HS Day 4 Morning

Ok, good morning.

Who can sum up the story from Act 17 we read last night?

Good.

This morning as we prepare for quite time I’m going to invite you to look for Jesus in the book of Joshua.

It might be the easiest one because I’m about to blow your Mind. Maybe

Joshua’s hebrew name is Yeshua.

We translate that to English, Joshua.

Jesus, went through a lot of translations English back to Latin, back to Greek, and then back to Hebrew, where he was likely called by his Mother = Yeshua.

So if you know anyone named Joshua, you can tell him he shares a name with Jesus.

But this morning I want to share a face to face with Jesus that Joshua had.

It’s what is called a Christophany. It’s where Jesus shows up bodily, but before he was born to Mary.

Because from the first night we know Jesus has always existed, but he was not always God in the flesh. But since God is outside of time, he could appear in the flesh even before he took on flesh. I’d say that makes perfect sense to me, but It’ s one of those things I’m going to let God explain to me later.

But Joshua is getting ready to take the nation of Israel into this land that God promised way back in Genesis. They are finally there Joshua goes to pray before they head up against the city of Jericho.

Joshua 5:13–6:2 ESV

13 When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” 14 And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?” 15 And the commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so. 1 Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went out, and none came in. 2 And the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor.

This is someone Joshua seems to think is a human. he doesn’t freak out at a creature with a ton of wings and eyes like in other instances with the later prophets.

But the man identifies himself as the commander of the Lord’s armies. And a few verses later Joshua acknowledges he is talking to the LORD himself.

We believe this to be Jesus the Son because we never see the Holy spirit appear in the flesh, and we often see the Father as the one you cannot see.

Remember, God is one in essence, but three in person.

He is relational and communes with himself in ways we don’t 100% understand.

But it is believed here that Jesus is the Commander of the Lord’s Army and he is showing himself to Joshua to give him the commands to do what he needs to do.

Now, it doesn’t say, but I think it fits here to throw it in. The first verse has Joshua lifting his head, as if from prayer.

And I can imagine, but don’t know for sure, him saying something, maybe like.

God, do in me all that you need to do, so that you can do through me all that you want to do.

In your quiet time, look for Jesus in the Book of Joshua and write down what he has to say to you.

Let’s pray.