Joshua, the chosen to lead God’s people across the Jordan and into the promised land, is a type of the Lord Jesus, the Captain of our salvation. He leads us as those who are dead and risen with Him into those blessings with which we are blessed in heavenly places.
The Lord said of Joshua, “He shall stand before Eleazar the priest.” Eleazar is also a type of Christ in His heavenly priesthood. As our great High Priest, He appears in the presence of God for us. Thus the One who fights our battles and overcomes our enemies also maintains us before God by the power of the Holy Spirit. How blessed and privileged we, His people, are!
In this chapter the Lord tells Moses to remind the children of Israel of the sacrifices they were to offer to Him. These all speak of Christ who is the food of God, and so He speaks of “My offering, and My bread for My sacrifices made by fire, for a sweet savor unto Me.” We believe this looks on to the worship that will be rendered to God in the coming millennial scene when earth will no longer be a wilderness, but all shall be blessed under Messiah’s righteous reign.
It is lovely to read the instructions concerning the daily sacrifices, for the continual burnt offering which was to be offered up “day by day.” They all point to Him who is always fragrant to the heart of God—the blessed Lord Jesus Christ. The fire was never to go out upon the altar, but each morning and evening the lamb without spot was to be offered up to God. And if this is His desire we can learn a precious lesson here—to start the day with being occupied with Christ. Surely if we do the sweet fragrance of His name will remain with us. Then at night it is our privilege to end the day the same way.
The meat or meal offering tells of that blessed One who became Man, and though tried in every way, His spotless life was and ever shall be His Father’s joy and delight.
On the Sabbath day they were to offer two lambs, two meat offerings and two drink offerings in addition to the rest. Surely this speaks of a full Christ. In the millennial glory, of which the Sabbath speaks, Israel will enter into and enjoy the blessedness of these things. And not Israel only but those waves of blessing will go round the earth, so that the whole world will feel the effects of the work of Christ in grace and glory. We do not have to wait till then, for this is not our rest. We shall enter into and enjoy in a much richer and fuller way Christ and all He has won for us when we are at home with Him in the glory above.
ML-07/14/1974