In the wisdom of God, the Scripture histories of many of the holy men of old present Christ to us under varied types.
Moses typifies Jesus bringing His people out of the land of condemnation, whilst Moses and Aaron typify Jesus Christ leading His people through this wilderness world. Moses did not lead Israel into Canaan. Joshua, who typifies the Lord Jesus Christ as the Captain of our salvation, was appointed for that service.
In the book which is before us, Moses, “the drawn out,” Jehovah’s servant appointed to bring forth His people out of Egypt, has passed from the scene. Jehovah has buried him, and hidden the place of his sepulcher to this day (Deut. 34:66And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth-peor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day. (Deuteronomy 34:6)).
Joshua takes his place, and the name of Joshua is also significant. Originally he was called Oshea (Deliverance), but this was increased to Jehoshua, or Joshua, which means “The Lord’s salvation.”
Moses was dead, and Joshua was Israel’s divinely appointed leader, therefore Israel’s path of obedience and blessing was in following their new captain.
The lessons of the book of Joshua, spiritually considered, refer to the Christian’s heavenly calling. Here, under the captaincy of his risen Lord, the Christian may see himself. “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above” (Col. 3:11If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. (Colossians 3:1)).