Joshua

Author: Joshua
Date of Writing: 14th century BC
Type of Book: Historical
Theme: Entering the Promised Land

Joshua's name was originally Hoshea, but Moses changed it when he inserted the Lord's name and called him Jehoshua meaning "the Lord is salvation". Jesus is the Greek for the Hebrew name Joshua (Numbers 13:16). And thus, Joshua was a type of Jesus.

God chose Joshua to lead Israel into the Promised Land after Moses had died. Joshua had been an assistant and companion to Moses and was one of the two spies who wanted to go in and conquer Canaan after their first incursion into the land. But he and Caleb were overruled by the other spies, and as a result, Israel was condemned to wander the wilderness for forty years.

As we see the children of Israel crossing over the Jordan River and entering and taking the land God promised, we learn many lessons that relate to our lives. There are those who would see the Promised Land as a type of heaven and the Jordan River as a symbol of death - but that just doesn't fit. When the children of Israel crossed the Jordan, they entered a life of warfare, but there won't be any fighting in heaven. So I believe crossing over the Jordan River is typical of the time when we, as believers, reckon our old life as being dead with Christ and we move forward in the life of the Spirit. I look at Romans 7 where I realize I can't live a righteous life on my own, and I cry out, "O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?" (Romans 7:24). I then move into Romans 8 where I discover the walk in the Spirit. And as I move forward in the Spirit, I begin to conquer those strongholds that the flesh held in my life. I begin to take the territory and live the life God wants me to live as His child. And so, coming into this full, rich life of the Spirit, we find beautiful analogies here in the book of Joshua.

As you read, look for the lessons that the children of Israel learned as they walked in the victory of the Spirit of God. It promises to be an exciting journey for us; and by the grace of God, we will move with Joshua into this land, as we begin to conquer those areas of the world and of the flesh.

-from Pastor Chuck Smith: The Word for Today Bible