There was no post on Joshua and while I don’t have a post with a cohesive theme, I thought I would write some observations I noted from Joshua.
Observation 1:
The book opens and closes with the Law of Moses. In chapter 1, the LORD commanded Joshua “to 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 do. This book of the law shall not depart from you mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night.” Throughout the book, the reader is reminded that Joshua does as Moses has written. In the conclusion of the book, Joshua gathers the people together and tells the to “Be very firm, then to keep and do all this is written in the book of the law of Moses, so that you may not turn aide from it to the right hand or to the left.” Beginning with Abraham, Joshua reminds the people of who God is and how he has been with them since the beginning. He pleads with them not to turn to other gods but in this new land with cities and vineyards and olive groves that the people did not work for or plant, to serve the LORD faithfully. This remembering and mediating on the Law of Moses seems to be a central theme in Joshua. It is the Book of Moses that teaches the people about the LORD and reminds them to be faithful.
Observation 2:
The LORD fought for Israel. In Exodus, the LORD took the Israelites out of Egypt and while they cowered at the edge of the Sea, Moses reminds them that, “The LORD will fight for you while you keep silent.” And the LORD was faithful and fought for them. However, the people quickly forget and once again cower on the edge of the land that was promised to them. The people finally make it into the Land under the leadership of Joshua and time and again, the LORD proves faithful and fights for Israel. After the battle with the five kings at Gibeon, Joshua declares that, “the LORD fought for Israel.” As the Israelites conquer the land it is noted that “because the LORD, the God of Israel, fought for Israel.” The LORD protected and was faithful to his people and when they trusted him, he conquered the land for them.
Observation 3:
In Genesis 17, Abraham is promised a son. God says that he will make Abraham exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings will come forth from you. The sign of this covenant was the act of circumcision. Immediately following the command, Abraham circumcised his family. In Joshua, immediately after crossing the Jordan, Joshua was commanded by the LORD to circumcise the people, and like Abraham Joshua immediately obeyed the commanded and performed the sign of the covenant affirming God’s covenant with Abraham and the people of Israel.
(The conclusion of these three observations is that Joshua seems to be a fulfillment and playing out of the commands of the Law of Moses. The sign of the covenant remains to show that one day, a king will come out of Israel. The LORD will fight for Israel and to be a faithful nation, they must mediate of the Law of Moses.)
Observation 4: I also noted some similarities or parallels to the division of the land and Genesis 49, but I need more time to think about it and I should probably start reading Judges. If any of you noticed anything, let me know.
In keeping with Mr. Tanner's post a while back concerning the Law and it's many purposes and your request for observations concerning Joshua,
ReplyDelete1. Rom 3:20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.
4. Rom 8:3 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,
5. Gal 2:16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.
Gal 2:21 "I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly."
Gal 3:18 For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.
Gal 3:19 Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made.
Gal 3:20 Now a mediator is not for one party only; whereas God is only one.
Gal 3:21 Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law.
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Didn't want to delve too much on these specific passages (though they are amazing), just wanted to reference them so that we might understand a reason as to why Moses didn't make it into the Promised Land. We know specifically that it was b/c of what Moses did (Deut. 32:51).
But all things being unto the glory of God, Moses didn't make it b/c he represented the Law. The Law cannot save. Only Christ can save, righteousness obtained by grace through faith in Christ, not by works of the law. And who was the one to bring them into the Promised Land? Joshua, him being a type of Christ, his name meaning "savior."
Beautiful stuff, just wonderful.
You nice folks might have already picked up on that though. I just wanted to share cause it's so amazing to me still. =]
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