Please read Joshua 12:1-24, John 1:14, and Hebrews 3:1-6 in preparation for today’s lesson.
Joshua 12 begins with a recounting of the work that Moses did in securing the land East of the Jordan (outside of the promised land) for the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. Moses’ divided the little portion of land between these small tribes according to their request (Numbers 32:1-42).
Joshua, on the other hand, conquered 31 kings and kingdoms, overtook and secured the entire promised land for the entirety of the Israelites and brought victory and rest to all God’s people. This is not to disparage the accomplishments of Moses but rather to highlight the greater works of Joshua.
Question 1. As we said at the beginning of this course, Joshua points forward to Someone. Who does Joshua typify?
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Amanda writes, "Jesus. This brings to mind Joshua 11:15 As the LORD commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua; he "left nothing undone" of all that the LORD commanded Moses. Jesus left nothing undone that the Father had commanded Him."
There is a reason why studying these conquests of Joshua is important to us today: the Scripture teaches us that Moses and the Law are synonymous, and Joshua and Jesus Christ (the gospel) are synonymous. “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17 ESV).
As such we can see that the Old Covenant Law, which was temporary and given to a single nation, has been replaced, usurped, and surpassed by the New Covenant Gospel, which brings the entirety of all of God’s blessings to each and every believer worldwide (Revelation 7:9). Joshua followed and took the place of Moses.
For this reason, the gospel has far more glory than the Law, even as Joshua had far more glory than Moses. “The triumphs and gifts of the Law were glorious, but those of the Gospel surpass them greatly in glory.”--Matthew Henry Commentary
Moses gave a few cities to a couple tribes, but was unable to give the entirety of the Israelites victory and rest in the promised land. Conversely, the Lord Jesus Christ, our Joshua, has opened all of the Promised Land to us, has purchased and secured it with His own blood, has won it for us in battle, has given it to us who believe as a gift, and has purchased our complete rest forever. “For all who believe enter that rest” (Hebrews 4:3).
The law could not bring us into the promised land, Moses falls short. Only the gospel opens all of heaven to the believer, even as Joshua brought all Israelites in to the promised land.
Hebrews 3:3 (ESV) For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself.
2. According to Hebrews 3:3, how is the work of Jesus shown to be more glorious than the work of Moses?
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Amanda writes, "Moses is a picture of the law and it limitations. He was certainly chosen of God to lead the children of Israel from bondage and TO the Promised Land, yet not IN the Promised Land because of his limitations. God used Moses to set somethings in order and set a standard. Moses' limitations came from his reaction in dealing with the children of Israel, which is a representation of how the blood of goats and lambs could never fully take away the sins of the people. Jesus is the perfect sacrifice that completely takes away the sins of His people. He fulfilled the law and finished those things that the Lord had Moses to set in place."