Joshua is a Hebrew name meaning “Jehovah Saves.” He took over from Moses (who represents the Law) to take God’s people into the promised land and to fullness of the life. He is considered a ‘type’ of Jesus.
After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses . . . . No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the 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 good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:1–9)
Compare Joshua to Jesus. He is the means of salvation, not law-keeping, yet He fulfilled all the Law and no doubt meditated on it. He also required courage and was dismayed — think of Him in the Garden of Gethsemane. While all things done by Joshua are not easily compared to the life and work of Jesus Christ, this reading blesses my heart.
For instance, Joshua sent spies to check out the land and gave them protection through Rahab, a prostitute. Jesus was criticized for respecting sinners, some who were prostitutes. He continues to bless anyone willing to obey Him, regardless of their sin and reputation.
For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. (1 Corinthians 1:26–29)
Joshua led God’s people into the land leading with the ark of the covenant for: “you have not passed this way before.” In the same way, Jesus led the first church into new life using the guidance of the OT and its principles. While law-keeping does not save anyone, it does show God’s people how to live:
For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Romans 15:4)
Now these things (OT events) happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. (1 Corinthians 10:11)
When Joshua led God’s people through the Jordan, he set up a reminder of what happened to them and to help them worship. Our reminder is the Lord’s supper:
For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. (1 Corinthians 11:23–26)
“On that day the Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel, and they stood in awe of him just as they had stood in awe of Moses, all the days of his life” (Joshua 4:14) and today, Jesus is also exalted and we stand in awe of the One who saved us from sin and took us into the freedom and abundant life of being His children.
Lord God, You fill my mind and heart with joy at the reminders from Joshua that “Jehovah saves” and because of Jesus and the wonder of salvation, I stand in awe of You.
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