Deuteronomy 31:3-8, 23 The LORD your God, he will go over before you, and he will destroy these nations from before you, and you shall possess them… Joshua a type of Jesus, the true Leader into the rest of God (Hebrews 4:8). God has given him, as formerly he gave the son of Nun, for "a Leader and Commander to the people" (Isaiah 55:4). I. THE MAN. Joshua as leader was: 1. Divinely appointed (ver. 3). 2. Divinely led. "He doth go before thee" (ver. 8). The captain had a higher Captain (Joshua 5:14). 3. Divinely assisted. "He will be with thee" (ver. 8). Our Leader is Emmanuel - "God with us" (Matthew 1:23). 4. He was to be strong and courageous (ver. 7). The ground of true courage is God being with us. It is said of the Savior, "He shall not fail nor be discouraged" (Isaiah 42:4). The perseverance of the Savior is as deserving of consideration as the perseverance of the saints. II. HIS WORK. While Joshua's and the people's, it was still more God's work (vers. 3, 4). With Joshua as leader: 1. The enemy would be overthrown (vers. 3-6). 2. All opposition would be overcome. 3. He would conduct the people unto the land of their inheritance (ver. 7). 4. He would cause them to inherit it (ver. 7), i.e. settle them in their possessions. Christ in like manner has overthrown the enemy (Colossians 2:15); has won an inheritance for his people (Colossians 1:12); in his victory they are enabled to overcome the world (John 16:33; 1 John 4:4); his cause is steadily triumphing; he is conducting, and has already conducted, many sons to glory (Hebrews 5:10). - J.O. Parallel Verses KJV: The LORD thy God, he will go over before thee, and he will destroy these nations from before thee, and thou shalt possess them: and Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as the LORD hath said. |
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