What's In A Name? Joshua

Rev. Leonard Reiss

Advent • Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago

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There has been a multitude of heroes over the years who were warriors and leaders. You’ve heard of the likes of “stormin’” Norman Schwarzkopf, General Dwight Eisenhower, General Patton, Teddy Roosevelt, George Washington, and many others. In the Old Testament, we recall King David, Gideon, and many more. Today, I want to look at one of those heroes who was a soldier and a leader. He is our last type that we’ll be looking at this advent. His name was Joshua.

Like Jesus, Joshua was not one to go along with the crowds just to be popular, get along, or keep the peace. In fact, when the majority of the Israelites were scared about going into the land God had called them to inhabit, they resorted to contrasting themselves to the inhabitants as if they were grasshoppers. Joshua would have none of that as he pointed out that God had directed His chosen people there and God would give them the victory. Though those in opposition to Joshua’s perspective were 5:1, he chose to go with God.

Meaning

Let’s take some time and look at the similarities in the name of Joshua, this week’s type of Christ. Obviously, the first letter of his name matches that of our Savior’s, “J.” Jesus is the Name which we commonly know from the New Testament. Interestingly, Joshua is the Old Testament name equivalent to the New Testament name, Jesus. Jesus, is of course, the Greek Name. The meaning is Jehovah saves.

Replacement

As a type of Christ, Joshua also had a purpose of replacement. In Joshua’s case, he was to succeed or replace someone else, specifically, Moses. What I find fascinating is that Jesus superseded Moses, as well. We recall that God gave the 10 Commandments for Moses to give the Jewish nation. The religious leadership practically worshipped Moses and the Law.

Joshua actually replaced Moses with the leadership responsibilities for the nation. Joshua finished the task of bringing complete deliverance to God’s people by leading them into the Promised Land.

Jesus, however, not only replaced Moses as the One to Whom the Israelites were to look; He also replaced, or more accurately, fulfilled the Law. Obviously, even today, there is confusion among a lot of people about this. Jesus didn’t completely abolish the law. Those who try to say that the Law is completely irrelevant for today are wrong. However, those who believe that we need to practice all the Law, if one is saved, are just as wrong, if not more so; since the New Testament spends such a great deal of time stating that keeping the whole Law is not necessary. I will try to explain this briefly without going into a lot of depth.

The law had three basic parts to it. One part dealt with the civil or government law. Another part dealt with the ceremonial or religious law. Another part focused on the moral law.

The civil law had as its focus everything dealing with humanity and how people should treat each other. Today, we would understand this law to be the foundations of the basic elements of society. We would think of things such as valuing human life, honoring your parents, holding high the sanctity of your neighbor’s wife, property rights, valuing a person’s reputation, not focusing on ways to take something which belongs to someone else. When you think about it, these things I’ve mentioned are the last six laws of the Ten Commandments. In essence, all of the civil laws of a land ought to consist of these basic premises.

Now, the ceremonial law had as its focus the religious part of the Israelites’ lives. In essence, this dealt with those things that were about worshipping God only, rejection of idols and false gods. This part of the law explained where the Israelites were to worship, when they should worship, and how they should worship. This part of the law also gave a lot of instructions about the various feasts, which were part of the Jewish worship. Both the civil laws and the ceremonial laws were specifically designed and given to the nation of Israel and were never meant to be a mandate for any other cultures or civilizations. Nor are they requirements for the church today.

The moral laws were considered permanent, as they are repeated throughout the New Testament. In other words, they are for all time. However, many civil and ceremonial laws were designed only for the purpose of pointing people to Jesus Christ. They were designed for only a short time; as a tutor or schoolmaster as Paul points out in Galatians. This is why, when Jesus came, He fulfilled the law and set aside those things which merely pointed people to Him.

Let’s look at a few Scriptures which explain this:

John 1:17 NASB95

For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:2–4 NASB95

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Hebrews 7:18–19 NASB95

For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

Galatians 3:23–25 NASB95

But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

Thus, Joshua succeeded Moses as a leader and a representative to God and the people. Christ succeeded Moses and the Law by providing the perfect way through Himself.

Victory

Previously, from our reading of , we see that Christ won a victory where Moses could not have possibly won. That is quite similar in that Joshua was able to take the people of Israel where Moses had not been allowed. Joshua had the distinct privilege of leading the people of Israel all the way into the Promised Land and helped get them settled.

The similarity or how the type fits for Christ is that Jesus has taken His chosen saints into the true Promised Land, the Kingdom of God, where we shall never be displaced. God, through His Son, Jesus Christ, provided a way to enter that glorious place where God’s children would forever dwell with Him. Just as in Joshua’s time, in order for the Israelites to experience victory, they were required to do things God’s way.

In both situations, human wisdom and human means and methods will never provide true victory. Just as in Joshua’s time, when trying to attain victory by the efforts of humanity, there were defeats. Only through Jesus Christ and His power will anyone every have victory.

Intercession

Joshua did not give up on the Jewish people he was leading. Even when they were in conflict or had experienced defeat because of disobedience, Joshua found himself interceding on behalf of them to the Heavenly Father. We can see this in one situation where the Israelites were told to capture Ai. So, Joshua sent an envoy of spies to check over the situation. Upon their arrival back, they had a very favorable report. In fact, it was a very confident report that sounded like this: Do not let all the people go up; only about two or three thousand men need go up to Ai; do not make all the people toil up there, for they are few. So about three thousand men from the people went up there . . .

As you probably remember, the Israelites were thoroughly and soundly defeated. This defied logic and reason, so the only other possibility was that there was some sort of sin. Here is where Joshua interceded for the people. Listen to his words: “Alas, O Lord God, why did You ever bring this people over the Jordan, only to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? If only we had been willing to dwell beyond the Jordan! “O Lord, what can I say since Israel has turned their back before their enemies? For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it, and they will surround us and cut off our name from the earth. And what will You do for Your great name?”

“Alas, O Lord 1God, why did You ever bring this people over the Jordan, only to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? If only we had been willing 2to dwell beyond the Jordan!

8 “O Lord, what can I say since Israel has turned their 1back before their enemies?

9 “For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it, and they will surround us and cut off our name from the earth. And what will You do for Your great name?”

Though Joshua was somewhat discouraged, he knew what to do; go right before the Lord in intercession on behalf of the people. And, of course, God answered by giving instructions as to the next steps before He would give victory. Since there was sin in the camp, God had removed His hand of blessing from the Israelites. What a reminder that we can’t allow sin to remain in our camp if we want God’s blessing!

Jesus fulfilled this type in that he has gone to His Heavenly Father and is continually interceding for us. We know from the Gospels how Jesus spoke of interceding for His own to the Father on various occasions. I am thankful that Jesus is still continuing to do this for me and all who have surrendered themselves to Jesus to be their Savior. How do I know this to be true? Listen to what John writes in his first letter:

2 Lit and had dwelt

1 John 2:1 NASB95

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;

1 Lit neck

a ;

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), .

Provision

Joshua also divided up and awarded each tribe what was to be theirs according to God’s directions. We see this in where he did exactly what God told Him to do.

Jesus also provides gifts and rewards to those who belong to Him. Some of these are actually given today. For all who know Jesus as their personal Savior, He gives gifts for building His church, just as He decides and chooses to do. Later, all who love Jesus will receive their reward for all we have done on this earth for God’s Kingdom.

Fellowship and Worship

Joshua was also a type of Jesus in a most unique manner in that he spent an intentionally large amount of time fellowshipping with and worshipping God. You will recall that Joshua was being mentored by Moses and spent a great deal of time on the mountain with Moses. He would be right with him listening to God’s instructions and worshipping Him. In fact, there were times when Moses had to go down to the camp to take care of business, that Joshua stayed on the mountain. Look at a few verses from to get a bit of a picture as to what that relationship was like.

Exodus 33:11 NASB95

Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses returned to the camp, his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.

It seems to show a great example for us in that we need all the time we can get with the Lord. Without spending time with Him, we will not know what to do, much less be able to do it for the Lord. There really is no substitute for spending time alone with God.

We see that Jesus also felt the need to fellowship and worship His Heavenly Father. Often He would go out at night and spend the whole night in prayer. Those times took place even after He had an incredibly difficult, busy day. Again, what an example! If Jesus felt the need to go before the Father on a regular basis, we ought to seriously consider doing that, as well.

Don’t Leave the Tent

My friends, when we consider this special time of year, we need to think about how we are celebrating. Don’t become so active and busy that we really don’t have time to worship. Maybe when we find ourselves ridiculously busy so that we can’t seem to find time to worship, consider adopting Joshua’s and Jesus’ philosophy. Especially, when I consider the fact that Jesus has provided my salvation. What exactly is that philosophy?

Don’t leave the tent!

That’s right. Don’t leave the tent until you have had a personal, real encounter with the Lord.