REASONS 4 BELIEVING

“On that day the LORD magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.” – Joshua 4:14

We know of the Exodus of the Children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage and that the LORD God used Moses to lead them up to the Promised Land.  After the death of Moses and just before Israel crossed over into the Promised Land, God raised up another leader by the name of Joshua.  The LORD had Joshua lead the children of Israel across the Jordan River into the Promised Land.  On the day that God stopped the waters of the river and the dry ground appeared for Israel to cross over that was the day that the LORD magnified Joshua.  This special act by God, testified that Joshua was without a doubt divinely-appointed.  Moses was dead, which meant that Israel could not go back to Moses for leadership or advice.  In fact, Deuteronomy 34 teaches that God buried Moses in an unknown place, which meant that Moses finished his ministry never to be dug up by man.  Joshua now has the credentials and the people recognized it and rejoiced in it.  Joshua’s authoritative power was a matter of great importance – no one dared to question him.  Moses was dead and now the people only looked to Joshua for the words of God.  This is a wonderful picture of our Lord Jesus.

While Moses was alive, he spoke of a greater Prophet than he that would come after him and speak to the people.  It would be this Prophet that they should hear (Deut. 18:15,18).  Now we would automatically think that Moses was speaking of Joshua, but not so.  The apostle Peter explains in Acts chapter 3 that Moses was actually prophesying of Jesus Christ.  God’s providential hand was in this because the names Joshua and Jesus both mean “Jehovah’s saves.” 

We read where “the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:17).  The importance is that in the Law of Moses there is no grace, no mercy, and no power to help anyone to keep the law perfectly as God requires.  The Law was always about justice, judgment, condemnation, and punishment.  However, Jesus Christ, the Greater Prophet, is all about grace according to truth.  It was He who kept all of God’s law perfectly for us, and as our Substitute, He then took all our sins to the cross and paid for them by giving His life for us.  Therefore, because of His willing sacrifice and perfect obedience, God did magnify this Heavenly Joshua.  Much of what the Old Testament Joshua did in the early days of Israel was a spiritual picture of what our Heavenly Joshua has done and is doing today for Spiritual Israel, the Church.  There is no need to go back to Moses, when our Heavenly Joshua, Jesus, will lead us over the river of death safely into heaven, our Promised Land.

David C. Hale, pastor

Published in the Marshall County Tribune, Lewisburg, TN

^{Our Heavenly Joshua Magnified (Audio)}