JOSHUA - INTRODUCTION
A Bible Study - Commentary by Jim
Melough
Copyright
2000 James Melough
Since
Canaan figures so prominently in connection with Israel's experiences, we should be
clear as to what it represents spiritually, for misunderstanding in regard to this
will result in confusion and distortion of the whole spiritual picture.
Many
have yielded to the temptation to see it exclusively as a type or picture of heaven,
and while there are some instances where it may be so viewed, there are many more
that clearly preclude this view. The
enemy was there, but there will be no enemies when we get to heaven. There was warfare involved, but the believer's warfare will be
over when he reaches heaven. There were
sin, failure and death in Canaan; there will be none of these things in heaven.
It
may help us to understand what Canaan represents if we look at it in connection with
Egypt, and also with the desert. Egypt
represents the world of business and pleasure governed by Satan; and as to his body,
the believer is still in "Egypt." The
Israelite in the desert, however, gives us a picture of the believer's present
position as to his soul. His faith in
Christ has changed what was once "Egypt" into a spiritual
"desert"; and as there was nothing in the literal desert to minister to the
needs of those redeemed Israelites, neither is there anything in the spiritual desert
of this world to minister to the spiritual needs of redeemed men and women.
All they had in the desert was what God supplied - the manna and the water,
both symbols of Christ: the manna representing Him as our spiritual food, the written
Word, to build us up; and the water representing Him also as the written Word, but,
to refresh and cleanse us.
But
the Israelite in Canaan shows us the believer as to his spirit; in spirit he can
enjoy in a measure here on earth what he will enjoy fully when he gets to heaven.
Israel's Canaan blessings were a foreshadowing of her coming millennial
blessings, and they, in turn, are a foreshadowing of her eternal blessings.
In the same way, our present enjoyment of heavenly things is but a
foreshadowing of our coming eternal blessings.
We
see, then, that the believer, as to his body is in the world represented by Egypt; as
to his soul, he is in the world represented by the desert; and as to his spirit, he
is in the world represented by Canaan. In
other words, he is in all three places at the same time.
Israel's
experiences in Canaan therefore, are meant to teach us how to enjoy all the
"milk and honey" (the abundance of our spiritual blessings) even while we
are still here on earth. As Israel was
brought into Canaan to enjoy literal blessings, the believer has been brought
spiritually into the place where he can enjoy corresponding spiritual blessings, for
God "Hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places (things) in
Christ," Eph 1:3. The enjoyment of Canaan's blessings, however, was conditional, a
fact which should teach us that there are conditions to be fulfilled by those who
would enjoy spiritual blessings. They
had to be willing to leave the wilderness, which involved crossing the Jordan.
They had to be obedient to Joshua; and they had to be willing to go forward,
slaying the Canaanites, and taking possession of the land.
The corresponding spiritual conditions must be met by the believer who would
enjoy all that is available to him in Christ.
First,
we should note, that except for Joshua and Caleb, the Israelites who entered Canaan
were second generation, the first having died in the wilderness.
That second generation represents the man who is also "second
generation," that is, who has been born again; for the first generation
represents man as he is by natural birth, and relative to which Paul has written,
"Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God," 1 Co 15:50, the Lord's
warning being, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God....
Ye must be born again,” Jn 3:3-7. The
entry of that second generation into Canaan is the OT symbolic demonstration of the
truth declared by Christ, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom
of God," Jn 3:3. The new
birth is a necessary condition of spiritual blessing.
Another
condition was that they must "Go over this Jordan."
Jordan is the Biblical
symbol of death. It separated the
Israelites from Canaan; and in their having to cross it we read the lesson that
spiritual blessings are available only to the man who is willing to die to the things
of the world (represented here by the desert which they were to leave behind).
This doesn't mean that we have to die literally and go to heaven before we can
enjoy our spiritual blessings, but that our attitude to the things of the world
should be such that they will have as little power to tempt us as they would have to
tempt a dead man. Ro 6; Eph 2:1-6; and
Col 3:1-10 should be read in this connection.
But
if the believer is dead to the world (and he is by God's reckoning), he is
"alive unto God," Ro 6:11;, "risen with Christ," Col 3:1, and as
such he is commanded, "Seek those things which are above.... Set your affection
on things above, not on things on the earth," Col 3:1-3.
The Israelite, crossing Jordan, and pressing on to appropriate his share of
Canaan, represents such a believer.
It
is emphasized that the land was being given "to the children of Israel,"
verse 2. Israel means he shall be
prince of God, God's fighter, and since God's earthly people are but the OT
representatives of Church-age believers, these meanings remind us that we too are
God's princes, His fighters, under His command. As the riches of Canaan were available only to those who belonged
to God, and who were obedient, so is it in regard to us: spiritual blessings are for
believers only, and only for such as are obedient.
The
extent of their possessions in Canaan was governed by the degree of their faith. As much as they had the faith and courage to go forward and take,
was what they would have to enjoy. Our
enjoyment of our spiritual blessings is limited only by the extent of our faith to
believe God's promises, and to walk before Him in obedience.
[Joshua
1]