1. Joshua: Jesus Our Salvation
Look At The Book!
Joshua: Jesus Our Salvation

2. The Name Of Joshua
The book of Joshua is named for the predecessor of Moses, who led the tribes of Israel across the Jordan River and into Canaan following the 40 years of wandering.
The name Joshua, just like the name Jesus, means Yahweh Is Salvation.
Both are the same name
Joshua is the English spelling of a longer root Yehoshua which underwent a shortening and became Yeshua, from which the Greek Jesous became English Jesus.

3. As Such….
We meet Jesus in the book of Joshua immediately in the name itself.
Additionally, we meet Jesus in at least one very fascinating way dealing with salvation and deliverance – the primary meaning of the name.

4. Setting: The Exodus Is Complete
As the book of Joshua begins, Israel has completed the 40 years of the Exodus, and are entering the promised land and rededicate themselves to God.
Joshua 5:2-3, 7 : At that time the Lord said to Joshua, “Make for yourself flint knives and circumcise again the sons of Israel the second time.” So Joshua made himself flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth….Their children whom He raised up in their place, Joshua circumcised; for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them along the way.”

5. God Removed Their Reproach
Joshua 5:9 – “Then the Lord said to Joshua, ‘Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.’ So the name of that place is called Gilgal to this day.”
Gilgal means rolling

6. The People Renewed Passover
Joshua 5:10 – “While the sons of Israel camped at Gilgal they observed the Passover on the evening of the fourteenth day of the month on the desert plains of Jericho.”

7. Manna Ceases
Joshua 5: On the day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. The manna ceased on the day after they had eaten some of the produce of the land….”
God gave them a land already produced so they had plenty to eat.

8. The Land Still Needed Conquering
Though they have entered Canaan, the conquest of the land still lies before them.
They have been delivered from bondage, but now must liberate the land from its bondage of idolatry.
God made a promise to Joshua
Joshua 1:3,5 – “Every place on which the soul of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses….No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you: I will not fail you or forsake you.”

9. God’s Charge to Joshua
Joshua 1:6-7, 9 – “Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go….Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

10. Meet Jesus: God’s Captain
Joshua 5:13-15 – “Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing 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?” He said, “No; rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the Lord.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, “What has my lord to say to his servant?” The captain of the Lord’s host said to Joshua, “Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.”

11. Do We Know This Is Jesus?
He not the Lord, since He is the Lord’s Captain. The excludes God the Father.
He is not an angel, because when Joshua falls on his face to worship, He does not correct him or tell him to get up.
He proclaims the ground where Joshua is standing as holy ground. Angels do not make ground holy. Only God. And Christ.

12. Why This Meeting? God has promised success in the conquest
The conquest was to begin immediately, with the destruction of Jericho.
Joshua 6 – God would lead them to a lossless victory over a heavily fortified city.

13. A Promised Rest Jump forward to Joshua 24:13
“I gave you a land on which you had not labored, and cities which you had not built, and you have lived in them; you are eating of vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant.”

14. But The Conquest NOT Over
Joshua 16:10 – “But they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites live in the midst of Ephraim to this day, and they became forced laborers.”
Many other such examples.
Comes back to plague them later.

15. A Greater Rest To Come
Hebrews 4:8-10 – “For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.”

16. What Is The Source Of That Rest?
Hebrews 4: Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

17. Come To Jesus – He Saves!
Matthew 11: “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.”