Salvation Comes From the Lord: Joshua
Read: Joshua 1:1-9
Has anyone ever told you how you got your name? Does it have a special meaning or relevance in your family?
When an angel informed Joseph that Mary’s baby already had a name, he was likely surprised.
“You shall call his name Jesus,” the angel instructed him. “For he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).
Jesus? As in . . . Joshua? Yahweh is Savior? To Jews of the day, it was a well-known name. And it told Joseph something about why the baby would be important. The name linked Jesus to a major figure in the long story of God’s work to redeem His people.
Joseph would have undoubtedly remembered all the old accounts of Joshua, one of Israel’s great heroes. Joshua was a gifted leader, a commander of Israel’s army.
He served as Moses’ assistant governing Israel, and Moses later anointed him to take over the job. Joshua never lost faith in the Lord’s promise to give the Promised Land to the Israelites, and so God used Joshua to save His people and bring them into that land.
A good name for a savior! Joshua, though flawed, led God’s people into the land He’d promised. The greater Joshua, the perfect Jesus Christ, leads us to a land where there is no suffering or pain, a place where we will dwell forever in God’s presence.
Reflect
What promises of God bring you the most hope?
Pray about It
Thank God for His transformative work in your life, that He continues to pursue you and fulfill His promises.