Introduction –The Significance of Joshua
Before we begin this study I want to place several questions before us and suggest that our initial answers may change as we mature spiritually. In fact, our answers need to change as we mature. So please keep these questions in mind and think about them from time to time.
· Do you believe in God?
· What do you mean when you say that you believe in God?
· Is there a difference between believing in God and believing God?
· Do you believe that God is trustworthy?
· Do you believe that He is totally trustworthy?
· Do you believe that God keeps His promises?
· Do you believe that the Bible is true?
· Do you grasp the idea of types in the Old Testament?
This study will deal with several very important concepts. I would like for you to keep the following concepts in mind as we study because we will be repeating them frequently:
· Faith
· Promises
· Response
· Commitment
· Courage
· Encouragement
I read recently a comment by a writer that struck me as very important for any teacher. The writer said that “in Bible study anything that is really original, anything that is simply our own, is not worth passing on to anyone else. But if in the course of our study God opens our eyes to see wondrous things, it is only then that we may tell others of what we have seen. When they look for themselves and see the same things, they will soon forget who pointed them out, but the gold is passed from hand to hand and others are enriched.”
Now regarding the Old and New Testaments, St Augustine said that: “The New is in the Old contained; The Old is by the New explained.”
As we now proceed into this study of Joshua we are going to see many “types”. Not everyone understands biblical types. And it is important that we all understand what is meant by a type.
In the 10th chapter of 1 Corinthians Paul reviews some of the experiences that the children of Israel had in the wilderness. He then said,
· 1 Corinthians 10;6,11, Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.
So a type is an example with a lesson attached to it so that we may learn from the experiences of those in the Old Testament.
· Psalm 139:14, I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
The reference here is to the physical body of man, which is the product of the omniscience of God.
· Psalm 119:129, Your statutes are wonderful; therefore I obey them.
The Maker of man’s body is also the Author of the Word and each is called “wonderful”.
The human body is largely made up of pairs, or two halves. We have two arms, two legs, two eyes, two ears, two lungs, two kidneys, etc. Likewise the Word is made up of two Testaments. Each is a “living organism”, a single and complete entity, yet with many members. Each of those members is necessary to give completeness to the others, and the cutting off of one results in the mutilation of the whole. Each of those members has its own function to fulfill and each book of the Bible makes its own contribution to the sum of Divine revelation. As each member of the physical body has been designed for a special purpose, so the substance of each book of the Bible has its own special theme. We could carry the analogy further but hopefully you get the point.
But consider this: the design and function of some members of our bodies are self-evident even to the layman. But there are others which are understood only by a trained physician. In the same way, the purpose of some of the books of the Bible is more or less apparent to the rank and file of us, but the special character and the distinctive features of others can be discerned only as we become more and more subject to the wisdom of the Holy Spirit and as we explore in depth the preaching and writings of the more enlightened among us. Looking again at the physical body, there are parts and conditions of the body that still puzzle doctors and scientists. In the same way there are parts of the Scriptures that remain mysterious and debatable.
So as we approach the study of one of the books of the Bible it is important that we determine what is the main thrust and design of that book. Before looking at the theme of Joshua, let’s briefly look at what has preceded it.
There are five books prior to Joshua, beginning with Genesis. And obviously beginnings is the theme of this first book of the Bible. There is a three-fold beginning shown there: the heavens and the earth, the post flooded world, and the nation of Israel under Abram.
Very important for us to gather from Genesis is the doctrinal concept of election. This is a foundational truth in the Bible. Over and over in Genesis we see the older is passed over in favor of the younger, demonstrating God’s sovereignty of choosing who He will as opposed to man’s way of the inheritance going to the older, etc. This can be seen in the case of Shem rather than Japheth or Ham; Isaac chosen over Ishmael; Jacob over Esau; and Joseph over all of his older brothers. etc.
· 2 Thessalonians 2:13, But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.
Historically the book of Exodus deals with the deliverance and departure of the Israelites from Egypt. Doctrinally we learn that the theme of the book is redemption.
· Exodus 6:6, "Therefore, say to the Israelites: 'I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.
The first clause shows us what redemption was from, and the last clause how it was to be effected. We also see in Exodus the blood of the sacrificial lamb as the salvation of those who believed. (The Passover)
Now to Leviticus. This book covers a very brief period of two months. It shows the people of God on resurrection ground regenerated. We learn here what we are redeemed for, namely fellowship and worship of God.
· Leviticus 10:3, 3 Moses then said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD spoke of when he said: "'Among those who approach me I will show myself holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored.'"
Typically the book is full of Jesus, setting Him before us as Altar, Sacrifice and High Priest.
The fourth book, Numbers, deals with the practical side of the spiritual life, tracing the history of the believer in the world. In Numbers 1:1, The LORD spoke to Moses in the Tent of Meeting in the Desert of Sinai on the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites came out of Egypt. The desert, or wilderness, is a type or symbol of the fallen condition of mankind, alienated from God. Here we see the journey of the Israelites. The theme of the book is the walk and the wanderings of the believer during his lifetime with the testings and trials in the world. In other words, our spiritual life.
Deuteronomy is the bridge between the four books that precede it and the seven that follow. The four deal with Israel before they enter Canaan and the latter seven deal with their history in Canaan. Deuteronomy signifies “a second law”---the Ten Commandments being repeated here because of their sin at Kasesh-barnea. This was the case of the ten spies who gave a negative report on their view of the Amalekites. The people believed the ten instead of Joshua and Caleb who believed God.
The address of Moses to the people just before his death was aimed at making sure this new generation understood the conditions under which they entered the Promised Land. There were key words in this address including “remember” used 14 times, “hear” used 30 times, and “do” about 100 times. So obedience to God is the great condition of possessing our inheritance.
The book of Joshua is one of the most interesting and important parts of Israel’s history. It deals with their establishment as a nation, of which Genesis was prophetic and the rest of the Pentateuch was preparatory.
We should think of the book from two related points of view. The first as the end of Israel’s trials and wanderings in the wilderness, and the second as the beginning of their new life in the Promised Land. It is this two-fold viewpoint that supplies the clue to its spiritual interpretation.
Some have seen the entry into Canaan as a type of the church entering heaven. In one sense that could be true. However there is a far more appropriate type seen here as we will see.
But first, I am going to take a major risk here at the beginning of this study and read some very important passages of Scripture. It is lengthy but it is very significant to what we will be doing for the coming months. I am going to read 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 and portions of 2 Peter chapters 1 and 2. So please follow if you will.
· 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
· 2 Peter 1:3-18, His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. 10 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 12 So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. 13 I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, 14 because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things. 16 We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." 18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.
· 2 Peter 2:2-10, Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. 4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment; 5 if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; 6 if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; 7 and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men 8(for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)- 9 if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment. 10 This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority.