Just about everyone has heard of a “Son of a Gun” or the “Son of Man” or the “Son of God” but, a Son of Nun? You may be surprised to learn that you already know this individual. Mr. Salvation, son of Nun, is one of the most famous Old Testament heroes in the Bible. Let me give you a few more hints and maybe you can figure out who I am talking about.
- He was Moses’ right hand man.
- Moses changed his name.
- He was one of two men the children of Israel wanted to stone because he did not fear the people of Canaan.
- He was the Old Testament Jesus.
Still not sure about Mr. Salvation, well, his story is worth knowing because he was a symbolic picture of the future Messiah. In Numbers 13 Moses sent out one man from each tribe of Israel to search the land of Canaan. From the tribe of Ephraim, Moses chose a man named Hosea. Hosea is a Hebrew word which means: to save, saved or salvation. Most of you probably still don’t recognize this person because Moses changed his name from Hosea to Yehoshua. So instead of just salvation his name became YA is Salvation, Moses added the shorten form of YHWH to his name. The English equivalent of the Hebrew, Yehoshua is Joshua. It was Joshua who conquered Jericho and it was Joshua who led Israel into the promised land of Canaan.
Sadly, due to the evolution of language and the transition of the Bible from Hebrew to Greek to English one of the most beautiful Messianic “types” in the Bible has been obscured today. The Old Testament hero who led Israel into the promised land is known as Joshua. Did you know the Greek version of his name is Jesus? Yes, Jesus = Joshua = Yehoshua and means Salvation of YA or YA is Salvation! Think about that for a minute. Doesn’t that give a different perspective to both the Old Testament Joshua and the New Testament Jesus? They both have the same name.
Now back to Mr. Salvation or as we shall now call him Joshua. Joshua’s father was Nun. Nun means fish or posterity. In a way Joshua could be considered the son of a fisher man. Appropriate then that in the New Testament, Jesus’ disciples were “fishers of men”.
When we consider Joshua as a “type” or foreshadowing of Christ the entry into the Promised Land takes on new meaning. Moses, to whom was given the law, was not allowed to enter. It was under the leadership of Jesus/Joshua, after 40 years of wandering, that Israel finally received the Promise.
John 1:17 17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus [Joshua] Christ.
For those who would like to explore this further here are a few more examples of Joshua/Jesus symbolism:
So Israel arrives at the Jordan River and then they are given some unusual instructions. They are commanded to follow the Ark of the Covenant by 2000 cubits because, “ye have not passed this way heretofore.” That this was an act of symbolism is clearly seen because the Ark stopped in the midst of the Jordan until all the people had finished crossing over. The moment the priest carrying the ark stepped into the river, it “rose up upon an heap” to the city of Adam and Zaretan. It is interesting to note that Zaretan means “their distress”. From a New Testament perspective the “distress” and sin of mankind starting with Adam was paid for when Jesus “crossed over” from death to life almost 2000 years ago.
After Joshua “crossed over” the Jordan river:
Joshua 5:2 2 At that time YHWH said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time.
After Jesus “crossed over” from death to life:
Colossians 2:11-12 11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
Israel wandered for 40 years in the wilderness and they ate manna, the “bread of heaven”.
Exodus 16:4 4 Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.
Nehemiah 9:15 15 And gavest them bread from heaven for their hunger, and broughtest forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and promisedst them that they should go in to possess the land which thou hadst sworn to give them.
After Jesus “crossed over” mankind has had the “bread of life” for almost 2000 years.
John 6:31-35 31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. 32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. 34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. 35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
1 Corinthians 10:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
Joshua 3:3-4 3 And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of YHWH your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it. 4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.
Oh, and 2000 years is aproximated 40 Jubilees.
If you liked this article you might also appreciate my blog post: After Two Days
Thank you for sharing your knowledge of the scriptures and I like the way you teach and write.
Shalom
Theresa
Thank you Theresa,
Shalom to you as well.
William Struse
The knowledge sheared here is
absolute and in depth to Christian faith. More grace to you.
since the original name of the son of nun was hoshea,and was changed to joshua by moses,is it right to call yahwehhoshea since hoshea or joshua is were the name of our present messaiah’s name was drived from.