MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
October 21, 2026
God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration
GOD’S PURPOSES FOR HIS PEOPLE REVEALED BY HIS PROPHETS – Part 2
Again, having dreams and visions—including encountering God in Christ face to face—in and of itself alone does not make one a prophet, that is, in the sense their role as a divine calling with their mission, message, work, and authority in the Plan of Redemption.
We continue citing Bible examples to establish a sound Biblical foundation:
See JOSHUA 5: 13-15; 7: 10-15. Jehovah (the yet incarnate Jesus) appeared as “Captain of the Lords’ host” a couple of times to Joshua.
As significant as Joshua’s role was—the divinely-chosen successor of Moses to finally lead the remnant of ancient Israel in their 38th year of wilderness wandering, to cross the Jordan river, and start possessing the earthly promised land—the actual appearance of Jehovah to him with specific special messages and instructions, did not make Joshua a prophet!
Who was Joshua? First, his name: “(Joshu-a), or Jeshua, KJV once Jehoshua, once Jehoshuah, and once Hoshea; KJV of the New Testament JESUS (Jesus). Hebrew Yehoshua, “Yahweh is deliverance,” or ‘Yahweh is salvation,’ transliterated into Aramaic as Yeshua, and thence into Greek as ‘Ieaous.’ The name appears on an ancient Hebrew seal.”
Then this brief history of Joshua’s life and works:
“A son of Nun of the tribe of Ephraim (Num. 13: 8, 16). He was Moses’ military commander during the wilderness wanderings….As Moses’ assistant or ‘minister,’ he accompanied Moses in the ascent of Mt. Sinai (ch. 24:13). Two years after the Exodus, Joshua represented his tribe on the expedition to first spy out Canaan. Among the 12, he and Caleb alone returned with a favorable report (Num. 13: 8; 14: 6-9; cf. 14: 7), and thus accorded the privilege of entering Canaan 38 years later (Josh 1: 10, 11). Shortly before his death, Moses installed Joshua as his successor (Num. 27: 18-23; Deut. 1:38; 31: 23). After the preliminary conquest of the heathen coalition of Canaanite kings, he proceeded to dividing the land among the 12 tribes. At the age of 110 he gathered Israel together and counseled them to be faithful to God, and died after (ch 24: 1-28, 29, 30).”
To be continued next MWM, God enabling. Bless all, NMF.