6. Jesus In Joshua

2/26/2023

Introduction

This morning we will be partaking of communion together. In 1 Corinthians 11:24 we are told to do it in remembrance of Jesus. As we prepare for communion then, we are going to consider a few aspects of how the book of Joshua points us to Jesus and His work of redemption. We have looked at Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy in the past. So we are continuing on to see how different books of the Bible help us remember Christ and our salvation.

Overview

To begin with, it would be helpful to have an overview of what is going on in the 24 chapters of Joshua. That will help us better understand how it points to Christ. It will also help us have a better point of reference for the quotations and allusions that occur in the New Testament.

The book of Joshua is fairly easily divided into four main sections. The first 5 chapters deal with Israel entering the land and preparing for the conquest. Chapters 6-13 are a record of the main battles of the conquest. Chapters 14-21 are a record of the division of the land for each tribes inheritance. Then Chapters 22-24 provide an epilogue and Joshua’s final charge to the people to continue to follow God.

Within the first section God commissions Joshua to lead the people and confirms him as leader through the miraculous crossing of the Jordan river on dry ground. In this section we also have the spies checking out Jericho and being rescued by Rahab. Israel is re-circumcised. The manna ceases coming as they begin to eat from the land itself, and Joshua meets the captain of the Lord’s army on holy ground.

Within the second section the notable events are the miraculous conquering of Jericho, the stumbles at Ai with Achan’s sin, the blessings and cursings of the law being shouted out from Mount Ebal and Gerizim, Israel being deceived by Gibeon, and Israel defending Gibeon at the famous battle where the sun and moon stood still.

The third section is a geography lesson of place names as the tribes all receive the delineation of their inheritances. Notable points include Caleb and Joshua each receiving special inheritances for their faithfulness to God. The five daughters of Zelophehad, who had no sons, also received special permission for an inheritance allotment. Cities of refuge for accidental manslaughter were appointed, and the Levites received 48 cities interspersed throughout the tribes instead of a regular allotment. Their true inheritance was the privilege of serving God.

The fourth section contains an interesting account of the return of the soldiers from Reuben, Gad, and the ½ tribe of Manasseh back to their inheritance on the other side of the Jordan. They stopped to make a large altar at the Jordan. This was misunderstood by the other tribes to be disobedience to God since they were only to sacrifice at the tabernacle. It was cleared up when it was found out that they had made it to be a memorial of witness between the tribes that they too were part of Israel and followed God.

The last two chapters then detail a strong warning from Joshua for the people to cling to the Lord, to love Him, to obey Him, and to not fall into idolatry. After a brief recapping of Israel’s history from Abraham, chapter 24 contains the famous admonition to “choose you this day whom ye will serve” as well as the unequivocal pronouncement that “as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15, KJV).
The people vehemently proclaimed that they would serve the Lord. So Joshua and the people together re-covenanted to do so. The book closes with a record of Joshua’s death, Israel following God all the days of the elders, Joseph’s bones being buried in Israel as he had commanded before his death in Egypt, and then finally Eleazar the priests death.

How Then Does The Book Of Joshua Point Forward To Christ And Help Us Remember His Sacrifice?

There are a number of parallels between the life and work of Jesus and the life and work of Joshua. Some might call it a type or a foreshadowing. In several ways his life and the conquest of Canaan was a picture in small of what was needed and accomplished for us in totality in Christ.

The book of Joshua itself is not a very flashy book. It is not one that is referenced very often. In the New Testament there are only a handful of quotations and allusions. Nonetheless, it does indeed still point us towards Christ and His redemption.

We see this at the very beginning with the name of the book and its author: Joshua. Joshua was not actually his original name. He was renamed that by Moses from Hoshea. We find that out in Numbers 13:4-16 where the list of the 12 spies who were going to check out Canaan are listed. At first he is listed as Hoshea of Ephraim, but at the very end of the list it says that “Moses called Hoshea the son of Nun, Joshua.” In all the other places he is mentioned that is what he is called. Hoshea means “he saves,” whereas Joshua means “the LORD saves.”¹ Joshua himself could not save or deliver the people. Only God could. Moses changed his name, apparently, to reflect that. Likewise, we cannot save ourselves from our sin. No matter how hard we try we cannot remove it. Only Jesus can. That is what He came and did on the cross. Interestingly, the name that Moses changed Hoshea to, “Joshua” as we call it, is actually the name “Jesus.” We do not call “Joshua” “Jesus” because of how the names came into English.

Yehoshua is how his name would be said in Hebrew. The Greek version of that is Iesous. We translate “Yehoshua” from Hebrew as “Joshua” in English. We translate “Iesous” from Greek as “Jesus” in English. But their Hebrew version is the exact same, “Yehoshua.” Yahweh saves. The reason it is different in English is only because we have historically translated one from Hebrew since that is the language of the Old Testament, and we have translated the other from Greek since that is the language of the New Testament.²

By the very name that Joshua was given, then, we have an immediate connection and foreshadowing of the Lord Jesus Christ and His role of savior. Historically the people of Israel would have thought of Joshua when they heard Jesus’ name.

Secondly, we see similarities in their role. Following God’s redemption of Israel from their slavery in Egypt through the plagues and Passover miracles Joshua was the instrument of God to bring the people into the promised land and lead them through the battles of conquest. God used him to bring Israel into their inheritance and have rest in the promised land as they experienced God’s blessings.

While both Joshua and Jesus were instruments of God to deliver and save the people, Jesus accomplished much more than just saving people physically and giving them earthly rest from slavery, war, and the trials of the wilderness wanderings. It is as the angel announced to Joseph about Mary:

Matthew 1:21 “She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

Jesus saves people from their sins and the consequences of them. He will bring us into the eternal promised land with Him forever. Though it will include a future recreated heaven and earth, Jesus’ inheritance that He brings us is not just a temporary, physical one in this life. It is an eternal one with God as we are reconciled to Him because of what Jesus did in our place on the cross.

Third, we see similarities in them both being successors to Moses. In Deuteronomy 18:15-19 Moses had prophesied that God would raise up a prophet like him who would have God’s “words in his mouth,” and would speak to them all that He commanded them (Deuteronomy 18:18). They were to carefully obey him. Meanwhile, Joshua was commissioned by Moses at God’s order to be the next leader of Israel in Numbers 27:15-23. He is described as “a man in who is the Spirit” (Numbers 27:18).

No doubt it would have been wondered if Joshua was that prophesied prophet. He had gone up onto Mount Sinai as Moses’ servant when he received the Law. He had been Moses’ victorious general in the battle against the Amalekites (Exodus 17:8-16). He had met the Lord, the captain of hosts, on holy ground where he was told to remove his sandals (Joshua 5:13-15). He had the people circumcised to walk in covenant with God. He had read the law to them at Mt. Ebal and Gerizim. He led them in conquering the land and divided their inheritance to them. He established the tabernacle in the land of Israel at Shechem for them to continue worshipping God there. Indeed, all of God’s good promises to Israel came to pass under his leadership as Joshua 21:45 declares.

Despite all that, Deuteronomy 34:10 notes in what appears to be a later editor’s inspired addition, this prophet like Moses had not yet arisen. None had known the Lord face to face like Moses had. As much as Joshua was quite the deliverer for Israel in bringing them into the promised land and a faithful successor to Moses the coming one would be even greater. Joshua had completed what Moses was originally supposed to do but which Moses’ sin prevented him from doing, but Joshua was not the coming prophet. He did not institute a new covenant relationship between God and the people like Moses did.

Jesus is the true successor to Moses who is fulfilling in an ultimate way what both Moses and Joshua did in a picture physically and what the law pointed to. As Jesus said in John 5:46—

John 5:46 “For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me.

Jesus was the prophet like Moses that the people had to be sure to obey. In Acts 3:18-26 this specific prophecy of Moses is applied to Jesus. Stephen also applies it to Jesus in his catalog of Israel’s history which prophesied of the “coming Righteous One” (Acts 7:37, 52).

Through Joshua God saved and delivered Israel into their promised land inheritance. Through Jesus God saves us from our sins and His judgment and will deliver us into our eternal promised inheritance of the kingdom of God (cf. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, 15:50-57; Galatians 5:19-21, Hebrews 1:14; Revelation 21:7). He did what the law could not do. He truly reconciled us to God in the New Covenant. Now we are co-heirs with Christ of God Himself as Romans 8:17 says. As Ephesians 3:5-12 puts it, believing Jews and Gentiles are now heirs together of unfathomable riches in Christ as His body.

Since God was faithful to fulfill His promises of bringing Israel into their promised land inheritance He will be faithful to likewise complete our salvation and bring us into our eternal home with Himself. As we wait there are a number of parallels with our situation now as the church and Israel’s then.

Right now we are pilgrims in this wilderness wandering who are called to be faithful to God like Caleb and Joshua were. We are called to be ambassadors of reconciliation to the rest of the world and trust God through whatever that calling takes us. The foes may look daunting like the giants of Canaan. Nonetheless, the God who is with us is trustworthy. He will be with us, and He will bring about every single one of His promises. Will we be faithful? Or will we complain and distrust and pursue the gods of this world in our old manner of life that we have been rescued from? It is something to think about as we remember Jesus.

How Is Joshua Used In The New Testament And In Jesus’ Work Of Redemption?

When we look at how the book of Joshua and references to Joshua are used in the New Testament it reinforces these comparisons and reminds us of some very important truths for our relationship with God. Altogether these references seem to fit nicely into three categories: faith, hope, and love.

Faith

Joshua is mentioned in Acts 7:44-45 in connection with faithfully bringing the tabernacle into the land of Israel. Right before that in verses 42-43 that faithfulness is contrasted with Israel’s unfaithfulness in worshipping false gods during the wilderness wandering.

Acts 7:42-45 “But God turned away and delivered them up to serve the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, ‘IT WAS NOT TO ME THAT YOU OFFERED VICTIMS AND SACRIFICES FORTY YEARS IN THE WILDERNESS, WAS IT, O HOUSE OF ISRAEL? 43 ‘YOU ALSO TOOK ALONG THE TABERNACLE OF MOLOCH AND THE STAR OF THE GOD ROMPHA, THE IMAGES WHICH YOU MADE TO WORSHIP. I ALSO WILL REMOVE YOU BEYOND BABYLON.’ 44 “Our fathers had the tabernacle of testimony in the wilderness, just as He who spoke to Moses directed him to make it according to the pattern which he had seen. 45 “And having received it in their turn, our fathers brought it in with Joshua upon dispossessing the nations whom God drove out before our fathers, until the time of David.

Israel had been idolatrous during their wilderness wanderings. Despite that Joshua and the next generation were faithful to establish God’s worship with the tabernacle in the promised land. While not mentioned by name in Hebrews 11:30, Joshua’s conquest of the land by faith is also mentioned there.

Hebrews 11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.

Joshua and the people trusted God’s word, obeyed His commandments, and saw God bring about His promises concerning Jericho. Just as Joshua and the people had faith, so too must we. God is bringing about His deliverance and salvation. He is redeeming people and will judge this world’s sin. We must walk by faith through the trials and spiritual battles obeying His Word.

Hope

As we look at how the book of Joshua is used in the New Testament we also see Joshua’s hope in the promises that were given to him. Joshua 1:5 is quoted in Hebrews 13:5. In commissioning Joshua to have courage to do what God was calling him to do God told him this:

Joshua 1:5 “No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.

This same promise to never fail or forsake is repeated to us in Hebrews 13:5. Look at the first five verses of this chapter to get an idea of the context for the quote.

Hebrews 13:1-5 Let love of the brethren continue. 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. 3 Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body. 4 Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge. 5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,”

The reason that we can have hope and endurance and remain faithful in the task that God has called us to do in the midst of the tribulations and trials of our idolatrous, immoral generation is because we have hope in the God who is with us. The reason we can persist in loving one another, in showing hospitality, in remembering the persecuted, in staying morally pure and exalting biblical marriage, in not being overtaken by the love of money but remaining content is because God is with us. He will never leave us or forsake us. This is one of the greatest promises of God’s Word. It can give us hope, strength, and courage during any trial or temptation if we hold onto it. During the wilderness wanderings and conquest the people were tempted by idolatry, immorality (Ba’al Peor), greed (Achan), discontent (with God’s provision of manna), and so much more. Like Joshua and Caleb we need to walk in hope of God’s promises to us. We must keep our eyes on what He is going to do.

Hebrews 4:8-9 also reveals how this promise of rest in the promised land pointed to a greater hope which Jesus will fulfill.

Hebrews 4:8-9 For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. 9 So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.

Joshua’s rest in the promised land was a fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel, but it was marred by sin and disobedience. It was physical, but it was not spiritual and eternal. It was not permanent. A greater fulfillment was needed. Jesus is fulfilling that. He made the way of salvation for us through His death, burial, and resurrection from the cross. He took the sin of all those who would believe in Him upon Himself and paid its consequences in full. He gives us His righteousness and is bringing us into His eternal rest when He comes back for us or calls us to Himself through death. That is the hope that we have in Jesus because of what He did in shedding His blood for us and conquering sin and death.

Love

In light of that we should walk by faith in hope of His promises. While we do that we should live in love towards Him and others because of His great love towards us.

The one other quote found in the New Testament from the book of Joshua emphasizes this. It is from Joshua 22:5. With but slight variation Joshua 22:5 is a repeat of Deuteronomy 6:5, 10:12, and 30:6 to love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul. (cf. also Deuteronomy 11:1, 13, 22, 13:3, 19:9, 30:16, and Joshua 23:11) This verse is found in Joshua’s exhortations to the 2 ½ tribes as they were returning to their inheritance on the other side of the Jordan:

Joshua 22:5 “Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God and walk in all His ways and keep His commandments and hold fast to Him and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

In the New Testament we see this command being highlighted by Jesus as the most important command upon which hang all the rest of them. It is the motivation and heart from which all true obedience comes. We see it repeated 4 times in the gospels in Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:30 and 33, and Luke 10:27. Matthew puts it this way:

Matthew 22:37 And He said to him, “‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’

When we realize what God has done for us in rescuing us from our sin and the destruction that it brings, and when we see what He is doing for us now as He brings us through this wilderness providing for all our needs as we go to Him, and when we see what He has promised to us in our eternal promised land it should cause us want to love Him with the love that He has loved us with. It should make us want to give Him thanks. It should make us zealous for good works and faithfulness. It should give us courage to be faithful despite the hardships we are facing.

Conclusion

When it comes down to it, each and every day we are faced with the same decision that faced Joshua and the Israelites at the end of the book of Joshua. We have the temptations of the world all around us and must make our stand to worship and serve the one true living God. We must decide that “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Josh 24:15, KJV). He is the only true God. He is the one who has ransomed our souls and redeemed us from our slavery to sin at the cost of His very own life. He is the One who has gone to prepare a place for us with Him eternally after rising from the dead. He is the One who is coming back for us. He is the One who has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. Will we take up our cross and follow Him? Will we be faithful disciples and work at the purpose that He has for us in making other disciples? Will we live for Him faithfully through whatever hardships that He calls us to go through? Will faith in Jesus, hope in His promises, and love to Him and others be the result in our lives because of what He did on the cross?

As we come to taking communion together and re-covenanting together to follow Jesus wholeheartedly, like Joshua did with Israel before his death, let’s pray and then remember God’s purposes for us in taking communion together. ³

© 2023, Kevin A. Dodge, All rights reserved.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB),Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org

---

Related Topics: Christian Life, Communion, Soteriology (Salvation)