Joshua 1
The book of Joshua is so full of deep and precious meaning to the children of God that we are conscious of our weakness in trying to explain even a very little of it. However, we are encouraged when we remember that Moses told his people to read out of the Word of God even to the little children, so that if we learn these wonderful stories when we are young, the Lord Jesus by His Spirit will explain them to us some day.
“Moses, My servant is dead.” We have now a new leader in Joshua, raised up to lead God’s people across the Jordan and into the land of their promised possession. And our Joshua is the Lord Jesus who passed through death for us, but is risen again and now the blessed Man at God’s right hand who, by His Spirit, leads us into the enjoyment of our heavenly blessings.
Moses was in one way a symbol of the law; but the land was aside from the law and given of God by promise to Abraham and his seed long before on the ground of unconditional grace. Moses and his rod of judgment are forever laid aside, for the heavenly places to us are according as He hath chosen us in Christ before the foundation of the world.”
We as believers, through the death of Christ, are dead to the law and to that with which the law had to do—the flesh, the old nature, and the world. We are crucified with Christ and risen with Him. So we read: “Moses, my servant is dead; now, therefore, arise.” “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God... For ye are dead (or have died).” Col. 3:1, 31If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. (Colossians 3:1)
3For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3).
“All this people” were to go over Jordan with Joshua. And so we are all raised and seated in heavenly places now in Christ Jesus. The youngest, the weakest and the least instructed babe in Christ is as much there as the established, well-taught teacher or most aged father among the saints of God.
“As I was with Moses, so will I be with thee.” It was as if the Lord said, If I was with you through all the desert scenes and made all your needs and necessities My care, how much more will I be with you now when you are fighting My battles in the land and My warfare is your care. Moses could say, “these forty years the Lord thy God hath been with thee, thou hast lacked nothing” (Deut. 2:77For the Lord thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand: he knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness: these forty years the Lord thy God hath been with thee; thou hast lacked nothing. (Deuteronomy 2:7).). Thus the Lord reminds them of His ever watchful presence and care that their hearts might trust Him whose battles were now to be fought and whose land was now to be taken from the enemy. In every hour of need “I will not fail thee nor forsake thee.”
ML-02/13/1977