RUSSELL SANDERS

10-15-2025

THE LIFE OF JOSHUA – LESSON 2

VICTORY AT REPHIDIM

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The original name of Joshua was Oshéa (or Hoshea). We see in Numbers 13:16 that Moses changed his name to Je-hosh’ua, now written as Joshua. It means “Yah Saves.” Oshéa (Hoshea) meant “salvation.” The change to Jehoshua meant “God’s Salvation.” It is the same form of name as Yeshua. The letters “J” and “Y” are interchangeable, essentially the same.

Therefore “Joshua” and “Yeshua” are the same name and both names credit salvation as being of God. Oshéa (Joshua) was a direct descendant of Joseph. He was of the tribe of Ephraim who was Joseph’s son. Given the lineage in I Chronicles 7:22-27, Joshua was likely a prince in the tribe of Ephraim.

Moses chose Joshua (Yeshua) to be his righthand man. It was clearly from God’s direction, God’s choice. The first mention of Joshua came probably less than two months after escaping from Egypt. We see in Exodus 17 that the people pitched camp in Rephidim. They had no water and feared dying of thirst. This is where Moses struck a rock as God instructed and water came from it. It was sufficient to satisfy everyone, all two million or more people.

It was just after that miracle that their first opposition arose. While at Rephidim the Amalekites came to fight them. Amalek was a descent of Esau. Moses instructed Joshua in Exodus 17:8-16 to choose men to form an army to war against Amalek. Moses went up a hill to observe the battle. He lifted up his arms holding the rod of God in his hands. It was the same rod he had used in front of Pharaoh. As long as his hands were raised to God, Joshua was winning the battle. When his arms got tired and his hands came down, the battle went against Joshua.

Aaron and Hur were with Moses. They fetched a stone for Moses to sit down on and they held up his hands unto the Lord. Joshua then won the battle over the Amalekites.

To commemorate the victory, Moses built an altar there. He named the altar Jehovah-Nissi which means Jehovah (is my) banner. Nissi means banner, flag, or standard by which we are known.

This victory established Joshua as the “general” of God’s army for the next forty-seven years. He won every military conflict except the first one at Ai due to Achan’s sin. No other Jewish leader had such a record of victories until the time of King David.

HELEN SANDERS

10-15-2025

THE SEED PART 17

JESUS PART 4

JESUS AND HIS MINISTRY

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Jesus and his twelve disciples spent their time mostly in the “field.” Yes, Jesus preached in the synagogue, but his ministry was to preach that the kingdom of God was coming, and he taught it on the hillside, in a boat, and other visible places.

For three and a half years he taught his disciples. He sent them out two by two to preach the kingdom of God was coming. Jesus healed, preached, raised the dead, opened blind eyes, walked on water, and performed many miracles, including turning water into wine at a wedding. Many lives were changed.

He also rebuked the religious leaders that were all show and no true Spirit of God. They were comfortable in their religious positions, and Jesus was “rocking their boat.” They hated him and were determined to get rid of him.

In John chapter 10 we see the Jews asking him if he was the Christ. Christ means the anointed one, or Messiah. This wasn’t asked to believe in him, they asked it to trap him. He told them that his sheep hear his voice and follow him, and they receive eternal life. 

Then in verse 29 speaking of “His sheep” Jesus said, “My Father, which gave them [sheep] me is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them [sheep] out of my Father’s hand.”

Then he said, “I and my Father are one.”  This stirred them to want to kill him. They took up stones to stone him to death. When he asked why they would do this they replied in verse 33, “…For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.” 

They tried to take Jesus, but he escaped. It was not his time yet. But that day would come soon. Jesus, God in the flesh, the Promised Seed, would pay the ultimate price. The religious Jewish leadership were determined to silence him. 

Tomorrow we will learn that silencing God and bruising the promised seed does not work.