This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html for more information.
In this video listen to Joshua 1 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
The title of the book is none other than the name of the Lord, Jesus. Only two books in the Bible have such clearly defined qualities in the self-descriptions as to be all about the Lord. First here is this book named after the Lord, and second is the Revelation in the NT, which describes itself as a revelation of Jesus Christ.
Both books which reveal Christ are in the context of the judgement and destruction of his enemies. Joshua is a book about the conquest of Canaan in which God fulfils his promises to Abraham, and symbolically shows how we are to walk with God, overcoming evil, defeating strongholds, obeying Christ, and putting every weight aside. Is it any wonder that the sword and the cross are the same shape? Both are methods of death, but through them both we have victory and salvation too in the name of Jesus.
The book starts with “Now,” showing that in the mind of Joshua this is connected to the previous books.
Scripture tells us that Moses was faithful in all of God’s house (see Hebrews) even though he didn’t enter the land because of his one example of disobedience. We are all aware of Moses’ flaws despite his faithfulness. Yet Joshua is also faithful in all he is given, but we are not told of any flaws. This is in my opinion because he is a picture of the perfect Christ, who does everything the Father gives him.
Both Jesus and Joshua here begin their missions on the banks of the Jordan river. Jesus is said to have been baptised in the same area where the Israelites are about to cross over to inherit the land. The Jordan is highly symbolic, not of salvation, but of coming into the promises of God, and into the indwelling of the Spirit.
The conquest begins with Joshua commanding them to prepare, because in three days they were to cross the river. Three days is the time period of Christ in the ground, and the biblical number of completion.
Jul 17, 2021 | Message by David Alley