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.
