“…which Hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; whither the Forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an High Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.” (Hebrews 6:19,20)
Stephen in his message in Acts 7:9-14 depicts Joseph as hated of his brethren, sold into slavery, but God was with him, and in the end, prospered Joseph in Egypt for the salvation of 75 souls, keeping them alive because of their kinship with Joseph. Their hatred for Joseph, God purposed for good, not just for their physical salvation, but to preserve alive a seed, Christ Jesus, come in the flesh, and through Him, a whole race of sinners whom He came to save.
Joseph was the forerunner, sent before by God, “to save much people alive,” (Genesis 50:20). More so, the LORD Jesus Christ, the Forerunner, of whom Joseph was but a type.
A forerunner is one who runs ahead to prepare the way. When our LORD told His disciples in John 14:2,‘I go to prepare a place for you,’ He was speaking of His going to the cross, that by His death, He might reconcile them, and all of God’s elect, to God the Father at one time, and by that one sacrifice. Even as Joseph was sent before his brethren, by their envy and hatred for him as the beloved son of his father, so our LORD Jesus was nailed to the cross by wicked hands, but in so doing, those who envied and crucified Him, did no more or less than what God the Father ordained should be done. They in exercising their wicked wills, accomplished the eternal will of God, Acts 2:23, 4:27.28.
A forerunner who is effectual prepares the way that others might follow. Even as Joseph was effectually raised up to a position of power and authority over all of Egypt and Pharaoh’s household, to place him in a position to save alive his brethren, so our LORD Jesus was given authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as God the Father had given Him, John 17:3. Not one of those that God purposed should be saved alive by Joseph’s authority and representation was lost. So too, the effectual work of the LORD Jesus saves to the uttermost everyone for whom He lived, died, and rose again. He Himself declared of the Father, ‘that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day,’ (John 6:37). Of Joseph it is written a precise number, ‘threescore and 15.’ That is 75. It is an exact number, and yet an odd number, as with those for whom Christ is the Forerunner to the Father. An exact number (whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life from eternity). Yet, it is an odd number, according to what God the Father has purposed. None are of that number for any goodness in them, but because God the Father so purposed. Irrespective of the number (a number which no man can number), yet a peculiar number, peculiar to the Father, because purchased by the Son, and sealed by the Holy Spirit, Ephesians 1:3-14.
A Forerunner who is the sure HOPE of all He represents. A true hope is not in the sinner, but in the Forerunner. Because of Him who is the Surety for His people, they have in Him that everlasting hope as an anchor for their soul. This is not some temporary hope but eternally so. Christ has entered within the veil, His work completed. Even as High Priest after the order of Melchisedec (without beginning or end), so He ever lives to intercede for those who come to God by HIM. Glorious HOPE! Glorious SAVIOR! Glorious FORERUNNER!
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