LESSONS IN JOSHUA
The book of Numbers gives us an account of Israel’s trials as
they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. The book of Joshua shows
us a picture of their conquest in Canaan, the Promised Land. These
events bring out only too clearly that their record of failures have
been repeated often by Christians in their pilgrimage towards their
inheritance.
Israel’s ordinances as seen in the offerings are typical. The
services of the Tabernacle as well as their history are typical. Matt
11:13 for all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
Their Exodus from Egypt was typical, their sojourn in wilderness was
typical, their entering into the land was typical; the details of their
attempts to conquer and settle in the land are typical, and they are
there for our learning and admonition.
These are living pictures 1Cor 10:1-10.
Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers
were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized
into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual
food, and all drank the same spiritual drink for they drank of that
spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.
But with many of them God was not well pleased, and for this their
carcasses littered the wilderness. Now these things are for an example,
to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also
lusted. And do not become idolaters as they were. As it is written, “The
people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play”.
Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one
day twenty-three thousand fell; nor let us tempt Christ, as some of
them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as
some of them complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.
Egypt for them was the house of bondage, but the wilderness was to
become a fiery trial which they must pass through to get to the Promised
Land.
Deuteronomy 8:1. Every commandment
which I command you this day must be carefully observed, that you
may live and multiply, and go in and possess the
land of which the Lord swore to your fathers. And you shall remember
that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in
the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to
know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments
or not.
God knew what was in their hearts, but He wanted them to know as well.
So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna
which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He
might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone;
but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the
Lord.
In Leviticus strict instructions were given by God regards the sacrifices
and offerings that were to be offered by the Priests who were called
to carry out the service of the sanctuary on behalf of Israel. All
the restrictions and ordinances contained therein were necessary if
God was to remain in their midst.
Much more could be said with regard to the responsibilities of the
Levites who were to bare God throughout the wilderness.
How different the book of Joshua is to Numbers and Leviticus. Immediately
after crossing Jordan the Manna ceased. From this point forward they
must begin to fight for their daily bread.
There comes a time in the life of every one of us when God ceases
to run after us and we must begin to run after Him. This is what the
book of Joshua teaches us.
Numbers shows Israel’s journey through the wilderness; whereas
the book of Joshua takes us beyond Jordan, and into the land.
Joshua typically teaches the church already with Christ in
Heavenly places. But few saints understand what resurrection
life means, and fewer still walk in the reality of it.
We would far rather eat the fat, drink the sweet, and simply enjoy
the fruit of the land after all those years of wandering about in the
wilderness, than have to take up arms and fight for our inheritance.
It comes as shock to many that the reality is
not as they imagined, or thought it would be; and instead of being
at rest, they will have to contend for every step
of their journey.
This surprise that awaits many modern day Christians is the result
of ignorance on one hand, and false teaching on the other?
When viewed typically, Joshua answers to Ephesians. In both of
these books we see the elect standing in the place of promise, namely
Canaan, and finding it a place of conflict.
Paul says “We are raised up and sit together in “Heavenly
places in Christ:” but that place is not yet a place
of rest, for he continues in the same epistle to say, “We
wrestle; (that’s right wrestle and grapple) not against
flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers in
heavenly places.
Joshua describes the situation that confronted Israel (after 40 years
in the wilderness) when they crossed over Jordan into the Promised
Land.
Israel passes through the Jordan dry shod, and as it was with Israel
so it is with you and me in Christ. We were buried with Him, raised
together with Him, and yet conflict still remains, and this is due
to the fact that the Canaanite dwells in the land and
will not hand it over without a fight. And so it will
be until Christ comes.
The importance of circumcision:
In Joshua the fourth chapter we read of Israel crossing Jordan
dry shod. In the fifth we see that as soon as they cross Jordan
they are called to be circumcised. Although they are the seed of
Abraham, they had not observed the rite of circumcision throughout
their wilderness journey; but immediately upon entering the Land,
circumcision must recommence.
In Genesis 17:10 the Abrahamic covenant was ratified by circumcision.
This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and
your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be
circumcised; "and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of
your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant
between Me and you.
God told Abraham that the male that was not circumcised would be cut
off. Genesis 17:14.
Here are some examples that will illustrate its importance.
Exodus 4:24 And it came to pass on the way to the encampment, that
the Lord met Moses and sought to kill him. Then Zipporah took a sharp
stone and cut off the foreskin of her son and cast it at Moses' feet,
and so God let him go. Then she said, "You are a husband of
blood because of the circumcision”.
Now that God was about to deliver Israel it was absolutely necessary
that the letter of the covenant be enforced.
And again in Ex 12:43 And the Lord said
to Moses and Aaron, "This is the ordinance of the Passover:
No foreigner shall eat it. But every man's servant
who is bought for money, when you have circumcised him, then he
may eat it. All the congregation of Israel shall keep it.
Vs 48 "And when a stranger dwells with you and wants to keep
the Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised, and
then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as a native
of the land for no uncircumcised person shall eat it.
Circumcision was to take place on the eighth day;
to the initiated, the eighth day is always typical of resurrection.
Peter teaches us with regard to circumcision that it represented
“the putting away the filth of the flesh”.
this was what the Jews attempted to do during the dispensation of
the Law, but their efforts were utterly futile; in this they failed
miserably.
The day after the Sabbath answers to the first
day of the week upon which Christ rose; it is however the first
day in reference to the seven days that have gone
before.
Seven days in the first creation. The eighth day takes us beyond the
limits of the old creation to a new order of things, and of times,
in other words “into the new creation made possible by the resurrection”.
Beyond Jordan lay the Promised Land which was yet to be occupied
by Israel but first they must be circumcised by “putting
off of the flesh”.
Since Christ the true Joshua has passed through Jordan taking with
Himself the whole new creation, we then as members of His body have
been crucified with Him and are raised with Him. And so have been called
to put away the filth of the flesh.
“ If ye be risen with Christ…put off anger,
wrath, malice, blasphemy” Col
3:1, 3, 5, 8. “ therefore we are buried with him by
baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead
by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk
in newness of life. Rom 6:4
Colossians 2:12: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen
with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised
him from the dead.
True circumcision of the heart is only known and arrived at in proportion
to what we know of the power of the resurrection, for in Christ we
apprehend everything; however it is one thing to apprehend something,
yet quite another to appropriate that for which we have been apprehended
of God.
“Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect,
but I am pressing on, if I may lay hold of that for which I was taken
ahold of by Christ Jesus”. Phil 3:12
The Work of Christ for us is perfect and nothing can be added to
that, but it is the work of the Holy Spirit in us that brings us
into the reality of what Christ has done for us. Our experience
is the messure of our attainment. But you can’t
attain to what you don’t know, or have never
been taught.
The exodus from of Egypt took them straight into the wilderness. This
was part of God’s plan for them. The extended length of their
wilderness experience was due to their wilful disobedience.
Although it had some positives: In the wilderness God fed, led, clothed,
healed, and protected them from their enemies throughout all their
wanderings; and take note He provided all this for an idolatrous, disobedient,
and carnal nation. (they seem quite Pentecostal don’t you think?).
But He had something far better in mind for their children
than to die in the wilderness as their parents would. Apart from
Joshua and Caleb all the adults that came out of Egypt perished.
Their offspring must change dramatically if they are to inherit
the land that was promised to their fathers Abraham Isaac and Jacob.
Israel is going to have to fight for its inheritance every step
of the way. They must put off the flesh, and be circumcised.
Eph 6:10 finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power
of his might.
Put on the whole armour of God that you may be able to stand against
the wiles of the devil for we wrestle not against flesh and blood,
but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the
darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness (Gr wicked spirits)
in high {heavenly} places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour
of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having
done all {having overcome all} to stand. It is no different for you
and me.
Its time to awake unto righteousness Eph 5:14.
Commandments regulating Christian conduct are clearly enunciated in
the word.
Romans 13:11-14 “knowing that it is high time to awake out of
sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.
The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off
the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us
walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in
lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus
Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfil its lusts.
1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a
holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises
of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light.
2 Peter 1:5-11 But also for this very
reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith
virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control
perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly
kindness, and to brotherly kindness love for if these things are
yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the
knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these
things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten
that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be
even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you
do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will
be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Their remarkable victory over Jericho must have been a great confidence
booster.
Instead of complaining about everything as they continually did in
the wilderness, they began to experience resurrection life now. This
in turn had begun to make them quite confident in their own ability;
that is, until they went up against Ai.
But the accursed thing was soon to be discovered in the midst; a trespass
had been committed against the Lord. The first fruit of the land belonged
to God. Achan had committed a trespass; abused the grace of God, and
stolen that which was devoted to the Lord.
Joshua 7:1 but the children of Israel committed a trespass in the
devoted thing; for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son
of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the devoted thing: and the
anger of Yahweh was kindled against the children of Israel. (for this
cause many were afflicted) 1 Cor 11:30.
Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth Aven, on the
east side of Bethel, and spoke to them, saying, Go up and spy out the
land. The men went up and spied out Ai. They returned to Joshua, and
said to him, don’t let all the people go up; just send two or
three thousand men to go up and strike Ai; don't make all the people
to toil there; for there are very few in Ai.
So there went up there of the people about three thousand men: and
they fled before the men of Ai. The men of Ai killed about thirty-six
men; and chased them from before the gate even to Shebarim, and struck
them at the descent; and the hearts of the people melted, and became
as water.
Confidence in their ability to make decisions apart from God received
a setback here; it was a sin. Preachers do this continually. Results
of their wilful decisions are apparent in many places. History repeats
itself in another incident shortly afterwards with the Gibeonites.
One would have thought they had learned their lesson at Ai, but they
never did.
Joshua 9:3-7 And when those who lived
in Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai, they
worked slyly, for they came and acted
as if they were ambassadors. And they took old sacks on their asses,
and old and torn and bound up wineskins, and old and patched sandals
on their feet, and old clothes on them. And all the bread they had
taken was dry and mouldy. And they went to Joshua to the camp at
Gilgal, and said to him and to the men of Israel; we have come from
a far country. Now therefore, make a treaty with us”. And
Israel did as they asked.
Oh how we need to know our limitations. Our basic problem has always
been to act in haste and repent in leisure aftrwards. We must consult
the Lord before doing anything.
Although we are raised with Christ in Heavenly places
we will not be strangers to conflict. But we have a different class
of enemy to face now we are in the land of promises. It is quite
unlike the wilderness trials.
This wrestling now is not just with flesh and blood,
but with “principalities and powers”
in heavenly places.
This is one of the lessons that Joshua teaches us.
It is not simply a lesson but a fact that we must accept
if we are to be overcomers. The observations here are not
just points of interest that have little bearing on us today.
If that’s what we believe then it is a complete waste of time
to take them into consideration.
But comparatively they are of great value to all those who hunger and
thirst after righteousness. 1 Corinthians 10:11 now all these things
happened unto them s an example for us, and they are written for our
admonition, upon who the ends of the world are come.
The moral for us all is to get our act together. Matthew
25: “only
they that were ready went in”.
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