of heaven. God will give you the fatness of the earth. God will give you plenty of corn (wheat). God will give you plenty of wine (vineyards). God will let people serve you. God will let the nations bow down to you. You will be lord over your brethren. God will let your brothers bow to you. Cursed are those who curse you. Blessed are those who bless you.

The sixfold prophetic blessing of Esau follows in verses 39-40: The fatness of the earth. The dew of heaven. To be a warring nation. To be a servant of Jacob. Partial and temporary dominion. Freedom from Jacob’s yoke.

Abraham Offered Up Isaac

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Hebrews 11:17-19 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. 

‘Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac.’ Abraham – faith’s test: He had the promises. He offered up his only begotten son through whom the seed should come (11:18; Gen. 21:12). He had faith that if he killed his son in obedience, God would raise him from the dead to fulfil what He had promised (11:19). He received Isaac back from the dead, figuratively. We see the 29th prophecy in Genesis 22:8 fulfilled. The first prophecy of Abraham (Gen. 20:7). He spoke prophetically of God’s Lamb (John 1:29), and Christ’s crucifixion (1Pet. 1:19-23; 2:24; Rev. 5:5-10). This is the sixth prophecy of Christ as typified in Isaac and his substitute (Gen. 22:8-14).] Abraham’s faith was again demonstrated by knowing God would provide a sacrifice. He could not fully comprehend God’s command, but he had absolute confidence in His wisdom, love and care for himself and Isaac.

‘Only begotten son.’ The only begotten son by his legitimate wife, the only son of promise, and heir to his wealth.

‘That in Isaac shall thy seed be called.’ This is the 26th Old Testament prophecy in Hebrews (11:18; Gen. 21:12) – and the fifth prophecy concerning Christ in Genesis (Gen. 21:12 with Gal. 3:6-8, 16). Galatians 3:16 states: “And to thy seed, which is Christ.” 

‘Accounting’ – Reckoning, supposing, concluding.

‘Figure’ [Greek: parabole] Used in Hebrews 9:9 as a shadow of the realities in Christ (8:5; 10:1). Isaac was, as far as Abraham was concerned, dead; he thus became resurrected figuratively.