Joshua—Victory!
04.06.22
This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; but you shall meditate therein day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be dismayed: for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:8-9)
We have taken a look at the Pentateuch, the Books of Moses. To review, each has a central theme. Genesis is the book of beginnings. Exodus presents Israel’s redemption from Egypt. Leviticus stresses God’s holiness. Numbers centers on Israel’s failures in the wilderness. Deuteronomy asks Israel to remember all that God has taught them over the past forty years.
We now come to the first of the biblical books of history. Joshua means ‘Jehovah is salvation,’ which is also what ‘Jesus’ means. This blessed name reminded Israel of the victory it would gain in the land of Canaan, the Promised Land. It points to the ultimate victory over sin, death, and hell that only Christ can provide.
Joshua was born as a slave in Egypt. He experienced the plagues God sent upon the Egyptians. He saw the great miracle of the crossing of the Red Sea. He ate manna in the wilderness. He was upon the mountain when God gave to Moses the Ten Commandments. He was one of the twelve spies who searched out the Promised Land some forty years prior. Only he and Caleb brought back a good report of the land with the faith that God would provide it for them. Now upon him falls the mantle of Moses as the people are about to cross the Jordan and claim the land for the LORD. He is now eighty years old and ready to lead.
The theme of this book is victory! It covers a period of about twenty-five years. As one commentator wrote: “The occupation of this small territory scarcely larger than Wales…has nevertheless to a great extent molded the moral and religious history of the world.” The book shows the faithfulness of God in delivering the Promised Land to the people of Israel against all odds. The conquest of Canaan was truly a miraculous work of God!
God had given the land of Canaan to the children of Israel by an everlasting covenant (Genesis 17:8). However, the possession or occupation of the land was conditional upon their obedience.
The outline of the book is quite simple. In the first half of the book, the people enter and conquer the land. In the last half of the book, they settle into the land.
Most importantly, where is Christ seen in this book? First, he appears to Joshua in pre-incarnate form as the Captain of the LORD’s army. He promises to be with Joshua and give Israel the victory (5:13-15).
Second, Joshua is a type of Christ in two ways: the meaning of his name, and the leadership he displayed in guiding Israel to conquer the land.
Third, Christ is seen in the scarlet cord used by the harlot Rahab to identify her home on the walls of Jericho to the invading Israelite forces (2:21). She had heard about Israel’s God and the mighty things He had done over the past forty years. Her simple faith in the God of Israel brought her deliverance from physical death when Jericho was destroyed. It also brought her forgiveness of sin, and place in the Messianic line. She became the great-great-grandmother of King David (Matthew 1:5). God is a God of marvelous grace!