Jesus Christ in the Book of Joshua

  ~ Jesus Christ is the Commander of the Army of the Lord ~

The Bible Is About Jesus Christ  ~  “Jesus said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!  Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter His glory?’  And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself” (Luke 24:25-27).

The Big View  ~  Moses  gave God’s laws to Israel, but he was not allowed to enter the promised land.  A few weeks after Moses’ death, it was Joshua who led the people into the land.  The New Testament explains that God’s Law does not save us.  Instead, it condemns us and was meant to make us see our need for Jesus Christ (see Galatians 2:15—3:24).

Christ Is The Commander of the Lord’s Army  ~  In the book of Joshua we see Jesus Christ as the Captain of the Lord’s host, the Captain of our Salvation, and the victorious leader.  “And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand.  And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, ‘Are You for us or for our adversaries?’  So He said, ‘No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.’  And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, ‘What does my Lord say to His servant?’  Then the Commander of the Lord's army said to Joshua, ‘Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy.’  And Joshua did so” (Joshua 5:13-15).

The Name Joshua ~ In Hebrew Joshua (Yehoshua or Yeshua) means “the Lord saves” or “Jehovah is Salvation.”  In Greek his name is translated “Jesus” and the message of the book of Joshua is that “Jesus saves.”  Note, however, that Joshua was a temporary savior and Christ is the only true Savior who saves eternally. 

Comment  ~  We have only touched the surface of Christ as seen in the book of Joshua.

additional comment:  The book of Joshua is quoted in the New Testament. “After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying: ‘Moses My servant is dead.  Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them — the children of Israel.  Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.  From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory.  No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.  I will not leave you nor forsake you” (Joshua 1:1-5).  “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have.  For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5). 

second additional comment: On February 19, 2013 Abundant Life Now posted “Joshua: A Picture of Jesus Christ.”

The Apostle Paul told us the Scriptures present many shadows of things to come but the reality is found in Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:17). 

~~~ EXPLANATORY “JESUS CHRIST IN EVERY BOOK OF THE BIBLE” SERIES ~~~   

(1)  Approximately once a month ALN posts an overview of how Jesus Christ is seen in a specific book of the Bible.

(2)  In most cases these posts only scratch the surface regarding Jesus Christ in the particular book.

(3)  These posts will typically be in the same order as the books are found in the Bible.

(4)  These serial posts are in addition to our other ALN postings.

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~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW