LESSONS OF FAITH FROM JOSHUA
Lesson 10 : The True Joshua
10.6 Summary
Jesus – The Greater Joshua and Our Eternal Leader
Introduction
The story of Joshua does not end with the conquest of Canaan. It points beyond itself — to someone greater, to the true leader of God’s people: Jesus Christ. The Bible describes Joshua as a type, a foreshadowing of the Messiah. In Joshua’s leadership, his battles against Israel’s enemies, and in the distribution of the inheritance, we see a shadow of what Christ has perfectly accomplished for His church and will fully accomplish in the future.
Typology in the Bible is not an accessory; it is an essential way of understanding the grand narrative of God’s salvation history. Jesus is the antitype, the fulfillment of everything the Old Testament promised. This Sabbath School lesson invites us to shift our focus from Joshua to Jesus — and to recognize our own lives as part of this divine story.
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BIBLE STUDY
1. Typology – God’s Method of Revelation
Typology is a divinely inspired foreshadowing: an event, a person, or an object in the Old Testament shown by the Holy Spirit as a preview of a later, deeper fulfillment. The type is like a shadow that points to the real light — the antitype.
Example:
– The Passover lamb (Exodus 12) → Jesus, the Lamb of God (John 1:29)
– David, the suffering king → Christ on the cross
– Joshua conquering land → Christ opening the heavenly inheritance
2. Joshua as Type – Jesus as Fulfillment
Joshua is the leader who brings the people into the promised land. But his mission was not the final fulfillment of God’s plan. Jesus is the better Joshua who conquers sin and death and gives true rest.
Comparison Joshua – Jesus:
– Joshua: outward battles, earthly inheritance, temporary peace
– Jesus: spiritual victories, eternal inheritance, deep inner peace
Hebrews 4:8–9 emphasizes: “If Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day.” → The true rest is in Christ.
3. The Church’s Battle – Spiritual, Not Fleshly
Today, the church does not fight with swords, but with the shield of faith, the sword of the Spirit, and the helmet of salvation (Ephesians 6). We are like Israel: saved from Egypt (sin), traveling through the wilderness (life of faith), on our way to the promised land (eternity).
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Spiritual Principles
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Christ is the center of the Bible — including the Old Testament.
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Spiritual battle is unavoidable — but Christ is our leader.
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Faith means following the true Joshua — even when the path is uncomfortable.
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Our inheritance is heavenly, unfading, and present through grace.
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Only by looking to Christ are we transformed (2 Corinthians 3:18).
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Life Application
– Read the Bible typologically: discover Christ in Old Testament narratives.
– When you feel spiritually weary: remember that Christ wants to lead you into His rest — even now.
– Take up the spiritual armor daily: Scripture, prayer, truth, faith.
– Live in your “inheritance”: you are not poor — you are an heir of God and a co-heir with Christ (Romans 8:17).
– Talk with others about the hope of heaven — it already begins today.
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Conclusion
Joshua is not just a historical figure — he is a prophetic window into Christ. Jesus is the true Joshua who leads His people not only out of slavery, but into the promised inheritance. While Joshua brought Israel temporary rest, Christ brings eternal rest — beginning in the heart and fulfilled in the new world.
God calls you today not to hesitate, but to receive your inheritance: peace, grace, forgiveness, strength. Follow the true Joshua!
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Thought of the Day
“Christ is not only our Savior — He is our leader, our inheritance, our goal. He is the true Joshua.”
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Illustration
The Threshold
When one step into the new changes everything
Chapter 1: At the Edge
Lea stood at the window of her small apartment in a big city. Rain rolled down the glass, just like the thoughts rolling through her heart. She was 33, single, professionally successful — at least according to LinkedIn — but inwardly… empty. For months she had felt: “I am not living the life God intended for me.”
She knew the Bible, was active in church, had given her life to Jesus years ago. Yet everything felt like a loop: work. church. exhaustion. inner withdrawal. If she was honest, she felt neither peace nor passion. She was… stuck.
Then she came across Joshua 18:3 in her Bible reading:
“How long will you wait before going in to take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, has given you?”
She read the verse five times. It was as if God looked at her and said:
“Lea, you are standing on the threshold. When will you finally go?”
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Chapter 2: Invisible Enemies
Lea began to pray again. No long Bible study, no worship marathon — just honest conversations with God.
“Why do I have no joy? Why do I feel numb? Where is Your strength, Lord?”
During that time she realized: her problem was not external. These were inner strongholds: fear, rejection, disappointment. Lies from her past:
– “You’re not enough.”
– “You’ll fail anyway.”
– “God uses others, not you.”
She remembered a sermon on 2 Corinthians 10:4–5:
“The weapons we fight with are not of the flesh, but powerful through God to demolish strongholds…”
Lea began to understand: her battle was spiritual. And she had not been willing to fight it.
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Chapter 3: Armor
She decided to pray Ephesians 6 every morning — to “put on” the armor of God:
– Belt of truth — “I am in Christ, not in my past.”
– Breastplate of righteousness — “I am loved, not condemned.”
– Shoes of peace — “I will go where He sends me.”
– Shield of faith — “I believe, even when I feel nothing.”
– Helmet of salvation — “I belong to God.”
– Sword of the Spirit — “I fight with the Word.”
It wasn’t a magic ritual. It was a daily step of faith. And slowly… something began to change.
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Chapter 4: The True Joshua
In deep prayer, Lea suddenly saw a picture in her mind: Jesus — not as a baby in a manger, not on the cross — but as a leader. Strong. Calm. Full of authority.
He said nothing. He simply reached out His hand. And she knew: “He is my Joshua. He leads me. I can trust Him.”
She understood: Just as Joshua led God’s people into the promised land, Jesus was leading her into a new life. Not into a different country, but into peace, calling, freedom.
“Jesus, I don’t want to hesitate anymore. I want to go. I trust You.”
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Chapter 5: The First Border
A few days later, Lea sat in a team meeting at work. It was about a morally questionable deal. Before, she would have remained silent — but today… she spoke up. Calmly, but firmly. She asked questions. She talked about integrity. And she knew: this was a step into the land.
That same evening, a colleague wrote to her anonymously:
“Thank you for your courage. I had doubts too. You encouraged me.”
Lea cried. Not because she was right — but because she knew: Jesus had gone with her.
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Chapter 6: The Inheritance
Lea began to get more involved in church. Not out of duty — but with joy. She led a small group for young women. It wasn’t about perfect theology — but about real discipleship.
She learned to pray, fast, and listen with others. And she saw young women freed from lies, fear, and the past. That was the inheritance — the spiritual land.
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Chapter 7: Rest
Six months later, Lea sat at the window again. This time, no rain — but sunrise. She did not pray loudly. She felt quiet. Carried.
The restlessness was gone. Not because she understood everything — but because she trusted.
Jesus had become her Joshua. Not just theologically — but really. In everyday life. In her inner battles. In her future.
She whispered:
“Lord, thank You. I’ve arrived. Not perfectly. But in the land. And I will keep going — with You.”
Final Thoughts on the Story
Many Christians like Lea stand at the threshold of their inheritance. They are saved — but not free. They believe — but do not live from the fullness Christ gives.
The true Joshua — Jesus — calls you too:
“Do not hesitate. I have given you an inheritance. Come. I fight for you.”
The path is not a stroll. There are battles, decisions, processes. But the rest of God begins with the first step of faith.
