Join me if you would this morning
in the book of Numbers. Numbers chapter one. It's so
good to be here, so good to see each one. Remember those that
are away from us traveling, or just those that are ill. I am so thankful for that passage
of scripture I run into in the New Testament when the Lord shares
with some religious folks, if you to believe Moses, You would
have believed me, for Moses wrote of me. Now we're going to be
looking at several verses of scripture here in the first chapter.
We're going to travel about 17 verses this morning. In these
17 verses are listed the chiefs over the tribes as they are going
to count the number of folks in those tribes that meet some
criteria. We're going to be looking particularly
at the Prince of Judah, the Prince of Judah. I've mentioned in the
past that there are a number of these folks that were to be
chief over the tribes, their particular tribe of those that
were chosen out to meet the criteria. They're to be 20 years or older,
older. They're to be men. And he's not
telling us things that we shouldn't read into it. He's telling us,
I have made a choice in these tribes. These are the ones I'm
going to count. And we mentioned in the past
that the apostle Paul brings out very clearly in the New Testament
that not all Israel is of Israel. And this is a prime example of
that. There's going to be some out
of every tribe, but not all out of every tribe will meet this
criteria. And the Lord only knows the criteria and he gave this
criteria to Moses and to Aaron that it might be followed out.
There are a number of these people that are chief of their tribes
that have the two letters put together, EL. And when you run
into those names, it has something to do with God. So before we
get down to the tribe of Judah, I want us to read through a few
verses and just pick out that name and give a definition of
that name. The first one is found in verse
five. These are the names that shall stand with you. The tribe
of Reuben, Eleazar, and We mentioned that they're always, they are
the son of, and it just tells us that they could trace their
line right back to Adam. They were children of the fall,
just like we are in our generation. We are children of Adam and Eve. Thank God in the process of his
purpose towards the children of Adam, some of the children
of Adam, that he had a purpose to save them by his grace. Here
is a man that is Eleazar and it means my God is a rock. Now, if we go down through here,
we find that there's a number of things said about God that
are so valuable to the church. And truly, the Lord is our rock. He tells that to his there, about
the rock, this rock. And in the New Testament there,
in the book of Corinthians, that rock that followed them, that
rock was Christ. So this man's name means that.
You know, we try to pick out names for our children, I think,
most of the time, that had some significance. And these people,
in the Old Testament in particular, God gave them names that were
recorded by the Holy Spirit that are significant. The Holy Spirit
spoke and moved upon Moses to write these things down. Holy
men of God spoke or spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
The next one we find is in verse six of this, it says, of Simeon. And this name is Friend of God. And we truly find that we can
only be a Friend of God through the Friend of God, the Lord Jesus
Christ. The next one is found in verse
8 of Issachar. Nathanael, Nathanael in the New
Testament we know the name is Nathan today and that's given
of God and then in verse 9 of the tribe of Zebulon, Eliab and
his name means my God is father and in verse 10 the children
of Joseph Ephraim, Elishema, and his name means, my God has
heard. And in Manasseh, these are the
two sons of Joseph. Joseph had a special blessing.
His tribe was divided into two tribes. And we're going to find
that his sons are represented here. And his son's name was
Ephraim and Manasseh. And of Manasseh, Gamaliah, and
his name There in verse 10 means reward of God. And in verse 13,
it says of Asher, Pegiel, and his name means event of God. And in verse 14, we have Gad,
and of Gad, Elishaphah, and his name means God has added. Well,
very significant through here are these prefixes and suffixes
that share with us something about God. But there is a tribe. that is not mentioned because
of the EL and in his name we find in Numbers chapter 1 and
verse 7 it says of Judah there is a person by the name of Nahashon. Now I'm going to say that word
several times today because he is a tremendous representative
of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ found in Christ himself. And I will probably pronounce
that name a dozen different ways. So please forgive me right up
front. I'm not used to pronouncing names
like this. Nahashon. Now Nahashon is one
that is going to be the leader of the tribe of Judah for the
significance of choosing out an army. to fulfill the requirements
that the Lord has given to Moses and to Aaron about having an
army called out. And in that, there are some criteria. Now, Judah's representative,
it tells us, is the son of Edomadad. Now, keep your finger here, but
would you travel with me forward to the book of Ruth? To the book
of Ruth. Not too far off is the book of
Ruth. And in the book of Ruth, chapter
4, we have the line of Judah and in the line of Judah we find
the line of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Now it is very
important as we follow the tribe of Judah, the tribe of Judah
is going to be protected above all the other tribes. for a very
good reason. Through this tribe will come
the Savior. This is the promised one and
we're going to go back just a moment back to the book of Genesis and
it was Jacob that shares with us when he came to his son Judah
and made his blessing upon him just before he passed away. It
is significant in the words that he said with his son that gives
us the thought of what's going to happen with this tribe of
Judah in time. Judah was just, the tribe of
Judah was just as reckless and sinful as all the other tribes
that were there. There was nothing in them that
would be special, and yet God chose Judah to bring the Christ
child into the world, the Savior. All right, in Ruth chapter four,
beginning with verse 18, we have a genealogy listed here. Now,
Judah is not mentioned here, but his son is mentioned here.
This son is Perez. He's a twin. Now, it was a nefarious
affair that Judah had that brought this son into the world, but
God was pleased to have him in the direct line of the Lord Jesus
Christ. We have Perez begat Hezron, and
Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Adamadad, And Ademadad begat
Nashon, and Nashon begat Salmon, and Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz
begat Obed, and Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David. My goodness,
five generations from Judah, we are introduced to the prince
of the tribe of Judah. And after this, we find that
he stands directly in line that brings us up to King David. And
then it says there are just a few generations from David down to
the time of Christ. So this person is very significant
in the history of the tribe of Judah and in the history of the
coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Going back to the book of Exodus,
if you would, for just a moment, we find that Nashon's sister
is significant in the history of the Bible. In the book of
Exodus chapter 6, we find that Aaron gets married. Wonderful experience. We mentioned
this morning about Mike and Marilyn, the 10th of July, 50th wedding
anniversary. My, and it goes by that quick. Nancy and I were talking about
it last night. I was remembering that 50th wedding anniversary
of theirs. I proposed to her this last week,
51 years ago. I said, you know, it's just hard
for us to imagine what it would be like in 50 years, but here
we are. 51 years past that. Well, here in the book of Exodus
chapter 6, Exodus chapter 6 and verse 23, It says, and Aaron
took him Elisheba, daughter of Ademadad, sister of Nashon. Now here it's spelled a little
different, but it's the same person. To wife and bear him. All right. Did you know that this guy's
nephews are Nadab, Abihu, Eliezer, and Ithamar. I was shocked when I started
looking into this. We think of it as coincidence. I had to quit
using that term because nothing is a coincidence. Everything
works out according to God's eternal purpose. It was no mistake
that the Lord Jesus Christ ended up at Jacob's well just as a
lady came down there to draw water. It was no mistake that
there were two disciples mending the nets with their father and
he comes along and calls them. It is no mistake that the Lord
came to your place sometime somewhere and you heard the gospel because
he had purposed that from eternity. And here we have this man that
is chosen as to be the chief of the tribe of Judah for this
purpose. His brother-in-law is Aaron. He is related to David. David is going to be his great-great-grandson. He's related right back to Judah,
and he is called the chief of the tribe of Judah. All of these
12 tribes and all of these princes and all of the heads of the thousands
in Israel are important, yet none so important as Nashon of
the tribe of Judah. Back up with me again to the
book of Genesis in chapter 49. In Genesis chapter 49, His great,
great, great grandfather has some words to say about this
lineage that we've just read about. They're in the book of
Ruth. And then we could go over to the book of Matthew or to
the book of Luke, and we could read this lineage from that point
down to the time of Christ. In the book of Genesis chapter
49, now I don't know how except to the Spirit of God that these
men in this period of time could sit down with their family and
make a comment about them, and it became truth. But it happened. They're not making predictions.
They're predicting that tomorrow it will be 118 here. You know
what? I hope they're wrong. But when
God speaks, we never want it to be wrong. We want it to be
right, because that's the way it's going to be. Well, here
in the book of Genesis chapter 49 and there in verse 8, chapter
49 and verse 8, we read these words. It says, Judah, and this
is his father, this is Jacob talking to his son Judah. Judah,
thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise. Thy hand shall
be in the neck of thine enemies. Thy father's children shall bow
down before thee. Judah is a lion's whelp from
the prey. My son, thou art gone up. He
stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion, who shall
rouse him up. Now this is very interesting
when we get to the New Testament and read about the tribe of Judah. There is a lion of the tribe
of Judah in the book of Revelation. The scepter. shall not depart
from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh
come. And unto him shall the gathering
of the people be. Binding his fold upon the vine,
and his ass's colt upon the choice vine, he washed his garments
in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes. His eyes shall
be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk. Now I don't
understand all that is in that comment that Jacob made about
Judah. But he is mentioning some very
significant things about this line and the purpose that God
is going to use this line to bring the Savior into the world. He is a lion. And it tells us
here that there's going to be some blood spilt. And we know
that the Savior spilt his blood on the behalf of the church.
This is what God had predicted or promised through his servant
Jacob to Judah. And it's carried down to our
friend here found in the book of Numbers. Turn back to the book of Numbers,
if you would, as we follow this chief of Judah, this chief of
Judah, this Nashon. In the book of Numbers chapter
7, as we follow this man through the scriptures, we find in Numbers
chapter 7 that he is given a very, very important and special place
with regard to the raising up of the tabernacle in the wilderness.
In the book of Numbers chapter 7 and verse 1, after the tabernacle
is completed, notice with me here, it came to pass on the
day that Moses had fully set up the tabernacle. All of the
parts and pieces are put together. all of the pans are there, all
of the everything that was made out of gold. You know we read
earlier about that lamp stand that was put into the holy place
out of one lump of gold, a craftsman beat it out A craftsman brought
out of it a seven golden lamp stands to be placed in there.
There was no joints in it, and there was no alloy of it. Speaking
so highly of our Savior, the Lord Jesus, and then the beating
that he would take, as is mentioned in the book of Isaiah chapter
53, for the people's sins. The blood of Christ would be
spilt on the behalf of the people's sins, his people's sins. And
then it tells us here, all of this is done. And it came to
pass on that day that Moses had fully set up the tabernacle,
and had anointed it, and sanctified it, and all the instruments thereof,
both the altar and all the vessels thereof. and had anointed them
and sanctified them. What process Moses went through
as he shares with us how this one, this tabernacle, which is
typical of Christ, this tabernacle speaks of Christ in every particle,
every layer, every board, every altar, every light that is there,
speaks of some glory of Christ. And here it is, he's been set
aside, he's been anointed, and it tells us there that he'd been
sanctified. Well, the Lord Jesus Christ was
sanctified in eternity, set apart in eternity. He's the Lamb set
apart in eternity. And then it tells us here that
he's anointed. Christ, the very word Christ
means anointed one. Messiah. And then it says that
the princes of Israel, heads of the house of their fathers,
who were the princes of the tribes and were over them that were
numbered offered. And they brought their offerings
before the Lord, six covered wagons and 12 oxen and a wagon
for two of the princes and for each one an ox. And they brought
them before the tabernacle. And then if you'll jump with
me down to verse 12, It brings us, and he that offered his first
offering, the first offering to be offered, the first day
was Neshon, the son of Edomadat, of the tribe of Judah. It is
so important here to find out that this one person is nominated
by God Almighty to offer the first sacrifice on the first
day of the setting aside of the tabernacle, and the rest of them
follow suit. Well, we're certainly going to
find out it is the Lord that offered the true sacrifice. He offered the real sacrifice. He offered the first acceptable
sacrifice. Let us travel just a little further
as we watch this Captain General of the Army of the Tribe of Judah.
There is no coincidence as we follow him through. We find out
that he is consistently and constantly at the forefront. Here in the
book, turn with me to the book of 1st Chronicles. 1st Chronicles,
as his name is brought up again, and he's called by this name,
by this title in 1st Chronicles, this one person brought out throughout
the scriptures. 1st Chronicles chapter 2, and
there in verse 10. 1st Chronicles chapter 2. And
verse 10, and Ram begat Edomadad, and Edomadad
begat Nashon, prince of the children of Judah. What was that place
there for? Prince of the tribe of Judah,
of the people of Judah. This one person is identified
several times in the scripture as the first one to offer a sacrifice. The one that is called the Prince
of the tribe of Judah. And then would we travel back
to the book of Numbers again in Numbers chapter 10. In Numbers
chapter 10, his name is brought up again. In Numbers chapter
10, God is ready to move the children of Israel. They've been
camped at Sinai for about two years. And he's getting ready
to move them. They're headed from Sinai over
to the land that he is going to eventually give them. Now,
it's interesting. They were there at one time.
That's where Jacob came from. It was the same land that they're
going to go back to. brings us to a thought, what
we had before Adam fell, then he fell, and then the Lord takes
us back to a much greater prosperity in himself. We know grace as
a result of salvation. Adam didn't know that before
the fall, but we know that after the fall. So Jacob lived there,
he came down to Egypt, He lived there. He died there. His children
were born there. His grandchildren were born there.
His great-grandchildren were born there. For 400 years they're
there. And then the Lord comes along
and by His grace and mercy towards these people, He gave them the
Passover. They leave and cross the Red
Sea and enter in at Sinai. And after being camped there
for two years, This is time to move. Notice with me here in
Numbers chapter 10. Numbers chapter 10 verse 11,
the scriptures share this, and it came to pass on the 20th day
of the second month in the second year that the cloud was taken
up from off the tabernacle of the testimony. Now God had promised
them that he would lead them through this wilderness. Now if we follow them, we do
not have any enemies behind them picking them off. There's none
on the sides of them picking them off. They're out there alone
with God. And God said, I will lead you
by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. And
when the pillar of fire or the pillar of cloud moves, it is
signed to you to move. Well, here in the book of Numbers
chapter 10, Numbers chapter 10, it came to pass, verse 11, on
the 20th day of the second month in the second year that the cloud
was taken up off the tabernacle of the testimony. And the children
of Israel took their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai,
and the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran. Verse 13. And they first took
their journey according to the commandment of the Lord by the
hand of Moses. Now, who do you think is going
to be the first person in line to lead all the children of Israel
away from where they've been camped at Sinai. Verse 14, in
the first place went the standard of the camp of the children of
Judah according to their armies and over his host was Neshon
the son of Ademadat. No coincidence with God. He's
the one chosen over Judah. He's the first one to offer a
sacrifice when the tabernacle is completed. And when it came
time to move, he has standard and he are in the front of all
the children of Israel. Now, when we come to the new
Testament, not all the tribes of Israel are mentioned in the
new Testament. In fact, a couple of them are
only mentioned as places. Zebulon and Naphtali, in the
land of Zebulon and Naphtali. Now, that's two tribes of Israel,
and that's the places that the Lord had gone to. In the book
of Luke, would you turn there with me? Well, let's stop at
Luke chapter 1. Luke chapter 1, as we turn to
the New Testament, and in the New Testament gives us so much
meaning about what we're reading about here. In the book of Luke
chapter 5, excuse me, Luke chapter 1, verse 5, we read here about
Zacharias and his wife. Zacharias and his wife. And it
says here, there was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea,
a certain priest named Zacharias of the course of Abba. And his
wife was of the daughters of Aaron and her name was Elizabeth. Now it's interesting that Zacharias'
wife is related to Aaron, to the Levitical priesthood. And
then let's turn to chapter 2 and verse 36. Chapter 2 and verse 36. It tells
us another tribe that is represented here. Not all the tribes are
represented in the New Testament, but here is a tribe, one of the
lost tribes. You know, God knows where all
of his people are all the time, even though the 10 tribes were
sent off and scattered abroad through the world. Out of those
10 tribes, all that belong to him will show up. And here's
one of them. In the book of Luke chapter 2
and verse 36, it tells us about one from the tribe of Asher.
Luke chapter 2, verse 36. And here's an Anna, a prophetess,
the daughter of Phanel, the tribe of Asher. And she was of great
age and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity,
and she was a widow about 84 years, which departed not from
the temple, but served God with fasting and prayer night and
day. And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the
Lord, and spake unto him, to all them that looked for redemption
in Israel. And when they had performed all
things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee
of their own city Nazareth. Here we have one of the tribe
of Asher, name by name, Anna, comes in at the appropriate time
and she knew what this baby was all about. Redemption in Israel,
this Anna of the tribe of Asher. In the book of Romans chapter
11, The Apostle Paul shares with us some of the information about
himself, and he brings up the thought that he is of the tribe
of Benjamin. Romans chapter 11 and verse 1.
Romans chapter 11 and verse 1 is also brought out in the book
of Philippians, that the Apostle Paul had lineage from Judah,
excuse me, from Jacob. Here in the book of Romans chapter
11 and verse 1, I say then, hath God cast away his people? God
forbid. For I also am an Israelite of
the seed of Abraham of the tribe of Benjamin. Now, Benjamin was
the tribe that had the first king of Israel, Saul. He was
a Benjamite, but he didn't fulfill his contract. And you know where
the Lord went to? To the tribe of Judah and chose
out David. Now he was the least likely of
all the sons of Jesse, but he was God's choice. And among this
world, the Lord Jesus Christ is the least likely to do anything
for anybody. And yet he is the only Redeemer
of his people. He is truly a Savior that saves
and a Redeemer that redeems. In the book of Hebrews chapter
7, as we follow through, we're headed for the book of Revelation.
But in our way there, let's look here in the book of Hebrews chapter
7. Hebrews chapter 7 and verse 5. We read here about another tribe
represented. Hebrews chapter 7 and verse 5. And verily they are of the sons
of Levi. who received the office of the
priesthood have a commandment to take tithes of the people
according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they
came out of the loins of Abraham. And then if we jump over, I just
want to read verse 14. Brother Lauren read this earlier,
but in verse 14, for it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah,
of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning the priesthood. Hallelujah. Our high priest is not of the
tribe of Judah. Our high priest has taken care
of the law in the sacrifice of himself, and therefore there
is a new law, and that law is to bow to him. Bow to the Savior. Bow to Christ. It's not to the
legalism of the law. So we have a new tribe selected. This tribe has been selected
from eternity past. It was evidenced by Judah's dad, Jacob. It was evidenced
by Jacob when he identified the tribe of Judah, no scepter will
depart until Shiloh come. We're going to have kings come
down until Christ comes here, but he is identified as the king
of kings and lord of lords. No longer do we need the trappings
of Israel. No longer do we need the trappings
of the law. No longer do we need the trappings
of the temple. No longer do we need those sacrifices
because the King is here, the Lord Jesus Christ. In James chapter
one, it talks about James to the 12 tribes which are scattered
abroad. Now we could just say that James
is talking about the church. I'm writing a general letter
to the church that's scattered abroad. to the 12 tribes? Well, over in the book of Revelation.
Now would you travel with me to Revelation chapter 5. In Revelation
chapter 5, we have an incident that is so highly spoken of. Revelation chapter 5. In fact,
it's an incident that made John cry. John is the writer of this
book. He's been exiled to Patmos for
preaching the gospel. And he's out there virtually
alone on the Isle of Patmos for good reason. He is going to be
given the book of Revelation. The book of Revelation starts
this way, the revelation of Jesus Christ. And if you keep that
verse in mind as you read the book of Revelation, you will
have a blessing there. If you keep in mind all of the
trash that's going on by people who think they know about the
book of Revelation and skip that point, you're going to go into
a lot of trash. But here in the book of Revelation
chapter 5, John cries, as it says here in Revelation chapter
five. And I saw the right hand of him
that sat on the throne, a book written within and on the backside,
sealed with seven seals. Now this is kind of like that
scroll that we have there in the book of Zechariah written
on both sides. It's a scroll that's been wrapped up, rolled
up, and there are seven seals on it. I saw a strong angel proclaiming
with a loud voice, who is worthy to open the book and to loose
the seals thereof? And no man in heaven nor in earth,
neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither
to look thereon. How this speaks of our inability
to see, understand, be blessed by the word of God outside of
the new birth. We can't understand it. Word
mentioned this morning there, it says that the natural man
receiveth not the things of God. We just cannot comprehend them
as the spirit of God can reveal them. We might know about the
Lord, we might know about his salvation, but we will not know
it until he reveals himself to us. And then it goes in here
in verse four, and I wept much because No man was found worthy
to open and read the book, neither to look thereon. Now he might
be weeping for the church. There's nobody around that can
reveal this. Would someone? Do you remember
what the Ethiopian eunuch said? Philip came up to him and said,
do you understand what you're reading? And he says, how can
I except some man show me? Well, that's our plight. There
it is. We're up to here in this plight. We just don't have the ability
on our own to understand the word of God. My grandmother read
the Bible through for probably 60 years. Every year she had
one of these pages and she checked them off every year. And you
know, when it came time to know something about the word of God,
she didn't know anything about it. It was history to her, and
she could quote a lot of it. Dear, dear lady, I love her still. She made the best biscuits. She
was good to me. I would rather be with her than
my parents because she never had to get after me. She wouldn't
get after me. Well, she just proves to me that
it doesn't matter who we are. We're stuck when it comes to
this, knowing what this scroll is about. And it's the gospel.
All right, it goes on here. One of the elders, someone that's
been there for a while, said unto me, weep not. Behold, now
notice this with me. The lion of the tribe of Judah
of the root of David hath prevailed to open the book and to loose
the seven seals thereof. We got some help. We got someone
to take over the plight, someone to take over the problem. We
have somebody, a lion of the tribe of Judah. We have the Lord
Jesus Christ. And you know what, as we trace
the line back of Christ, we run into this guy in the book of
Numbers chapter one that was the chief over the tribe of Judah.
This one that offered the first sacrifice that was offered. This
one who stood at the forefront of all the tribes of Israel as
they left and moved. This one that is the chiefest
among the children of Judah. This one, and he's spoken of
here, and in verse 11, and Abihel and heard the voice of many angels
round about the throne, and the beasts and the elders and a number
of them was 10,000 times 10,000 and thousands of thousands. You know, in other words, it's
the same number that's mentioned earlier, or later one, when it
has the 12 tribes, and it says there's 144,000. This is the
same number that no man can number. It is just that big. Saying with
a loud voice, worthy is the lamb that was slain to receive power,
and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in
heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, Such as are
in the sea, and all they are in them. Heard I say, blessing,
and honor, and glory, and power be unto him that sitteth upon
the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever. And the four
beasts, those are living creatures. They're not boogeymen. Amen. And the four and 20 elders fell
down and worshiped him that liveth forever and ever. This one, the
Lion of the tribe of Judah, could come in, on his own power and
own authority and walk up to this scroll that's sealed with
seven seals and open everyone and reveal something about himself. How glorious is this? Nashon. There's some similarities between
Nashon and the Lord himself. And it's done on purpose. Nashon
is a direct descendant of Judah. So is our Savior. In the flesh. He is the God-man. He came through
Judah. He's the Lion of the tribe of
Judah. Nashon was chosen leader of his tribe. Do you know what
Isaiah 42 verse 1 says? It says, Behold my servant whom
I have pulled, mine elect. The Lord Jesus Christ is the
first elect of the church. He is the chosen one of Israel. He's the one that's exalted.
Boy, there's election. He's the elect. and in him are
all the children of God chosen. Behold my servant whom I uphold."
Now, Nashon, out of all the rest of the folks, was chosen by God,
identified by Moses and Aaron, and said, you will lead this
tribe. Nashon was the first representative
of the children of Israel to offer the sacrifice after the
tabernacle was built. And we find that the Lord Jesus
Christ alone for Then must he often have suffered since the
foundation of the world, but now, once in the end of the world,
hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. That's all Nishan was demonstrating. There is the need for a sacrifice. There is a need for a substitute. I'm not him, but one is coming
after me that shall be. Nashon was the first in line
when the children of Israel moved in the wilderness. You know,
we find that there is a captain of our salvation. That's the
Lord Jesus Christ. He is the captain of our salvation.
He's in charge of it. Every bit of it. Every whit of
it. Salvation is of the Lord, is
what we find Jonah saying. And it also shares with us that
in all things he shall have the preeminence. He is number one. He is the leader of the tribe
of his people. Nashon demonstrated, though,
that he was a child of Adam. Would you turn with me back to
the book of Joshua? Nashon was related to Adam. The
Lord could trace his line back, his human side back, but he was
perfect on his human side. He didn't have any sin. He didn't
have the death sentence over him because of sin. Now, he took
the death sentence because of his people, but he didn't have
it hanging over him just because he was a child of Adam. Sin, when it is finished, bringeth
forth death. In the book of Joshua chapter
4, excuse me, chapter 5, Joshua chapter 5, in Joshua chapter
5 and verse 4, It says here, and this is the
cause, Joshua chapter five and verse four, and this is the cause
why Joshua did circumcise all the people that came out of Egypt
that were males, even all the men of war. Did you notice the
next word? Died in the wilderness, by the
way, after they came out of Egypt. This man demonstrated he's just
a child of Adam. He died in the wilderness. And
you know what? His dust is still there if it
hasn't been blown into some sea. All those folks, their dust still
rests. But this one, our Savior, died
according to promise, yet he rose from the dead, putting away sin forever. Rage for our justification. He is a savior that actually
saves. I'm sure that there were a lot
of people that had high regard and respect for this leader,
this chief of the tribe of Judah. How often he came to their assistance. How often he helped them as they
were moving. How often he did things that
were very respectable. But when it came to the end of
his life, He died like the rest of them, and his ashes, his dust
is still there. But our Savior, the true chief
of the tribe of Judah, sits at the right hand of the Father,
making intercession for the church. He did and does and will continue
to do what this man could not do, because he was a man of the
flesh. How glorious is the Savior that
this man spoke of by the deeds of his life. A lion of the tribe
of Judah hath prevailed to take the roll, the book, and open
the seals. And when he took that book and
started to open the seals, the whole church bowed down before
him and says, worthy is the lamb that was slain to receive honor
and glory and praise. How glorious is this lion of
the tribe of Judah to save his people and all his people from
their sins by the sacrifice of himself. Brother Mike, if you'll
come.