No, not your run-of-the mill Hollywood flicks coming your way, but something infinitely better… Hang on, I would come to the point but firstly… amazing thing about the Bible is that several things which occurred in the New dispensation of grace were either prophesied directly or portrayed through symbolic events in the Old Testament times. Take the prophecy of “Redeemer” Moses (used of God to redeem the Jews from Egyptian bondage) for instance, who prophesied that the Almighty would raise up a Prophet similar to him (Deuteronomy 18:15-18). We see Jesus not only applying that Prophecy to Himself (John 5:45-46), but also by His action of offering Himself as a vicarious sacrifice on the Cross, He paved the way for redemption of not just one nation, but of the entire fallen mankind. And there are more similarities between Moses and Jesus. At the birth of both there was a slaughter of innocent babies. And the Almighty, who said: “vengeance is mine” (Romans 12:19) brought about vengeance by killing the Egyptian firstborn male children on the night of Passover (see Exodus 12:29) and by bringing about an excruciating death of bowel disease to King Herod, a historical fact validated by writings of Jewish historians like Josephus. Continuing with the similarities both Moses and Jesus, both were rejected by Jews in their “First coming” (Exodus 2:13-15/John 1:11), and the lives of both are covered in precisely 4 Books…if Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy cover the life and Ministry of Moses, then the four Gospels penned by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John cover that of Jesus.
Looking for a counterpart in the Old Testament for the Book of Acts? All action and racy? Then go no further than the Book of Joshua. Welcome to this comparative study of the books of Joshua and Acts, virtually the Siamese twins of Old and New Testament times. In this series of four parts, I will be training the spotlight on lessons from both the positive and the negative events that we see portrayed in these two action-packed Books, which are not a result of some fertile imagination, but Divine inspiration, bearing not fiction but facts. Firstly:
LOCATION…
The Books of Joshua and Acts begin exactly where the earthly Ministries of two great Redeemers (Moses and Jesus) end. In the Canon, we see the Book of Joshua placed immediately after Deuteronomy, where we see Moses finishing His Ministry (Acts 34:7-12); and Acts begins immediately after John’s Gospel (the only Gospel, which records the triumphant cry of Jesus on completing the Redemption plan on the Cross…It is Finished… John 19:30).
PREPARATION…
If the main protagonist, Joshua, in the Book of Joshua (the Book that bears his name), was trained by Moses for good 40 years, then the Apostles of Christ–the heroes of faith–in the Book of Acts were intensely trained by Jesus for three and half years. Oh how wonderful it is to be mentored by a faithful, God-fearing leader, for we have an opportunity of seeing first-hand and inculcating the God-honoring virtues conspicuous in them, which would stand us in good stead when we launch into our own Ministries at the time the Almighty says “go”.
Broadly speaking, is not any God-honoring Ministry more of a relay race than an individual race run for self-glory? Throughout Scripture, many a time we see God wanting the leaders of a generation to pass the baton on to those younger ones, whom they have carefully nurtured. Elsewhere in Scripture we also see this wonderful pattern emerging in the case of Elijah and Elisha, and Paul and Timothy, etc.
Prayer: Father, we thank you for all devout mentors who by their example have made us grow spiritually to handle bigger responsibilities. Enable us also to groom next generation of leaders by the time our life draws to an end. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Suresh Manoharan
(To access the rest of the “Lights, Camera, Action!” mini-series, please click here.)