#384 Joshua the Faithful Warrior

Joshua, called thus by Moses means "The Lord is Salvation". Even as Moses led the children in the wilderness, yet died outside the promised land, so Joshua leads them into the land.

Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience, 7 God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted:

“Today, if you hear his voice,

do not harden your hearts.”[d]

8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. Hebrews 4: 6-8

Joshua led the people to a temporary earthly kingdom, his battle was often against flesh and blood, but he was a fore type of Christ and Israel was a picture of God's eternal kingdom. Joshua pics up where Moses leaves off. 

The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. 12 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. 13 Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. 14 For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. Hebrews 13: 11-14

 He was alive during Israel's time in Egypt as well, and he was also one of the 12 who entered the land to spy it out, some 40 years prior to their entry. He, along with Caleb were the only two to come back with the report that they could take the land. Why? By faith, and the foundation of it in human words is given by Joshua in the 24th chapter, the small history of what God has done. If  God can humble pharaoh, part the red sea and crush the army of what was one of the greatest nations of the bronze age, and he says this is the land I am giving you, well Joshua and Caleb rightly believe. It is by faith because it is occupied by the enemies of God, by faith because looking at myself  I cannot see the whole way clear. Joshua stayed faithful to God, and though a man, God honored his faithfulness. It says if we draw nigh to God, He will draw nigh to us. 

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.

29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days.

31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient. Hebrews 11: 25-31

Joshua is a great study in faith, without which it was impossible to please God, and he and Caleb only of that generation did receive inheritance in the land. Well that was then I use to think, a lovely story, but what of faith now? The Bible tells us how it works now, it is by faith:

Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. Galatians 2:16

And we know from Holy Scripture that faith produces a change, works fit to present to God, the fruit of the Spirit. Joshua's faith led  him to believe that what God says He was also able to perform and Joshua moved forward by faith. 

What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without [a]your works, and I will show you my faith by [b]my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is [c]dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made [d]perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was [e]accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. James 2: 14-26

Hmmm, so saving faith does not just believe what the demons believe, that God exists, or as the late R.C Sproul would say, God does not exist, He is, and we come into being because of  Him. He calls us into existence, for He is "I am", the eternal Being. Joshua could have believed God powerful enough to do what He said, but God is asking for obedience from him, to be a partaker in His kingdom, as Paul said, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course." True faith leads to repentance, it is engaged in the battle, it credits the victory to God, because it knows without Him, there would be no faith, no existence, no knowledge of present err. Faith responds to the truth and the course of the believer is forever changed. Joshua lived by faith and wanted this for his house as well, he said, "choose ye this day whom you will serve, as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." There was nothing to go back to but slavery, ignorance and waste. Nothing has changed from then till now, other than that Christ has come to set the captives free, and the eternal kingdom is now in view, the New Jerusalem, do you believe? 

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God[a]; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Jesus the Way to the Father

5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know[b] my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. John 14: 1-14

Joshua Jesus Moses gave Joshua his name, which means “Yahweh saves.” (Num. 13:16) Matt. 1:21 God instructed Joseph to give his son the name Jesus because, “he will save his people from their sins.” God, to whom the whole earth belongs, charged Joshua to lead his people into Canaan to reclaim it for God, promising to be with him. (Josh. 1:2, 5) Matt. 28:18–20 Jesus, to whom all authority has been given in heaven and on earth, charged his disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, reclaiming people for God, promising to be with them. Joshua led the Israelites into physical battle against the people living in great wickedness in Canaan. (Deut. 18:10–14) Eph. 2:2–3; 6:11–13 Jesus leads us into spiritual battle against the world, the flesh and the Devil, against spiritual forces of evil. The ark going before the people signified that God himself was establishing his presence in the land among his purified people. (Josh. 3:3, 5) John 14:2–3; Heb. 9:24 Jesus has gone before us to prepare a place in heaven for his purified people. Joshua, led by the commander of the Lord’s army, brought destruction against the enemies of God. (Josh. 5:13–15) Rev. 19:14–15 Jesus, the commander of the Lord’s army, will, at the end of the age, bring final destruction upon the enemies of God.

Joshua brought divine judgment upon the Canaanites who persisted in wickedness and salvation to those who cried out for mercy. (Joshua 6) Acts 2:21; 2 Pet. 3:9–10 Jesus will return to bring divine judgment upon those who refused to repent, while those who cried out for mercy will be saved. Under Joshua, the Gibeonites, one small tribe of Gentiles, became part of the nation of Israel through faith in God’s power and promise. (Joshua 9) Rev. 5:9–10 Under Jesus, Jews and Gentiles from every tribe, language, and nation are made part of the people of God through faith in God’s power and promise. The day came when the kings in Canaan became a footstool for the Israelites’ feet, signifying complete defeat. (Josh. 10:24) 1 Cor. 15:25–28 The day will come when all of the enemies of God will become a footstool underneath Jesus’s feet signifying complete defeat. Joshua impaled the bodies of the Canaanite kings on poles to demonstrate that they were under God’s curse. (Deut. 21:22–23; Josh. 10:26) Gal. 3:13 Jesus hung on a tree, demonstrating that he was under God’s curse. Joshua had the king’s bodies taken down from the trees and put into caves and covered the openings with large stones that “remain to this very day.” (Josh. 10:27) Mark 16:4 The body of Jesus was taken down from the tree, put into a tomb, and covered with a large stone that was rolled away when he rose from the dead, signifying that he fully paid the penalty of the curse. Under Joshua, even after the Israelites entered into the land, perseverance in battle was required to take possession of all that God had given to them. (Josh. 11:18; 13:1) Phil. 3:12–14 In Christ, even after we enter into the rest of salvation, perseverance is required to truly possess all that God has given to us. Joshua gave to each tribe the promised inheritance of land in the Promised Land of Canaan that they had been waiting for. (Joshua 13–21) 1 Pet. 1:3–5; 2 Pet. 3:13 Jesus will give to us our promised inheritance in the new heaven and new earth that we have been waiting for. Joshua brought the people to a place of rest. (Josh. 21:44) Matt. 11:28; Heb. 4:8–9 Jesus promises rest to all who will come to him, the rest of salvation we experience only in part now and fully when we cross over into the presence of God. Joshua called the people of God to loyalty to the Mosaic covenant so that they would not forfeit their promised inheritance of the land of Canaan. (Josh. 23:6–13) Heb. 9:15 Jesus calls us to embrace a new covenant, which is based not on our obedience, but on his. Because of this, our promised eternal inheritance is secure