Joshua a Type of Christ

(Joshua 1-11)

The name “Joshua” means the same as the name “Jesus.” “And Moses called Oshea [Hoshea] the son of Nun Jehoshua” (Numbers 13:16). The syllable “Je” prefixed to the word Hoshea is the first syllable of the word Jehovah. Hoshea signifies “to save”; Jehoshua or Joshua signifies “The Lord will save.” “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Joshua saved his people from their enemies, whereas Jesus saved His people from their sins. In the Greek the word for Jesus is also the word for Joshua. It means salvation or Saviour.

Both Joshua and Jesus were captains of an army. Joshua was captain: “Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, Pass through the host, and command the people” (Joshua 1:10, 11). In battle Joshua was always commander-in-chief. Jesus was Captain. Near Jericho one day Joshua saw a Soldier with a drawn sword in His hand. He asked Him, “Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?” (Joshua 5:13). The Soldier answered: “Nay; but as captain of the host of the Lord am I now come” (Joshua 5:14).

Here was a Soldier who claimed to be Captain of the Lord’s army of angels. Who was this strange Commander? The ground in His presence was said to be holy, and so He must have been divine. And because the second Person in the Trinity is the only One ever to appear in human form, therefore, we conclude that this General was none other than Jesus Christ, or Messiah in His preincarnate state.

The ultimate victory of Israel in Canaan was won by the army of Jesus, although the army of Joshua had a part to play in the campaign. This army of angels was still available in New Testament times, for Jesus said: “Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions [100,000] of angels?” (Matthew 26:53). In Hebrews 2:10 Jesus is called “The captain of their salvation.” Here He is Captain of a spiritual army.

Both Joshua and Jesus performed miracles over the forces of Nature. “Then spake Joshua to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies” (Joshua 10:12, 13). The day was lengthened in response to Joshua’s command of faith. “And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm” (Mark 4:39). As Joshua commanded the sun and the moon, even so did Christ command the wind and the sea, and they obeyed Him.

Both Joshua and the Lord Jesus as captains are described as putting their feet upon the enemies of God’s people. “Joshua called for the men of Israel, and said unto the captains of the men of war which went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings. And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them. And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the Lord do to all your enemies” (Joshua 10:24). A similar statement about Christ is prophetic, and pictures His defeat of His enemies. “But this man after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God; from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool” (Hebrews 10:12, 13).

Both Joshua and Jesus are said to have finished the work God gave them to do. God’s tribute to Joshua’s finished life-work is found in Joshua 11:15: “As the Lord commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that the Lord commanded Moses.” And a statement in the prayer of Jesus in John 17 tells of His completed lifework, “I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do” (John 17:4).

Rahab’s Deliverance,

A Type of Salvation by Grace

(Joshua 2)

Apart from God, Rahab’s plight was hopeless, being a sinner living in a condemned city; and sinners today are living in a world under God’s condemnation. “Go, view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot’s house, named Rahab” (Joshua 2:1). She was a harlot who lived in a wicked city that was under the condemnation of God. What hope did she have of escape? None whatever outside of the mercy of the God of Israel whom she came to trust. This sinful world is under God’s condemnation. “That every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God” (Romans 3:19). No one who lives in this sinful world has any hope apart from the salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Rahab was delivered from Jericho, not because she deserved to be, but because she put her faith in the mercy of Israel’s God; and sinners are now saved by grace as in any age. “For the Lord your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath” (Joshua 2:11). Deliverance comes only through trusting God’s mercy. “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us” (Titus 3:5). Salvation is by grace.

Israel Crossing Jordan,

A Type of the Christian Entering into the Victorious Life

(Joshua 3-4)

Crossing Jordan meant for Israel leaving behind her the wilderness experience; and this is a type of the Christian saying goodbye to a life of defeat. “Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give them” (Joshua 1:2). When Israel crossed through the River Jordan, they were turning their backs upon their wilderness days, and they were entering the land which God had promised to them. This is a type of a Christian turning his back on a life of defeat, and entering into a life of real victory in union with Christ. “Lie not one to another, seeing ye have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man” (Colossians 3:9, 10).

Crossing Jordan meant for Israel the entering into the Promised Land; and this is a type of the Christian experiencing the life of victory God has promised to His children. “When thou art passed over, that thou mayest go in unto the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, a land that floweth with milk and honey; as the Lord God of thy fathers hath promised thee” (Deuteronomy 27:3). The Promised Land was a wealthy land. It had everything Israel needed. It was God’s gift to Israel. When Israel crossed Jordan, she began to possess that land. Canaan is the type of a victorious life for Christians. God has promised victory. Therefore, there is no need for defeat. He has promised everything that is needed. There is abundance in the land of victory for the child of God who enters in by surrender and faith. “For sin shall not have dominion over you” (Romans 6:14). “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ” (II Corinthians 2:14). Crossing Jordan is entering into victory.

The relationship between crossing the Red Sea and crossing Jordan may be compared with the relationship between conversion and entering into a victorious Christian life. Crossing the Red Sea meant leaving Egypt. Crossing Jordan meant entering Canaan. Israel had to leave Egypt before she could enter Canaan. The Red Sea crossing is typical of our salvation from the world. The crossing of Jordan is a type of our salvation to a life of victory in Christ. There was a forty-year period between the two events in the life of Israel. There need not be a long period between the two events in the life of a Christian. “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). Baptism pictures the experience of victorious living.

The divine and human element in crossing the Jordan may be compared with the divine and human element of entering into victory in Christ. “The waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam . . . and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho” (Joshua 3:16). The divine element was the miracle of the heaped up waters that made possible the walking over on dry ground. This was God’s supernatural power. The human element was the Israelites’ walking over on the pathway made for them by what God had done. Let us notice what Christ has done for us to make victory possible. “Knowing this, that our old man is [lit., has been] crucified with him [i.e.], Christ], that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin” (Romans 6:6).

“If [or, since] ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above” (Colossians 3:1). When Christ was crucified, our old carnal nature was crucified with Him. When Christ rose from the dead, we rose with Him that we might live a new life in union with Him. This is the divine element in our victory.

Now for the human element: “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:11). “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness . . . But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, etc.” (Colossians 3:5, 8). “Put on therefore as the elect of God, holy, and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, etc.” (Colossians 3:12). The victory Jesus has provided for us must be appropriated by us. We must by faith enter into the victory which God has promised to us and by His power made available to us. This is the human element.

The place of the Ark of the Covenant in crossing Jordan is a type of the place of Christ in relationship to a walk of victory. “And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan” (Joshua 3:17). “And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over, that the ark of the Lord passed over, and the priests, in the presence of the people” (Joshua 4:11). The Ark was the first to go into the river and was the last to leave the river. This should have relieved all the fears of Israel. The Ark of the Covenant is a type here of the Lord Jesus Christ. “I am Alpha and Omega [equivalent to our A and Z], the beginning and the ending” (Revelation 1:8). In living a victorious Christian life, Christ is with us from the very beginning to the end. As long as we put our trust in Him, there can be no defeat. He is the source of our victory.

The two sets of twelve memorial rocks are pictorial of the experience of entering into victorious living. “And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan” (Joshua 4:9). When the crossing was completed, these stones would be covered over with water and would be unseen. They picture for us our old carnal nature as crucified with Christ and buried with Him. “We are buried with him by baptism into death” (Romans 6:4). Joshua 4:3 tells of the other set of stones: “Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the priests’ feet stood firm, twelve stones, and ye shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place, where ye shall lodge this night.” These stones were erected on the bank of the river where they stayed overnight. They were a memorial of the event. This rock memorial is a type of our union with the risen Christ after we have died to the old life of sin. “Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him” (Romans 6:8).

Conquering Jericho,

A Type of Prayer Strategy against the Enemy of the Church

(Joshua 6)

Capturing Jericho has a spiritual meaning for us today. The falling down of the walls of Jericho is like the victory of the Gospel over the strongholds of sin. It is like the winning of our loved ones, neighbors, and friends to Christ. It is like overcoming any satanic opposition to God’s work.

Man’s method and God’s method of capturing a Jericho may be compared with man’s method and God’s method of doing church work. Man’s ordinary method of capturing a city like Jericho in Joshua’s day would include taking lessons on scaling walls; trying to enter the city secretly by night; using battering-rams to break down the wall; laying siege to the city, and starving the population into surrender. How different was God’s method of taking Jericho!

“And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days . . . And the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets” (Joshua 6:3, 4). When this was done, God caused the walls of the city to tumble down, and the men entered the city and took it.

Today worldly methods instead of God’s method are often used in doing God’s work. Here are examples of such methods: imitate the movies and worldly entertainments to get a crowd instead of “by the foolishness of preaching . . . save them that believe” (I Corinthians 1:21). Raise money by bazaars, suppers, and other worldly methods instead of giving tithes and offerings. Build membership rolls by high-pressure methods. Use pressure to get a soul to go through the form of conversion without the reality of a born-again experience. Make much of committee meetings, but omit prayer meetings. Emphasize activity in the energy of the flesh with no Holy Spirit power.

In encircling Jericho Joshua based everything on God’s promise; and we should do the same in Christian work. “And the Lord said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valor” (Joshua 6:2). Here was a clear-cut promise from the Lord that Jericho would be given Israel. After hearing that promise, Joshua proceeded to obey instructions without fear. Everything he did thereafter was based on this promise. The Christian is given many promises that relate to his service. “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises” (II Peter 1:4). For example, when we pray, let us quote a promise to God, and then say like David of old, “Do as thou hast said” (II Sam. 7:25).

In the daily marching around the city of Jericho, Joshua insisted on the silence of human voices, which is a good policy in church activity. “And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout” (Joshua 6:10). There is a time for human voices to be silent. A whispering campaign in the ranks could have spread doubt through the whole army. “Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord” (Zechariah 2:13).

In church work there is a time for us to be silent and to let the Lord do the talking.

The going around Jericho so many times was certainly a matter solely of faith and not of sight; which should be the basis of our prayer and service activity. It would have done no good for the men of Israel as they marched around Jericho to have looked for cracks in the wall. Assurance of victory came alone through faith in God’s Word. Paul said, “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (II Corinthians 5:7). How easy it is for Christian workers to get discouraged when things do not look encouraging! But to do so is not to walk by faith.

As the Israelites had to persevere in marching around Jericho, so must Christians persevere in trusting God for victory in His cause. “On the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times” (Joshua 6:15). When the encircling was multiplied, the city was conquered. We need perseverance in our praying in God’s work. “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (Ephesians 6:18). Before we get the answer to our prayer or see victory won, we may have to multiply the time spent in prayer. Perhaps a whole night spent in prayer, or a day of prayer will conquer the citadel of the enemy.

The Israelites praised God for victory before it actually came; and oftentimes such a policy will bring victory today. “And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the Lord hath given you the city” (Joshua 6:16). Theirs was the shout of praise, and it was also the shout of faith. When they shouted, the only evidence the walls would tumble was God’s promise. But they praised God for victory before they had it, and immediately it came. Such a spirit is the climax of faith. The apostle gives us that principle in Philippians 4:6: “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” The thanksgiving was to accompany the praying and not to wait for the answer. In other words, we are to thank God for the answer to our prayer before we actually get it. That is real faith.

Overcoming Giants in the Promised Land,

A Challenge to Christians Today

(Joshua 11, 14, 15, 17)

Joshua and Israel cut off giants from the land of Canaan, and set modern young people an example of heroism. “And at that time came Joshua, and cut off the Anakim from the mountains, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the mountains of Israel: Joshua destroyed them utterly with their cities. There was none of the Anakim left in the land of the children of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there remained” (Joshua 11:21, 22). Anakim means “long-necked” and was the name given these ancient giants. God’s people who put their trust in Him were able to win notable victories. “But the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits” (Daniel 11:32). The message of Paul in Romans 8:37 corresponds to this: “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” And there are plenty of giants to conquer in this modern world of ours. There is Giant Stronghold of Sin, Giant Citadel of Satan, Giant Enslaving Sin, Giant Sinful Habit, Giant Uncontrollable Temper, Giant Dark Passion, and Giant Despair. And perhaps you can add some more giants to this list. But thank God they can all be conquered through faith in Jesus Christ!

Caleb conquered giants when he was an old man, and has set us an example of faith in God for great things. “Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the Lord spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the Lord will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the Lord said” (Joshua 14:12).

Here is an old man who asks for giants to fight, instead of asking for an easy task. “And unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a part among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of the Lord to Joshua, even the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron. And Caleb drove thence the three sons of Anak, Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak” (Joshua 15:13, 14). Given territory where giants were entrenched, he drove them forth and took possession of their land. The apostle Paul, another man with courage like Caleb, wrote to young Timothy this word: “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (II Timothy 2:1).

When the tribe of Manasseh wanted more territory, Joshua challenged these men to conquer giants to get land, hut like many today, they failed to do so. “And the children of Joseph spake unto Joshua, saying, Why hast thou given me but one lot and one portion to inherit, seeing I am a great people, forasmuch as the Lord hath blessed me hitherto? And Joshua answered them, If thou be a great people, then get thee up to the wood country, and cut down for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the giants, if mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee” (Joshua 17:14, 15). If they were a great people, let them prove it by conquering giants. The word giants means “Rephaims” or “strong ones.” In verse 16 these descendants of Joseph complained about the enemy having chariots of iron. But there is no record that they ever did what Joshua challenged them to do. They never conquered giants. There is great need for Christians in these days who are strong in faith and able to overcome the world, the flesh, and the Devil. “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (I John 5:4). Every child of God may overcome the world through faith in God. Let us say with Paul: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13).

The Old Testament Cities of Refuge,

A Type of Christ as a Refuge for Sinners

(Joshua 20)

There was need for the cities of refuge in the days of the Mosaic law, as there is need for a true place of refuge for sinners in all ages. “Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses: that the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood” (Joshua 20:2, 3).

The need for such cities grew out of the ancient law of the kinsman-avenger. If a person was murdered, his nearest male relative was duty bound to avenge the murder by executing the murderer. When the law of Moses was instituted, the right of the kinsman-avenger was still recognized, but the manslayer, or the man who killed a person accidentally, was protected by being allowed to flee to a city of refuge where his case was judged. There has always been needed a place of refuge for sinners. Men seek for such refuge, but some are disappointed because the places in which they trust are not secure. “The hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies” (Isaiah 28:17). What tragedy to trust a false refuge! But God Himself is the only secure place of refuge. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).

These Old Testament cities did not provide refuge for first-degree murderers, but only for manslayers; and so our place of refuge in Christ is only for repentant sinners and not for those who refuse to repent. “The slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither” (Joshua 20:3). The first-degree murderer was turned over to the kinsman-avenger, even though he fled to the city of refuge. And so our place of refuge in Christ is not for all sinners, it is only for repentant sinners who will trust in Christ. “Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21).

Repentance and faith in Christ go together. But a sinner who seeks to have faith in Christ without being willing to repent of his sins will get nowhere, except to be judged for his sins.

These cities of refuge availed only for those men who fled to them; and Christ saves only those who trust in Him for salvation. “May flee thither” (Joshua 20:3). The slayer had to flee to a city of refuge to have it avail for him. Similarly the sinner must come to Christ in order to be saved. “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37), so said Jesus.

The Old Testament word often translated “trust” means to “seek or take refuge in.” “Blessed are all they that put their trust [take refuge] in him” (Psalm 2:12). Him here refers to the Son, or Christ. The New Testament expression believe in often means “believe into,” literally translated. In John 3:16, “whosoever believeth in him” could be translated literally, “whosoever believeth into him.” This suggests the thought, “whosoever takes refuge in him.”

This is the thought of that famous hymn: