Joshua's life in the Old Testament contained many types and symbols of a believer's walk with Christ. In the following, we will use them to study the initial steps in Jesus' discipleship.

    1. Propitiation and reconciliation in Jesus                                              2 Cor  5:18-21

Joshua was born into the tribe of Ephraim while Israel lived in slavery in Egypt. His birth, spouse, and children are not mentioned in the Bible. Since we know that he died at the age of 110, we can assume that he was about 35-40 years old when the Exodus took place. Like other Israelite fathers, Joshua chose a lamb and strike the blood of the lamb on the door posts of his house (Exod 12:3,7). The blood protected his family from God's punishment that fell upon the land of Egypt because of sins. It is a type of Christ's sacrificial blood that has atoned for our transgressions before God. This propitiation (= sovitus) in Jesus takes effect as reconciliation (= sovinto) to God when we confess our sinfulness and believe in Jesus. (Col 1:19-22; Acts 10:43).

Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you. (Exodus 12:3,7,13)

And Christ Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 2:2; 4:10)

To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. (Acts 10:43)

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, Heis faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:8-9)

          2. Baptism in water 

                                        Mark 16:16

God saved Joshua, along with the people of Israel, from slavery in Egypt. The connection to the past life was severed at the Red Sea, when the Egyptian army that was catching them was buried in "its mighty waters" (2 Exod 14:3-5). The new direction to the Promised Land with God was about to begin. In the same way, a believer saved by Jesus has received new life and lets his old man to be buried through baptism (= kasteen kautta) to death.

Then the waters returned and covered the chariots, the horsemen, and all the army of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them. Not so much as one of them remained. "You blew with Your wind, the sea covered them; they sank like lead in the mighty waters." (Exodus 14:28; 15:10)

Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Rom 6:4)

You were buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. (Col 2:12)

So those who received his word were baptized, and about three thousand people were added to the number of believers that day. (Acts 2:41)

               3. The Holy Spirit

                                                              Gal 4:6

During the wilderness journey Joshua saw how God's cloud and fire led His people (Deut 1:33). So the glory of the Lord dwelt in the midst of them. It is a symbolic example of the Holy Spirit (= Pyhä Henki) who dwells in every believer. The follower of Jesus is born of the Spirit, who is now his/her Helper. The Spirit of the Lord Christ leads and guides the believer, glorifies Jesus and teaches His word. He renews the believer's mind and gives power to walk in God's will. All the good fruit that the life of a Christian and the church bears is influenced by the Spirit.

And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. (Exod 13:21)You also gave Your good Spirit to instruct them. (Neh 9:20)

In Christ you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. (Eph 1:13-14)

The Holy Spirit will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. He will guide you into all truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak. (John 14:26; 16:13)

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. (Rom 8:14)

So there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and these three agree as one. (1 John 5:8)

      4. The spiritual Food and Drink

                                          1 Cor 10:16; 11:23-25

With other Israelites Joshua and his family gathered and ate every day the bread (manna) that descended from heaven to earth (Exod 16:14-17,31). They drank water that flowed from a rock spring. God provided for His people's livelihood in the dry wilderness. The Lord's Supper (the Holy Communion) reminds the church of the broken body and shed blood of Jesus. Indeed, through faith, Jesus is our food and drink (= ruoka ja juoma) for eternal life, and by His word we may grow up into salvation.

They all ate the same spiritual meat, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. (1 Cor 10:1-4)

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. I am the bread of life. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:47-48,54)

As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow up into salvation. (1 Pet 2:2)

          5. Wrestling against adversaries

                                 Luke 22:31-32; 1 Pet 5:8

Joshua learned to struggle. Moses tasked him with gathering Israel's first fighting force (Exod 17:8-9). Then Joshua realized one important thing: the enemy was overpowering and impossible to defeat without God's help. The pagan Amalekite army that attacked Israel is a type of our spiritual adversary (= hengellinen vastustaja). Everyone born of the Spirit has to wrestle against powers and rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. The devil tries to prevent the fulfillment of God's plan for both Israel and the church of Christ.

Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And Moses said to Joshua: "Choose some men and go out and fight with Amalek." (Exod. 17:8-9)

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Eph 6:11-12)

God gave Joshua victory over the attackers. The battle involves three exemplary elements that also apply to the spiritual warfare of the follower of Jesus:

1. The victory was based on God's covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and His promise of their own land in Canaan (Exod 6:4,8). The Lord himself fought for his people (Exod 14:14). Through the sacrificial blood of Jesus, God made a covenant with us. On the cross, He disarmed and defeated the spiritual powers - our adversaries - and gained a triumph over them (Luke 22:20; Col 2:15). We are victors in Christ!

2. Moses outstretched hands and his staff on the hill (Exod 17:9,11). As a result of Moses holding his hands high up with the support of Aaron and Hur until evening, Joshua defeated the Amalekites in this battle (Exod 17:12-13). Under the authority of Moses, his staff, and his blessing hands, Joshua was victorious. Moses was a type of Jesus. The might of Christ is above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that can be named in the universe (Eph 1:20-22). Spiritual powers are always at a loss position when they oppose a believer who lives under the authority of Jesus and prays in His name (2 Cor 2:14; Rom 8:37; 1 John 5:4).

3. When Moses and his men went up the hill, Joshua's warriors took their swords and went out to meet the enemy (Exod 17:10,13). Here, the raising of hands on the mountain is a type of prayer, and the sword is a type of the Word of God. Both are part of the believer's armor, used by trusting in the promises of God (Eph 6:16-18).

Resist the devil and he will flee from you (James 4:7). Resist him, steadfast in the faith (1 Pet 5:9). Neither give place to the devil (Eph 4:27).

We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. Whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (1 John 5:4-5,19)

Yet in all these things (tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, sword) we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Rom 8:37).

Joshua also learned the difference between battle and war. He was victorious in one battle, God won the entire war against the Amalekites (Exod 17:14-16). Our adversary, the Devil, seeks to discourage, depress, accuse, tempt and deceive us, and to speak falsely against us. Even if we lose a single battle and fall before the temptation or distress of our enemy, Jesus has won the whole war on our behalf. Thanks to the redeeming blood of Jesus, we can get up and continue the fight towards our final victory!

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor 15:57).

                  6. The internal fighting

                              Gal 5:17; Rom 7:14-15; James 1:14

As Moses' servant, Joshua saw how the people of Israel rebelled against the Lord (Exod 32:9; PS 78:40). The old way of life came to the minds of the impatient Israelites: they longed for the fat dinner table of Egypt instead of manna, and sought comfort from the golden idol (Num 11:5-6; 32:8). They could not always trust God's promise of entering the Promised Land (Num 14:2-4; Deut 1:26-27). This reminds us of the flesh and the sin that our dead old man left as an inheritance to our being. Our flesh lusts against the Spirit. The inner fighting of a Christian is because these two are opposed to each other.

But they sinned even more against Him by rebelling against the Most High in the wilderness (Ps 78:17). And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who complain against Me? I have heard the complaints (grumblings) which the children of Israel make against Me. (Num 14:26-27)

For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish (Gal 5:17). The carnal mind is enmity against God (Rom 8:7).

A human person is the trinity of spirit, mind and body. The position of the flesh in this whole can be described with diagrams:

As Jesus said to his disciples in Matt 26:41, "the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" (in Greek asthenēs = weak, sick, powerless). Because the carnal mind is enmity against God, the only position of the flesh is to be put to death (on the cross) by the Spirit. (Rom 8:7,13; Gal 5:16,24; Eph 4:29-32; 5:15-18). It is the influence and work of grace of God's Spirit in us (Tit 2:11-14; Fil 2:13-15). Its fruit is seen as sanctification, righteousness of walk, and living according to the mind of the Spirit (1 Pet 1:14-17).

For what the law of Moses could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Rom 8:3-4)

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. (Rom 8:5)

And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires (Gal 5:24). Now if we died with Christ (carrying our cross), we believe that we shall also live with Him (walking in the Spirit; Rom 6:6-8,11-14).

         7. The Glory of the Lord 

                         Heb 1:3; Col 1:27; Rom 9:23-24

Joshua got to see how the glory of the Lord moved from outside the camp to the center of the camp. First, he watched the Lord descend in fire on Mount Sinai (Exod 20:18; 24:17). Second, he heard the Lord speaking to Moses from the pillar of cloud at the door of the tent outside the camp (Exod 33:9-11). The Bible tells us that both on the mountain and in the tent, Joshua, as Moses' servant, was able to be closer to the glory of the Lord than the other Israelites.

Then the Lord made the Covenant with Israel. And even more, He expressed His will to dwell in the midst of Israel, and asked Moses to build a Tabernacle (Exod 24:7-8; 25:8). This is a strong type of the New Covenant in Christ and a preview of Christ in the midst of His church.

Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. (Exod 40:34)

Jesus said: "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." (Matt 18:20)

God's holy glory appeared in Jesus in a form that man can receive. This glory shines from Christ's face to the heart of believers (2 Cor 4:6). His Spirit, the Spirit of glory, lives in every one of His followers (1 Cor 3:16; 6:19). He empowers, teaches, corrects, comforts, sanctifies and leads us. He wants to be our fullness, also to place us in the midst of the church to serve, and He is powerful to transform us into the image of Christ (Acts 13:52; Eph 5:18; 2 Cor 3:18)

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one. (John 17:22)

           8. The house of God

                     Eph 2:22; 1 Piet 2:5; Heb 3:4-6

Moses received the command to build a sanctuary for the Lord. In everything, he followed the building instructions given by the Lord.

The Lord said to Moses: "And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. According to all that I show you, the pattern of the Tabernacle, and the pattern of all the furniture thereof, even so shall you make it. (Exod 25:8-9)

And Moses spoke to all the congregation of Israel: "From what you have, take an offering to the Lord." All the men and women whose heart moved them to bring anything, and whose spirit was willing, brought a freewill offering to the Lord for the work of the Tabernacle of meeting. (Exod 35:4-5,29)

So the Israelites voluntarily sacrificed what they had received from God. Some of them gave material sacrifices, others their immaterial talents for God. The men of the tribe of Levi gave themselves to priestly work in the Tabernacle and to take care of its furniture as servants of the High Priest. So Joshua's family also participated in equipping this Tabernacle. (Num 8:14-19)

The construction of God's sanctuary under the authority of Moses, is a beautiful type of the building of Christ's church. Jesus Himself is the builder of the church (Matt 16:18). And where two or three are gathered together in His name, He is there in the midst of them (Matt 18:20). Wherever Jesus' followers gather together, they form a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

In Christ the whole building grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. (Eph 2:21-22)

And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant. But Christ is faithful as a Son over God's house. And we are His house. (Heb 3:6)

When you come together, every one of you brings something: you bring a song, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. (1 Cor 14:26)

The furnishings of the Tabernacle refer in many ways to the assembling of any local church (the community of believers):

a) the mercy seat of pure gold → the presence of the Lord and the gospel of reconciliation through faith in His blood(Matt 18:20; Rom 3:25)

b) seven oil lamps → the work and gifts of the Spirit (1 Cor 12:11; Acts 9:31; Isa 11:2)

c) the table of the showbread → God's Word as spiritual food (Acts 2:42; John 6:48)

d) the altar of incense → thanks, praise and prayer, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ( Heb 13:15-16; Acts 2:46-47; 1 Pet 2:5; Ps 141:2)

Jesus himself and His apostles taught and showed by their own example how the church should live and be built together. The early believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, to the fellowship (gathering daily together with one accord, mutual care and love), to the breaking of bread in their homes, to prayers and praising God. (Acts 2:42-47)

         9. The essence of faith

                                  Heb 11:1;  Rom 4:18-22

For more than two years, God had led his people in the wilderness. As a man carries and disciplines His son, God had carried and disciplined (trained) His people for their faith and will (Deut 1:31; 8:5). We have learned above how much God did to strengthen Israel's confidence in Himself. He tested and humbled them to find out what filled their hearts: whether there would be a) a desire to keep His commandments, trusting in His promises, or b) longing to return to Egypt. (Deut 8:2)

After that God decided to open a door through which His people could have entered in faith: He gave them the first opportunity to take possession of the Promised Land.

So they departed from Horeb (=Mount Sinai), and came to Kadesh Barnea. And Moses said to them: "You have come to the mountains of the Amorites, which the Lord our God is giving us. Look, the Lord your God has set the land before you; go up and possess it, as the Lord God of your fathers has spoken (has sworn) to you. Do not fear or be discouraged." (Deut 1:19-21)

Moses sent 12 spies from Kadesh Barnea to explore God's promised land (Num 13:3). Joshua represented the tribe of Ephraim in this team. When the spies returned from their expedition, it turned out that only two of them (Joshua and Caleb) had kept their trust in God. The Bible says that the majority of spies discouraged Israel into unbelief and thinking of returning to Egypt (Deut 1:32; Num 14:11).

Joshua and Caleb's faith is an example for us. To bring about a similar faith, God is working in us as well. We can see that Joshua and Caleb's confidence in God included the following features:

1. They clung to the promises of God's Word despite the negative feelings created by circumstances and public opinion. They thought that "the One who made the promise is faithful". (Heb 10:23; Rom 4:21-22)

2. They spoke according to their faith. They encouraged those who doubted and were afraid to trust in God's help and power in taking possession of the Promised Land. They looked up from their own survival possibilities to God's lasting care. They said: "The Lord is with us! Let us go up boldly and take possession, for we are well able to do it. The land is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, then He will give it to us." (Num 13:30; 14:7-9)

Jesus said: "I am with you all the days . . . go therefore and make disciples baptizing . . . and teaching. You will receive the power . . ." (Matt 28:19; Acts 1:8)

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Fil 4:13)

3. They carried the cross and suffered for their faith. "But all the congregation said that they should be stoned with stones." (Num 14:10)

Jesus said: "As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. (John 15:18-20)

4. Egypt (worldliness, inheritance of the old man, the carnal mind) no longer controlled (reigned) in their hearts. They surrendered to dependence on God. And because of their faith, they were allowed to take part in completing the possession of the Promised Land (Num 14:30).

And Jesus said to him," 'If you can'! All things are possible for one who believes." (Mark 9:23)

Taking possession of The Promised Land - what it could be a type of? We can see that it is like The Kingdom of God, which Jesus conquers from this world using His believers (Matt 28:19-20; 2 Cor 5:18-6:1; 1 Cor 15:24).

          10. The holy priesthood

                                             1 Pet 2:5,9; Rom 15:16

Joshua did not belong to the priestly tribe of Levi. He was a descendant of Joseph's son Ephraim. As a servant of Moses, Joshua was prepared for his own ministry. Joshua got to see how the Levites were separated to take care of the Tabernacle. (Num 8:14; Deut 10:8)

Bring the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister to him. Thus you shall separate the Levites from among the children of Israel, and the Levites shall be Mine. I have given them as a gift to Aaron. Only the Levites may serve at the tabernacle of meeting. (Num 3:6; 8:14,19; 18:23)

We can see similarities between the priestly tribe of Levi and the holy priesthood of the New Covenant (believers in Jesus). Both of them were a) originally by nature children of wrath (Gen 49:5-7; Eph 2:3), b) called and separated by God for ministering to the High Priest(Num 3:6; 8:14,19-22; John 17:6; 1 Pet 2:5,9; Heb 4:14), c) set individually to their service tasks (Num 4:49; 1 Cor 12:5,27) and d) raised and prepared by God for the holy service. The Bible says

... the divisions of the priests and Levites are ready for all the work on the temple of God. (1 Chron 28:21)

… perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. (Eph 4:12)

The priestly service in the household of God is also called the stewardship, the administration and the dispensation of God's grace. As the next diagram shows the servant of the Lord is always and in everything dependent on the grace, amount of faith and the power given by God.

Strengthening in grace, faith and power is in Christ (2 Tim 2:1; 3:15; Eph 3:16; 6:10). Therefore nurturing the fellowship to Him is more important than any ministry. Staying in the presence of Jesus - like Mary of Bethany - listening to His words of grace and teaching, looking at the glory of His face is the good part (Luke 10:42; 2 Cor 4:6). His Spirit cares for our minds and renews our spirits. It is also a place to receive the Lord's guidance and power for our service tasks in the church.

 Our dependence on Jesus is choosing the cross, giving up our own or other people's plans, trusting in Jesus, and surrendering to His will. On the other hand, it releases us from unnecessary anxieties - which Martha carried in her heart (Luke 10:41) - and which the Lord did not intend for us. Thus we can keep peace and joy in the Lord in all situations. His overflowing grace, gift of faith and mighty power are sufficient for all the good works that He has prepared in advance for our ministry (Eph 2:10).

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Eph 3:20-21)

              11. Ministries and gifts                                  1 Cor 12:4-7; 14:26; 1 Pet 4:10-11; Eph 4:11-12

Above we have studied the Church of Christ collectively as God's dwelling place in the Spirit and as a holy priesthood. Now we are talking about an individual believer as a member of the earthly body of Christ.

And the Lord said to Moses: "Take Joshua the son of Nun with you, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him. And set him before all the congregation; and give him a charge (= commission him) in their sight. And you shall give some of your authority to him." (Num 27:18-20)

Then the Lord said to Joshua: "Stretch out the spear that is in your hand toward the city, because I will give that city to you." So Joshua held out his spear... and they entered the city and captured it. (Josh 8:18-19)

This is how Moses (a type of Christ) appointed Joshua to his ministry in the middle of the congregation. Joshua was equipped with all "the tools" that his mission required: the Spirit (God's presence and power in life), authority (a commission from the Lord and anointing for ministry) and a spear (a special gift of the Spirit).

In the same way, The Holy Spirit calls, equips, and places us to serve the Lord and each other in the church.

Jesus gave a promise to His own: "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me." (Acts 1:8)

Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. (1 Tim 4:14). These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. (Tit 2:15)

I became a minister according to the gift of grace of God given to me. (Eph 3:7)

For the Son of man is as a man, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work. (Mark 13:34)

Jesus Himself is building His church (Matt 16:18). He has many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function. (Rom 12:4)

In Christ the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building up itself in love by the proper working of each individual part (Eph 4:16).

The Spirit of Jesus calls and appoints the elders in each new local church. Often a member of the eldership has one of the following permanent ministry positions given by Jesus: the ministry of apostle, prophet, evangelist, shepherd or the teacher (Eph 4:11), or they have a gift of grace closely related to it, e.g. administrating (1 Cor 12:28; Rom 12:8), prophesying (Rom 12:6) or teaching (Rom 12:7).

The Bible tells about the ministry of the elders as follows:

Eph 4:12 says that Christ Himself gave these permanent ministries to the church for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, and for the edifying of the body of Christ (Eph 4:12).

As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. (1 Pet 4:10-11)

There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. (1 Cor 12:4-5)

Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. (1 Cor 14:1)