Renaming Hoshea

In the Bible, names are a powerful expression of a person's core and mission in life. They practically take on a life of their own.

In Numbers 13:16b, we learn that "Moses gave Hoshea (Salvation) son of Nun a new name—Joshua (God-Saves)" (MSG).

I wonder why "God Saves" was a better name than "Salvation?"

Maybe it's because Joshua was an active participant in bringing the Hebrews into the promised land. "God Saves" is a more active statement than "Salvation."

Messianic Prophecies in the Pentateuch

Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary: Old Testament

OT Text	NT Text	Subject
Leviticus 15:15-17	Romans 3:25; Hebrews 9:1-14, 24; 1 John 2:2	Atoning sacrifice of blood
Numbers 21:8-9	John 3:14-15	Life through looking at one on a cross
Numbers 24:17	Luke 1:32-33	Coming ruler from Jacob
Numbers 24:17	Revelation 22:16	Coming star out of Jacob
Deuteronomy 18:17	John 6:14; 12:49-50; Acts 3:22-23	Coming prophet sent from God
Deuteronomy 21:23	Galatians 3:13	Messiah cursed for hanging from a tree
Deuteronomy 30:12-14	Romans 10:6-8	Jesus is God's word near to us

Messianic Prophesies in Exodus

Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary: Old Testament

12:1-14, 46	John 19:31-36, 1 Corinthians 5:7; 1 Peter 1:19	The Messiah as the Passover Lamb
16:4	John 6:31-33	Messiah to give true bread from heaven
24:8	Hebrews 9:11-28	The Messiah's blood to be shed as sacrifice

More Messianic Prophecies in Genesis

Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary: Old Testament

OT Text	NT Text	Subject
Genesis 12:3	Acts 3:25; Galatians 3:8	Gentiles blessed through Christ as the offspring of Abraham
Genesis 13:15	Galatians 3:15-16, 19	Messiah as the seed of Abraham
Genesis 14:18-20	Hebrews 7	Jesus' priesthood according to the likeness of Melchizedek
Genesis 18:18	Acts 3:25; Galatians 3:8	Gentiles blessed through Christ as the offspring of Abraham
Genesis 22:18	Acts 3:25; Galatians 3:8	Gentiles blessed through Christ as the offspring of Abraham
Genesis 49:10	Luke 1:32-33	Coming ruler from Judah

Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary: Vol. 1 OT

There is a four-page listing of OT messianic prophecies in this commentary. Here are the first two of 115:

OT Text	NT Text	Subject
Genesis 3:15	Luke 22:53	Satan against Jesus
Genesis 3:15	Hebrews 2:14; 1 John 3:8	Jesus' victory over Satan

Prophecies Fulfilled by Christ

One table: http://members.datafast.net.au/sggram/f986.htm

Messianic Prophecy

For the remainder of the year, in honor of Advent and Christmas, I will review various OT predicitive prophecies about Jesus.

In Luke 4:16-21, Jesus claims Isaiah 61:1-2 for himself.

People sometimes suggest that Jesus did not claim to be God, but that would require the reader to ignore many NT statements by Jesus himself.