The Old Testament is full of exquisite portraits of our Saviour. He can be observed everywhere to those who have eyes to see. But one of the most remarkable of these divine illustrations is the man named Joshua. Although many connections may be drawn, there are three “firsts” that stand out in striking relief.
The Man who Lives by the Book: When Joshua received his commission after the death of Moses, it was bound to the Book: “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success” (1:8).
As C. H. Waller writes,
Joshua was the first man who received a copy of Holy Scripture to be his guide. The first mention of the Book of books is connected with his name: “Write this for a memorial in the book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua.” What can it mean but this, that all scriptures from first to last were written for Him who is to fulfill them, the true Joshua, the Lord our Saviour Himself! He it was who said, “Mine ears hast Thou opened. Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of Me, to do Thy will, O God”…And when He comes again, He will finish the fulfilling of it. All the laws that have been given, and never kept; the wonders that have been foretold, and never seen; the temple that has been measured, but never built; the feasts that have been appointed, but never observed; the glory that has been promised; the kingdom that we pray for; the life that is now hid…all these will be delivered to the true Joshua when He comes again…Not till we come to the end of His Kingdom shall we come to the end of His Word.
The Man who Bears the Name: Originally Moses’ minister was named Oshea (meaning “salvation”) by his parents (see Num. 13:8). As Moses saw the leadership ability of this young man, did he fear that the people might begin to think of this young man as their salvation? In any case, Moses renamed his understudy Jehoshua (meaning “Jehovah is salvation”), the name later shortened to the more manageable Joshua. But it is this very name, framed by Moses, that was later given by divine edict to the virgin’s Child that night in Bethlehem. It is well known that the Greek form of Joshua is Jesus. It is perhaps not so well known that the name was constructed to make a more fitting title for the man who would be the type of our Champion.
The Man who Brings in the Rest: Among the many challenges Joshua faced in coming into hostile territory was the responsibility to bring the people of God into rest. But, says the sacred record in the Old Testament, “The Lord said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed” (Josh. 13:1). The New Testament commentary is even more pointed: “If Jesus (meaning Joshua) had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day” (Heb. 4:8). But the measure of Joshua’s success should be acknowledged. The generation that died in the wilderness—Joshua’s peers—“entered not in because of unbelief.” But what of their children, of whom Joshua was leader?
They started brightly, promising Joshua, “All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go” (1:16). But surely they were a disappointment, too. No, listen to the other end of the book: “And Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua” (24:31). They did it! The life of service, the path of victory, is a real possibility. But it is only for those who follow the Book-Keeper, the Name-Bearer, the Rest-Bringer.
Written by J. B. Nicholson Jr