So anyway, this post is a follow-up to my last post on John the Baptist. If you missed it, you can read it here.
We are going to go back in history and look at the significance of the Jordan River, and the passing of the torch from Moses to Joshua.
Moses had led his people out of Egypt, through the wilderness, and to the edge of the Jordan River. Because Moses had not carefully followed the Lord's instructions in the wilderness - striking the rock instead of speaking to it - he was not allowed to enter the Promised Land. Was God being unfair?
Of course not. Every act of God has meaning and purpose. God used the situation for His own illustrative purposes - for us!
Moses, just like so many other figures in the Hebrew scriptures, is a foreshadow of Messiah. In fact, Deuteronomy 18:15 promises: The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear.
Look at this list and see if indeed Yeshua is a prophet like Moses:
- Moses was the first mediator. Yeshua was the final mediator.
- Both were born as Hebrews
- Both were chosen by God as leaders
- Both were born while Israel was suffering under cruel leaders
- Both were hidden in Egypt as babies from those who wanted to kill them
- Both performed supernatural acts
- Moses turned water into blood. Yeshua turned water into wine.
- Both communicated directly with God
- Both instituted a new covenant between God and the people
- Both performed miracles
- Moses told the people about the Passover Lamb. Yeshua became the Passover Lamb.
- Both were hated by the ruling parties
- Both had siblings who misunderstood them
- Both were lawgivers, one on Mt. Sinai, one on the Mount of Beatitudes
- Moses sent out twelve spies; Yeshua sent out twelve disciples
- Moses chose seventy leaders; Yeshua sent out seventy disciples
- Both had followers who strayed from their teachings
- Both fasted 40 days and faced a spiritual crisis on a mountain
- People picked up stones to stone each of them; and in neither case succeeded
- Moses brought living water out of the rock; Yeshua is the Rock, our Living Water
- Moses controlled the Red Sea; Yeshua controlled the Sea of Galilee
- Both faces shone with glory on a mountain
- Moses lifted the serpent up to bring healing; Yeshua was lifted up to bring healing
- Moses was a shepherd; Yeshua is the Good Shepherd
- Both underwent warfare with arms raised and surrounded by two people
- Both fed thousands of people supernaturally with bread
- Each of them were preceded by 400 years of biblical silence before starting their ministry
- Both showed compassion to women at wells
- Both redeemed people from slavery - Slavery in Egypt, slavery to sin
- Both were loved and supported by women named Miriam
- Both chose humble lives of servanthood
- Moses offered his life after the sin of the golden calf. Yeshua offered His life for the sin of the world.
- Both died on a hill
- Moses was cut off from the Promised Land, Yeshua was cut off from His father
- Both delivered their people with mighty hands and outstretched arms
- Both died so that there could be a new beginning for their people
Moses died and was buried on Mt. Nebo, just across the Jordan River from Jericho. The torch was passed to Yahoshua (Joshua) son of Nun, and the people prepared to enter the Promised Land. (There are many similarities between Joshua and Yeshua as well... but we will save that for another post).
What time of year did they cross the Jordan?
Just before PASSOVER.
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| The priests lead the way crossing the Jordan River |
At the beginning of the first month of the year, Nisan, the Jordan River parted and the people of Israel walked through on dry land, led by the priests. For a number of days, they camped just east of Jericho. At this time, the Israelites were circumcised as they prepared for the new beginning. Passover began on the 14th of Nissan, and the very next day - the first day of Unleavened Bread - the Israelites began to eat of the produce of the land and the manna stopped.
It was also the day they began to march around Jericho. On the final day of Unleavened Bread, the walls of Jericho toppled by the hand of the Lord, and Israel officially entered the Promised Land.
Crossing the Jordan was very significant. It is a throwback to the Red Sea. It is a foreshadow of spiritual deliverance by the Messiah. This is why our high priest Yeshua was immersed in the Jordan before beginning His ministry. It is the start of something new!
Peter confirms that Yeshua is the prophet spoken of in Deuteronomy 18 when he says in Acts 3:22, For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you.
Yeshua wipes away sin and gives new life to those who will trust in Him. Have you crossed the Jordan yet to meet Him?
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