Prophet Pearls #52-Vezot Haberachah-Deuteronomy 33:1–34:12

This week’s Prophet reading—traditionally called the Haftorah—is Joshua 1:1–18. It accompanies the Torah portion Vezot Haberachah (Deuteronomy 33:1–34:12).

In this final reading from the Prophets, Joshua, Moses’ successor, receives instructions from God in preparation for leading Israel into the land of Canaan. God promises to be with Joshua just as He was with Moses, and pledges to never leave or forsake him. The key to Joshua’s success, however, will be his faithful adherence to the book of God’s Torah or instruction. Listen to Keith Johnson in this last solo recording as he discovers priceless gems in this installment of Prophet Pearls: Exploring Biblical Prophecy for Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow.

If you would like to listen to Keith and Nehemia discuss the Torah portions that correlate to the Prophet portions here are the original Torah Pearls programs recorded in 2011-2012.

Transcript

You are listening to Prophet Pearls with Keith Johnson, exploring biblical prophecy for yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Keith: Welcome to the final episode of our yearlong Prophet Pearls series. This is your host, Keith Johnson going solo. And I have to be honest in saying I was not sure how, when, where, or even if this final episode would be recorded after Nehemia and I finished recording over 30 episodes together in Jerusalem. This final episode was left, hanging in the balance, waiting for when or if we would complete it as it worked out, Nehemia decided that he wanted to launch something new. And to be honest, I think he was getting weary of dealing with an old guy like me. Did you hear me coughing and complaining about being sick during those recordings? I've actually heard that he has announced that the first episode of his new podcast also doubles as the last unofficial episode of prophet pearls on the portion of Vezot Haberachah. I sure am glad he said "unofficial" because I have been waiting for how or more importantly, if Maestro, you know, God would complete the final movement of this beautiful symphony called Prophet Pearls. Well, you folks, on the first day of Sukkot, which also happened to be my birthday.

Hey! No Thanks! Once I reached this age, I decided no more singing. It makes me nervous. Now back to what I was saying. On the first day of Sukkot, feast of booths, which happened to be my birthday.

Hey, shut that off. Who Is editing this? Anyway? I said, no singing now that I've reached this age. Anyway, on that day, something happened. Did you know that this year in Israel, during Sukkot, the entire Torah is read in public? It only happens once every like seven years, according to scripture, I figured it was a good time to unroll and read some of my own Torah scroll. And, Oh man, I love that Torah scroll. As I was reading it's when I realized how much I loved sharing both through Prophet Pearls and Torah Pearls, the word of God. Do you realize we have recorded over 100 episodes that cover almost the entire Torah and prophet portions except one. Wow. Well now it seems that I'm on my own, which means I can invite you to be my partner in discovering some of these pearls with me. Why not? It's how I love to approach scripture by taking back and forth and talking, you know, and discussing.

And you say a little something , I say a little bit. And of course in the case of when the Prophet Pearls, Nehemia would say a lot and I'd say a little bit, but actually it was really a powerful experience because what we would do is we'd go back and forth and we would be reading and discovering really right at the moment. So let's try this out. Are you willing to try it out? If not, I'm going to do it anyway. Hey, listen, I committed to completing the series. It just, this old guy, a little longer than expected, but I think personally, we are right on time. So here's what we will do to proceed for this final prophet portion. Joshua chapter one verses one through eighteen. Imagine you're sitting here with me with your Bible open and we'll search together. So instead of me preparing a presentation that may never be heard, let's look at the passage together and see what we can find.

This way I can ask you to do some of the reading while I do some of the research. So without further ado, let's do this. Now, by the way, let me just say something. Folks. I don't have the high tech microphone that Nehemia has. He has got the best. I'm telling you it's the, this guy has got microphones and cameras. I mean, he's, he's high tech. Things must be going well for him. I'll be honest with you. What I'm sitting here with is my little iPad. I'm by myself. I got no one with me. It's a little lonely, but to be honest with you, I have the word of God with me and you're listening. However, many of you that are out there. So we're going to try to do our best. We're going to ask our editor. He's the best. I think this guy's amazing and ask him to somehow fix the sound.

So it could sound a little more professional, because as I mentioned, I'm kind of sitting here kind of what the, what the basics, but what we're going to do is we're going to open up this passage. Now. Here's what I've got here. I've got my computer, I've got my Bibles. I've got my little iPad and now let's move on. We're going to take a glance at this portion. Now. Here's what I look at in Joshua chapter one verses 1 through 18. In fact, you know what, before we read it, let me, let me do it this way. Joshua one, 1 through 18. For me, when I first read this verse, it was as if I was taken back in time to the meeting with Yehovah and Yehoshua. Now, when I say, Yehoshua, sure. I mean, Joshua, you know, Yehoshua was the original name he would have been given.

And then there's the English name that is Joshua. So for me, when I read that I get kind of excited because I opened up my other Bible. I've got my English Bible and my Hebrew Bible, and I see that name and I get kind of excited because I'm brought back to something that that really is pretty amazing. So before we get to the portion, let's do this. Cause you do realize that the English name, Joshua is actually a translation of the Hebrew name, Yehoshua, which means..wait for it...Yehovah saves. This name was given to a man named Hoshea by Moses. So before we get to the portion, let somebody who's willing to read Numbers 13:16; wait a minute. I guess I got to read it. You got to read it too. Let's open up our Bibles. If you got to stop the recording, get yourself one or two translations.

Let's open the Numbers 13:16. I love this verse. In fact, in my book His Hallowed Name Revealed Again, I do an entire section in the back of the book called "what about the name Jesus?". And it's so funny, more and more people tell me that when they open my book, they go to that chapter first, before they read the rest, which to me is kind of funny. But anyway Numbers 13:16, I addressed this. It's really interesting. It says, these are the names of the men who Moses sent to spy out the land, but Moses called Hoshea, the son of Nun, Joshua or in Hebrew what it would say is that Moses called Hoshea Yehoshua, which means it doesn't say this in the Bible, but this is what it means. According to the Hebrew. Yehovah that's the first part of the name and Shua saves.

So Yehoshua. It's really powerful. Now, here is your Yehoshua having a meeting with Yehovah and Moses, his mentor is dead. And it almost seems that Yehovah wants like Yehoshua to understand the simple but important fact, even more clearly. So before we get to those verses, let's do this. Let me look here. Let's talk a little bit just for a second. Even though we talk about this in the original Torah pearls the section in Numbers, 20, where Moses actually does something that disqualifies him from being able to go into the land. So let's take a look at that before we get this, because again, what I love about BFA, inspiring people around the world to build a biblical foundation for their faith. That includes language, history and context. And you really can't read this section without a little context.

So open your Bibles to Numbers, chapter 20 verse eight. And here's what it says. Take the rod. This is Yehovah speaking to Moses and you and your brother, Aaron assemble the congregation and speak to the rock. This is important for you to remember and speak to the rock before their eyes, that it may yield its water situation is that people are grumbling. They need water. So Yehovah says, speak to the rock. You shall thus bring forth water for them out of the rock and let the congregation and their beast to drink 20 verse 9. So Moses took the rod from before Yehovah just as he had commanded him 20:10 and Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly before the rock. And he said to them, now here's where the shift comes. Listen, now you rebels, shall we now bring forth for you out of the rock?

I like when I can kind of like, you know, change my voice when I'm reading and stuff, like based on how it sounds, 20 verse 11, then Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod and water came forth abundantly and the congregation and their beast drank. Then here comes the big statement, 20 verse 12. But Yehovah said unto Moses and Aaron, because you have not believed me to treat me as Holy in the sight of the sons of Israel. Therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land, which I have given them. Man. I mean, it's still hard for me when I read this. It literally it's like Moses was, was going to be left behind because of his anger, I guess, or the lack of faith and his irreverence that he displayed before the people before his time, by the way, this was before his time, listen to this Deuteronomy.

It's a year I'm hold on, I've got a tap, you know, and then I've got to read and okay,

Here we go. Deuteronomy 34:1. Now Moses went up from the Plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho. And Yehovah showed him all the land Giliad as far as Dan and all of Naphtali and the land Efraim and Manasseh and all the land of Judah, as far as the Western sea and the Negev and the plain and the Valley of Jericho, the city of Palm trees, as far as Zoar. And then Yehovah said unto him. This is the land, which I swore to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob saying, I will give it to your descendants. I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go there. So Moses, the servant of Yehovah died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of Yehovah. And he buried him in the Valley, in the land of Moab opposite Beth Beor, but no man knows his burial place to this day. And then here comes the final verse on this. Although Moses was 120 years old when he died, his eye was not dim nor his vigor abated, which means Moses could still get around Moses-He might've been 120, but it says his eye wasn't dim. This guy could still, he was strong. He was ready to do what he needed to do. In fact, he begged Yehovah to be able to change, to change his mind, to let him go. And there's a verse and maybe you guys can find it and put it into the comments where he says to Yehovah now, could you reconsider? Yehovah says, don't ask me about this anymore. It's over, it's done. It's done.

I'm going to let you see it, but you can't go. And you got to wonder if maybe this whole thing and I mean, listen, I'm, I'm just telling you, you've got to read it for yourself and come up with your own conclusions based on reading scripture. But when I get to this issue of Joshua chapter one, verse 18, it's like he was prepared by Moses to be able to do this. His he's carrying the name that says that Yehovah himself saves. So regardless of why it happened, it was in God's perfect plan that there would come a dispensation when Moses would need to die and Yehoshua would need to live and to go forward as we find in this wonderful and powerful passage. So now here's the last prophet portion. And like I said, I thought that we wouldn't record it, but you know, the best laid plans of men, by the way, I really need to thank our Prophet Pearls sponsors for this episode who called themselves the two servants of the most high El Elyon.

These guys have been true partners in this endeavor. I don't know how many of these, they sponsored maybe five or six of them. Thanks. My friends. We really appreciate this. We could not have done it without you. And actually I want to say at this point, thank you to all who sponsored one or more of these episodes. It really, when we ventured out on this thing, we didn't know how it was going to work. People stepped up to the plate so that we could get it done editing and all the things that went around it. And, you know, we had to travel. We had to, Oh boy, it's amazing. So I want to say thank you to all of you. But I'm really complete, and I'm committed to completing what I said I would do. So let's get to finding some pearls in this powerful passage from Joshua 1:1-18.

Now, what I need to do now is we're going to take a look at this verse, and I'm going to go ahead and read it. Now, it came about after the death of Moses, the servant of your Yehovah that Yehovah to Joshua and said, I said to him you know, Moses, my servant saying, Moses, my servant is dead now, therefore arise and go forth. Let's see here. Yeah. It says, therefore, arise and go forth. And I'm actually reading two different things at one across the Jordan, you and all this people to the land, which I'm going to give to them, to the sons of Israel, every place on which the sole of your feet tread, I have given it to you as I spoke to Moses from the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land and the Hittites, as far as the great sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory.

No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life just as.... And I love this sentence.... Just as I have been with Moses. I shall be with you. I will not fail you nor forsake you. That is a, I don't know. And I, when I read that, I just there's something about that. That just gives me a sense of what it would have been like to hear from the creator of the universe. I will be with you. And so here, you've got this declaration, to Joshua saying, here's the land you're about to possess. And the father goes even farther by giving the boundary of the land, tells them how far to the North, how far to the South and the East and the West. And then he says this one little thing, which I think is kind of interesting.

It says, it's going to be the land of the Hittites. Now we also know the Girgashites were there in the Jebusites and the Canaanites and everybody else, but he uses the word, the Hittites, which I, which I kind of find interesting, which I'll, I guess I'll try to try to address a little bit later, but basically the situation is he's giving Joshua a clear sense of what the mission is, and I'm sure it had to be overwhelming, which I think part of me makes me say, that's why he put the reality to Joshua early Joshua, I know you've been here from the beginning and you've seen everything that has been done through Moses, and you've watched from the beginning and you've seen the amazing moves of what I've done and you've watched the miracles and you've seen the water split in the battles. And, but now Joshua, Moses is dead.

I mean, he's done, he's gone, it's over, it's done.

And it's time now for you to do something pretty darn powerful, but he tells him something which I think is interesting. And I'm actually going to make this, the prophet, what I call the pearl of the section. You know, we did it, we did something really interesting throughout our recording. At early in the recording, we actually Nehemia was recording the entire section in Hebrew. And then we actually weren't able to continue that. But what that did for those that knew a little bit of Hebrew, sometimes hearing the Hebrew, you hear something, not just reading it, but like physically hearing it. So for me, when I what I like to do is I like to take a look at a passage. I like to look at the Hebrew. I like to look at the English one or two versions and kind of compare and contrast.

And that's sort of what we did in preparation for Prophet Pearls and, and Torah Pearls. I'm going to do something a little bit different this time. When I got excited yesterday, I really was not intending to be able to, to, to record this last section, just because circumstances being what they were, I just didn't know how it was going to work. And as I mentioned, when this, when this opportunity came on, Sukkot which happened to be, and don't, you dare put the birthday song. So my birthday, two things happened at one time. I got a little excited. And so rather than normally jump into the depth of this, what I'm doing is I'm going to jump into it with you. One verse six is really, really interesting. And the reason it is interesting to me is that when I see one verse six, I see something that I guess, to, for lack of a better term, it jumps off the page at me in one verse six, and I'm opening here, I'm going to tap...

One verse six, and I'm going to put up the English and the,

Okay. Yes. The first two words of Joshua chapter one, verse six, literally jumped off the page and they jumped off the page now. And I'd like to do just to something real quick with you, one verse six, it says

Chazak ve ematz . And when I see those two words, I'm like, wow,

Wow. I mean, maybe it's, you know, maybe it's not a big deal for anyone else, but for me, I was like, wow, I I've seen those words before. I know I've seen those words before. And when I've seen those words, they'd been in a different context. And I put that different context. Now, in the context of Joshua, Yehoshua sitting there hearing from Yehovah what he's about to do? He says this, okay,

Well, let me do it this way. Let's take a look at the first word chazak and it says, I have seen this for me when I'm saying, he's telling, he's telling him chazak. And so when I, like I said, I've seen this word many times in scripture, but the one that catches my attention is wait, let's see here.

Okay. Real quick. Let's go. I think it is. Yes.

In Exodus in the book of Exodus, this word is actually used 25 times. The majority of those times, based on it quick, take a look here are referring to when the heart of Pharaoh was this word chazak. Yehovah says he will chazak the heart of Pharaoh. Now in English, we say he will harden the heart of Pharaoh. And that certainly is one possibility. But what's interesting is when I am looking at this, I'm thinking of the word that I've read earlier and that I've studied earlier, and then I'm bringing it forward to Joshua. And it sort of gives me like what I like to call it a little bit of a different dimension to how important this word is. If we take a closer look it really means, yes, it was chazak. It was, it was hardened and in English, but really what that means is his heart was strengthened.

Literally Yehovah strengthened Pharaoh's heart. Put him in a place where his, regardless of what his, he might've seen the circumstances that would have caused him to back away and say, okay, you guys get out of here. Yehovah stepped in and said, no, I'm not done yet. I've got to do some things. So I'm going to strengthen your heart so you can go through it. So here we've got, Joshua is being told with an imperative command. In other words, Yehovah is commanding Joshua. He's not saying be a good idea as you prepare to do this next thing, to find some good podcasts to listen to, and maybe some good motivational speakers to encourage you to be prepared for what...no. He tells him this...chazak in the imperative. Be hardened. If we want to use the English, the way it's used in Exodus know, be strengthened, get it right.

Get ready. No time for being a softie. Now that Moses is dead, no complaining, protesting, asking for me to bring him back. It's done over it's your turn, Joshua to do what I'm calling you to do. So get over it, strengthen yourself so I can accomplish through you what I promised. And he doesn't just end there with that one word. There's another word that he uses right after it. And let's do something real quick. Let's see here. Okay, here we go. So he says how's chazak ve ematz. Now, when I see that word, I'm also reminded of something pretty interesting.

Let's take a look. See here really quick. What would be

The, the first, one of the things I like to do is I like to go and find the first time a word is used sometimes. And when I see that first time, it's not, it doesn't happen all the time. But in this case, it's kind of interesting because it's Deuteronomy chapter two, verse 30, and it says, but Sihon King of Heshbon was not willing for us to pass through his land for Yehovah God hardened his spirit and made his heart...and here it comes...the same word, but in English it says and made his heart obstinate in order to deliver him into your, your hand. Now, here's what I'd like to encourage you guys to do. I'm not going to do this for you. In fact, I'm going to talk about this in just a little bit, my new approach going into this land for you.

As we, as we, as we do open scripture together, I really want you to go and find the times that that same word is used. And you know, those of you that have concordances, is, is really a good way to do this. Don't, don't worry so much about trying to get the full meaning of the word, but just where it's used and how many times you can actually go through and see where this word is used. And like, this is an example where in this case and Deuteronomy 2:30, the word is used to make a heart obstinate. So if we were to take that same thing, you know, Yehovah is telling to, to to Joshua be strong and be obstinate if we use the English terms. But when we see it in Hebrew, it kind of gives us a little bit of a different, different a flare. And that's again, where I think it's, it's pretty interesting. And seeing these two words together is what I really want to get to. So what we're going to do real quick,

Let's see how many times, yes.

We find this, these two words together. Chazak...Let's see here. Hold on. Let me, let me just look here. And it's really kind of interesting. It's, it's funny how we were able to do this because you know, when the Nehemia and I were doing this together, I could have my Bibles open. He made the guys amazing when it comes to the computer. I mean, he's tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, and the stuff comes up. But you know, it's going to be a little, a little bit tougher here, but, but, but what's really amazing about it is to be able to begin to look at scripture and find where these words are used and how they're used. And again, it was a lot easier when the both of us were kind of going back and forth, but in this situation, partly what I want to encourage you to do is that when this is over, you can even stop it right now, go to Joshua chapter one, verse six, you're going to see these two words together. And one of the things that you could do, which I, you know, this is what I, I actually like to do is I like to look at, look at the words and say, okay, is there examples where we can find these two words together? Now they may not be in the exact same form. They may be in a different a grammatical form, but is there something that's being communicated? So that's what I want to do,

Going to look

Okay, here we go. First time we see this as in Deuteronomy 31 six. Now again, form is different of these two words. We're not going to get into the detail of that, but what it says in English, if I look at my NAS, it says be strong and courageous do not be afraid are, do not tremble at them for Yehovah your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Interesting. Moses is speaking to the people before Moses has to hit the road and he's not going to go with them. So he's letting them know. Now here's what you've got to do then. And Deuteronomy 31:7 Moses calls to Yehoshua, Joshua, and says to him in the sight of all of Israel, what does he say to them in the sight of all Israel in 31:7. He called them to them. And there it is,

Chazak ve ematz,

The same exact words that Yehovah tells Joshua in Joshua, one verse six, again, in Deuteronomy 31:23, the exact two words are used again. You can find this in any good concordance. Then he commissioned Joshua, the son of Nun and said to him, this is Moses. Now be strong and courageous, sir, if we were to take the English version, how it's used sometimes be hardened and obstinate, be strong and courageous, be, be a person who can, who can, who can really how we might say it.

Oh, what would be, what would be the best way that we could do this? 

It's another way of saying strength, courage, be strong and strong, be courageous and courageous, be hardened and strong. I mean, it's like these two words together really do something powerful. Deuteronomy. 31: 23. If we go to Joshua one six, that's where we see it. But what's really interesting to me folks is that we don't only see it there. Here's what I think is really, really interesting. If we read Joshua one six, one seven, and one time Yehovah becomes a good old fashioned preacher. Let's do that. One six, be strong and courageous for you shall give this people possession of the land, which I swore to their fathers to give them one seven only be strong and very courageous. Be careful to do according to all of the Torah. That's what it says is Torah, not law. Moses, my servant commanded you do not turn to it to the right or to the left so that you may have success, wherever you go. And then verse eight, it does something again. But I want to go to verse nine. I'm going to go back to verse eight. Have I not commanded you be strong and courageous, do not tremble or be dismayed for Yehovah your God is with you wherever you go. So it's literally as if Yehovah standing before Joshua and he's saying, listen I'm going to tell you something. Now, if, if you don't remember anything else, I said,

Remember these two Hebrew words? Well, of course he didn't say Hebrew words, but was speaking to him in Hebrew, there was no English back then he gives them these two words,

Joshua 1:6, Joshua 1:7 and Joshua 1:9 three times. Yehovah gives Yehoshua

The three point sermon, but Joshua was probably.

Like a lot of us needing to hear what is important more than once. So he heard it from his mentor, Moses in Deuteronomy, as I said earlier, but now Moses is dead. He's gone. He's nowhere around. He may have learned it earlier in the Torah portions and what he heard there. But now he's about to go into a completely different land, so Yehovah

Comes to him and says, Moses is dead.

Now, do you remember what he said to you? Joshua, let me say it to you three times. These two words, just jump off the page in this portion, but let's keep reading. I want to get to Joshua one eight, someone read Joshua one eight, Keith, maybe you should read it. Okay. I'll read it. Well, maybe you should read it. No, I don't want to read it. You read it. Okay. I'll read it. One verse eight. This book of the in English law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it for, then you will make your way prosperous and then you will have success. I absolutely positively would say this really is one of my favorite verses and has been for many, many, many years when I see 1:8. And I got to be honest with you. It says, let me, let me just go here to the verse if I can. Okay, here we go. Okay.

The words book of the law

Is what we see in English. But in the Hebrew, what we see is sefer, ha Torah the sefer ha Torah, the book of the Torah. And I got to tell you, you know, I, I put a picture up that kind of represents how I came to this, being willing to do this this recording, waiting to do this recording. And I've got this amazing thing. I've, I've told this story many, many times. I'm not going to go into great detail, but I really wanted to have the ability to have a Torah scroll. And so through much revelation in intervention and circumstances that that deserve their own, you know, its own time. I was able to obtain a Torah scroll and what I tend to do on these, these high, Holy days, these days that we're in right now during Sukkot and, and other times during the year, when something comes, I tend to want to bring out that Torah scroll and unroll it and read it.

And I'm at a place now where I actually through his grace and just man oh man the opportunity to learn to read my Torah scroll, to be able to read it and look at sections of it. And it just it's, it's like a holy experience. But what he tells Joshua here is there is a sefer ha Torah, like a book of the Torah. So at this point, obviously Moses had completed his work. Moses is dead. He's gone, he's written his part and now it exists. It's there. We find examples of what was to be done with this book of the Torah, et cetera. But he tells him, don't let

This book of the Torah. Do not let it depart. And what from where from your mouth, but

You shall. And it uses a really interesting word in English. It says, but you shall meditate on it day and night. This word could mean to like moan to speak, to meditate. It's I get this, I get this image. You all have of him saying, now, look, you just need to speak this word to yourself. Quiet. And before you falling asleep, sometimes you need to be thinking about this word. When you're looking at the Hittites, the Girgashites sometimes you need to speak it to the people. You've got to meditate on this word. You've got to let this be a part of you. And be honest with you. When I see this this word and speaking about it, being something to meditate, and we use it right now, English to meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do, according to all that is written in it for, then you will make your way prosperous and you will have great success.

So I'm looking at, and I'm like, man, that's right. Really what I've done over the years is I, I had this this memorization plan and all of it really came from this verse. The idea of meditating on the word day and night. I mean, that's where you're able to think about it as you're driving. And as you're, as you're sitting in the house and going along the road on what seems like something like a command and Deuteronomy and how you should teach your children to meditate on this word. But that's literally what he tells Joshua. Look, you're about to do something amazing. You're about to do something really big. You're going to need to be able to have some help. And that help is I'm going to be with you always. But remember this, meditate on that, which you've been to received that's in that book day and night, and that you would be prosperous and successful in all that you do.

So I have to say let's, let's do this. Let's go ahead and read this. I want to read just a little bit at a time we get through eight, we get through nine, and then we get to 10 then. And this is really the only time we hear from Joshua in the beginning, Joshua was just sitting like a good student listening. He's heard from Moses, he's heard from your Yehovah. And now he goes, and he tells the people Joshua. And you know, what's interesting when I get to verse 10, I'm thinking, well, Joshua could have took a different approach. Like I said, he could have said to Yehovah, look, I'm not ready. He could have done the Moses thing. And he says, can you send someone else? Joshua, man, it's just, it's like when he was renamed, that Yehovah will save.

It's like, he just becomes this. Person's like, look, I'm just going to do my part. But in the end, he's going to have to do it through me. So it says then Yehoshua, Joshua commanded the officers of the people saying pass through the midst of the camp and command the people saying, prepare provisions for yourself for within three days, you are to cross. And in verse 10 here, the Jordan to go and possess the land, which you have all your God is giving you to possess it. And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, into the half tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said, remember the word, which Moses, the servant of Yehovah commanded you saying...Yehovah your God gives you rest when he does it. And it will give you this land, your wives and your little ones, and your cattle shall remain in the land, which Moses gave you beyond the Jordan. But you shall cross before your brothers in battle array, all of your valiant warriors and shall help them. And until Yehovah gives your brother's rest as he gives you. And they also possess the land, which Yehovah your God is giving them. And you shall return to your own land and

Possess that which you Moses, the servant of Yehovah gave you beyond the Jordan,

Toward the sunrise. And I have to tell you, I, you know, when I read that

And I'm going to venture out just a little bit here, I can do what I want. Right. I mean,

It's just me. You know, when I read that verse, I kind of think about I kind of think about America. Let me tell you why I think about America. I think about, so here, you've got this, you know, part of Israel,

And this is such, this is touchy stuff. So don't let, don't go too far. You guys don't say it. Keith said whatever, I'm just

Giving you an image. So you got part of the group, right?

Who says, okay, we're not going to go over where the Hittites, Girgashites Jebusites are, blah, blah, blah. We're going to, and he says, okay,

Go. But what you're going to do is you're going to go,

Go ahead of them. And you're going to fight on their behalf. You've got your place of rest now, go and fight with them. And I think there's something about that image that, that really kind of, when, when I speak of American specific, specifically talking about this, the United States and Israel is supposed to be allies. They're supposed to be friends. You know, we, we've got this long history and, and we see this crumbling in some ways which really concerns me. But, you know, it's, if we were to apply sort of this passage, it would kind of be like, okay, America, you're sitting over here in your place of rest. Go help your brothers and your sisters that are battling over in that part of the land you've been given your area now help them in their area. And, and what I kind of sense right now, and I'm sensing this more and more, and it really has been concerning me more and more people were like, well, that's over there.

We don't have to worry about what's over there. Though they open their Bibles and they say, we are people of the book? And this is the book. Well, let me tell you what; what's happening over there in many ways is connected to what we read today. And one of the things that I've noticed, it just seems that fewer and fewer people are willing to enter the fight. That really is. I mean, it's a, it's a difficult fight when you start talking about this prophetic thing happening, where people from around the nations are coming back into the land, we're watching prophecy take place, and I don't need to go over that. We'd go over going over it a lot. But when I read this verses I kind of, kind of convicted a little bit about, so what part can we play? So maybe I'm here and I don't have, you know, the kassam missiles that are landing in Charlotte.

And I don't have, you know, certain people that are right around my neighborhood saying, Hey, I want to take you out that you don't exist in and yet, I think about Israel and how it’s in its fight and how it's in its battle. And I think, you know, so what can I do? Where are, where are places that I can enter in to be supportive and helpful? So that, that really is for me, you know, something, something I do. And again, part of that is because of one verse eight that mentions, you know, it says you know, if you're going to be successful, you've got to have this Torah, this, this word in your heart. And it's hard to read that and not be able to connect with what's happening, you know, both in Israel and really around the world. And so anyway, let me, let me, let me kind of, kind of move on from that. In fact, let me, let me just say this,

You know this, portion It really, really, really, really encourages me. It's inspired me as I look at the challenges that are staring me presently today in my face, I'm being called to enter into some places of promise, where there are huge obstacles waiting to make my journey difficult. I call them the ites..., You know, the Hittites who loved to hit you. They're cousins, you know, to the fear-ites, the struggle-ites, the political-ites, the If-ites the chaos, conflict and trouble-ites that are always waiting to pounce, as soon as you cross over into new territory. But remember there are two words that we looked at today. These two words, just really, I think I honestly would like to encourage people to take these two words and begin to meditate on them, to mumble on them, to muse over them, to remember these two words and teach them to your children, tell them to your spouse, say them to yourself in the language they were given to Yehoshua, Joshua, these two words. I mean there, I kept can we, can we just, just real quick, I want to do something. Let's do this again. One verse. Ah. Let's see. Here we go. Let's see here. Here are the one, four, five, and six. Okay, wait, hold on. There it is. Okay. It says in English

Be strong and courageous in the language

It was given. It says

Chazak ve ematz. Chazak ve ematz. Like, it's like, wow. 

These two words were speak spoken from Moses, the mentor who's now dead. That was words were taken and given to Joshua himself from Yehovah. And it's really interesting. Not only did Joshua hear these from Moses and from Yehovah. If we go just a little bit further, let's do something. I like this. Let me see real quick. Okay. It says verse 16, it says, verse 17, here we go. Joshua tells the people what they have to do. And they say, they answered Joshua saying all that you have commanded us. We will do. And wherever you send us, we will go just as we obeyed Moses in all things. So we will obey you, only may Yehovah your God be with you as he was with Moses verse 18. This is the end of the portion. Actually, anyone who rebels against your command and does not obey your words and all that you commanded him shall be put to death. Except that there's just one little thing. Joshua

Chazak ve ematz, they tell Joshua,

What Moses told Joshua what you Yehovah told Joshua. And now the people say, look now on one condition, I would go so far as to say, this is the portion. These two words are the portion. These two words set the stage for something that present day Israel is dealing with and future Israel will deal with. There is a constant challenge to live by the promise. Sometimes circumstances get in the way of the promise, but they don't stop the promise. It's just that sometimes it's difficult. And when we see those difficult times, these two words can be huge to hear them Chazak ve ematz, be strong and courageous, be hardened and obstinate, beat tough, stand up. Don't back down, continue to be who Yehovah

Called you to be. You know, I'm, I'm really trying to decide as it pertains to these audio series, you know, it's been so amazing to have recorded them and to do them. And there's so many different things that I could focus on

In going forward. But before I do anything

Else, I've got some challenges that are, that I am really facing. As I mentioned, I will physically physically have traveled around the world over the next few weeks. I'll be in some places that are, that are difficult. I'm going to be in some places where there's some ites..In fact I'm going to be doing some things which you'll hear about where I'm going to need your prayer. I'm going to need you to remind me of these two words. I want you to send me a note and say Keith, remember and tell me these two words, because I am going to be in some touchy situations, you can really be in prayer as I'll mention them to you as they happen. But as they happen, I really need some people to come and come along. And again, did, did Joshua need to be reminded?

Do I need to be reminded? Do you need to be reminded that as we face these situations that we're facing and I'm telling you the world's not getting any easier, we've got to remember these two words, you know while the prerecorded prophet pearls have been going out each week, I've been quite busy preaching and teaching around the world while also writing and recording this new biblical Hebrew audio course that is past the pilot phase and is ready for you. Two levels have been uploaded for your review with over 20 engaging lessons. The third level is in production. And by the time we get to Thanksgiving, hopefully all three levels will be uploaded and ready for you to learn, to find your own pearls in the deep water of the Hebrew scriptures. Over the last two weeks, I shared this new biblical Hebrew audio course at a national pastors conference.

Last week, I was in Colorado sharing it with some Colorado, I should say, sharing it with some special folks there this weekend. I'm actually on my way to Canada. I'm going to be entering in, into Sukkot celebration up in Canada. So I'll be sharing the word there and actually sharing a lot about this Hebrew course. That really is a blessing. So I'm asking you to get on board with us. If you'd like start the process of interacting with the information, inspiration and revelation that I say jumps off the pages of the Hebrew scriptures and will sometimes slap you straight in the face. Literally. So here's what I want to do in closing. I really want to challenge you to look at Joshua chapter 1:1-8. And I really would love for you to look at, with those two words as the backdrop.

What does it mean for you? What are you facing right now? Where are challenges? Both in relationships and circumstances and finances and job, just as far as what's happening with the world. I mean, there's got to be some of you that are probably just confused. If you've heard all these things that have been going around and what's happening at the UN and what's happening in Israel and what's happening in Syria and what's happening with Russia and what's happening the United States. Let me tell you what, what I really hope you're concerned about is what's happening in the Word. Because the word gives us perspective in the midst of chaos. When we were looking at the ites...boy of boy, meditate news, think about it, remember it, speak it, proclaim it, look in the mirror and tell yourself I will meditate on this word day and night. So here's what I want to do.

Even though things don't go the way you may have expected, the call is still waiting for your response. Be like Joshua, get back to work. Even if it means sometimes in this there's some times if you've got to do it alone. As for me, I'm ready to cross over to inherit whatever Yehovah has for me. In the next few weeks, I will have traveled around the world, literally with the hopes of being back in Charlotte, by Thanksgiving. Stay connected with me by signing up for the free, say, free newsletter@bfainternational.com or better yet, some of you that are really serious register for our premium content library. Take the plunge with folks around the world who are learning biblical Hebrew and diving for those precious pearls and scripture. Did I mention that we have over now 50, 50 high quality presentations that are in the premium content library, and we have people that are around the world taking advantage of it.

So I'd invite you to check it out. In fact, I think that even we even, yeah, they still have a seven day free deal. You just look at it, let me, but I will be honest being a part of the premium content library gives us one little extra piece. As we prepare for the many things that are waiting, we've got so many things that are still undeveloped. Unproduced, there's been a lot of people that have, have joined in with us to help us do that. You can look at our donate page at bfainternational.com. And if you think that this is something that should continue, or maybe some more audio series, I maybe we should have what I call the biblical brick audio series, where I can just take a passage and we can do it together. I don't know what's going to happen. I just know that between now and Thanksgiving, I'm really going to be facing some tough situations. Some circumstances that are to be quite honest are concerning. But I, I, these two words really have encouraged me. So thanks for listening and be sure to comment if you find something we all need to see. Until next time, wait a minute, there is no next time. The Torah Pearls and Prophet Pearls are over! This dispensation is over. What happens next will be new. So until then...that's all folks!

Thank you for listening to Prophet Pearls with Keith Johnson, for more information, please visit BFA international.com.