This Lesson is a continuation of yesterday’s thought. The schedule Friday was jam-packed, hardly an hour to spare. But the Lord granted safety in all the miles traveled!
“And the LORD said unto Joshua, THIS DAY WILL I BEGIN TO MAGNIFY THEE in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.” Joshua 3:7
I have found nineteen times the King James Version of Scripture used the word “magnify.” And another 21 times it employs “magnified,” past tense.
And I believe, based on my research, this is one of only two times in all the Bible God is said to magnify a specific man, by name! (Solomon is the other man whom God “magnified.” According to 1st Chronicles 29:25 and 2nd Chronicles 1:1.)
By the way, we need to be familiar with Joshua 4:14 too. “On that day THE LORD MAGNIFIED JOSHUA in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.” God keeping His Word, as always.
God magnifies Himself in Ezekiel 38:23, when God and her allies attack Israel. God overturning them with great Power. “Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD.” And rightly so.
Wow!
And furthermore, singularly, God magnifies His Word, a Living Entity for sure! “I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for THOU HAST MAGNIFIED THY WORD above all thy name.” Psalm 138:2
Wow, again!
Many are said to “magnify themselves,” some even “against the Lord!” But invariably they will ALL be judged, brought low by the Almighty! I found a half-dozen examples of such wickedness, such pride.
And the very Theme of Scripture, in many ways, is: “O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.” Time and time again, particularly in the Psalms. I’ve used Psalm 34:3 here, as an example.
But, back to Joshua … WHY did God so specifically magnify that great servant?
His sincerity?
His love for God’s Word?
HIs place in divine history, as Moses’ successor?
His being such a clear “type” or “symbol” of Jesus?
His godly living?
We really do not know.
Perhaps “all of the above,” as they say.
Anyway, let each of us seek God’s Hand on our lives!
Jabez came close to asking God to “magnify” him! “And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me!” 1st Chronicles 4:10
Oh … the rest of that verse … “And God GRANTED him that which he requested.”
What thought a single verse of Scripture can excite …
— Dr. Mike Bagwell