#DailyDevotion There’s A New Joshua In Town
Friday
Read Num 27:12–23
Num 27:18-20 So the LORD said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him. (19) Make him stand before Eleazar the priest and all the congregation, and you shall commission him in their sight. (20) You shall invest him with some of your authority, that all the congregation of the people of Israel may obey.
As Moses is heading to the end of his journey the Lord reminds him that his departure from this life is coming soon for he will not enter the Promised Land because of his sin against the Lord at the waters of Meribah. Moses intercedes for his people that they should have a man appointed by God to lead the people so they would not be without a shepherd. The Lord hears Moses’ request and provides that Joshua would take Moses’ place in leading the people. Then the Lord sets up a procedure to bestow upon Joshua authority to lead the Israelites in their sight.
Moses would indeed die upon Mt. Nebo and not enter into the Promised Land until a second Joshua would come. But Joshua, son of Nun, is set up and he will lead God’s people into the Canaan to take it for Israel. When he was sent as a spy when they first got to the Land, he and Caleb were the only ones who believed what the Lord had promised. He and Caleb would be the only adults of that generation to cross the Jordan.
Now Moses and the Lord by their action here have foretold that eventually the Law or Covenant of Moses would be replaced before the people would enter into the Promised Land, the New Heavens and New Earth. A new Joshua would be called who Moses meets after his passing in the land of Canaan. That Joshua is Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua. The name means “the Lord saves.” The angel who named Jesus this did so because he would save his people from their sins.
Unlike Joshua, son of Nun, who only got a portion of Moses’ authority, Jesus is given by the Father above, after his resurrection from the dead, all power and authority. He is seated at the right hand of the Father Almighty. He has gone ahead of us to prepare a place in eternity for all who trusted him. Jesus is returning one day and everyone who trusted in him, even on his name, he will raise to everlasting life and give the New Heavens and the New Earth. This is the ultimate Promised Land the Lord promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and to all who share in their faith. Will you place your faith in Jesus, the second Joshua and have in bring you into the Promised Land?
Heavenly Father, we thank you for sending your Son our Lord Jesus Christ, who fulfills the name of Joshua for us. Grant us faith in him and give us your Holy Spirit that we may live now as those who have received the Promised Land in Christ and preserve us in this faith until we see it with our own eyes and enter it. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.