Many connections are to be noted between Joshua and Jesus. The names share the same meaning: "God is salvation." Jesus (Ieous) is the Greek form of the Hebrew Joshua (Yehosua). Many parallels can be drawn between the two Joshuas.

God the Father calls Christians out of slavery to sin and this world, a modern type of ancient Egypt (John 6:44; Romans 6:16-18; 2 Corinthians 6:17-18). Whereas Joshua was the physical leader of the physical nation of Israel, Jesus Christ is the leader of spiritual Israel, the New Testament Church (Colossians 1:18; Galatians 6:16).

Jesus brings His followers to and through the ordinance of baptism (foreshadowed by the miracle of the parting of the Red Sea; 1 Corinthians 10:1-2). Through His Spirit and truth and with our willing participation, He helps us conquer sins that can overcome us if we stray from Him (Romans 7:24-25; 8:37). Jesus Christ encourages His disciples to faithfully obey Him, to choose the right way of living (Deuteronomy 30:19-20).

A specific connection between the two Joshuas—the patriarch and the Messiah—is highlighted in Hebrews 4. Here we read that the seventh-day Sabbath is a type of the coming millennial Sabbath, a 1,000-year period of rest and rejuvenation. The millennial Sabbath will offer mankind a much-needed peaceful and prosperous land, the earth. Joshua's conquest and settlement of Canaan was a type of this anticipated ultimate Promised Land, which Christians are to faithfully strive to enter (verses 8-11).

Faithful Joshua was a forerunner of the Eternal Joshua: Jesus, the Son of God. The first Joshua faithfully focused the physical nation of Israel on God. Jesus, mankind's spiritual Joshua, will faithfully turn mankind to God, forming a great spiritual nation (Romans 9:6-8; Galatians 6:15-16). Joshua saved God's people from the Canaanites. Jesus, the Eternal Joshua, saves humanity from its enemies: Satan and death, the result of our sins.

Christ, as the divine Joshua, is the captain and author of our salvation (Hebrews 2:10), leader and commander of His people, who will conquer Satan and his followers (Revelation 14:19-20), at last giving the world peace, safety and freedom from spiritual slavery.

Mankind will come to fully understand the meaning of Joshua: "God is salvation." The second Joshua—Jesus, the Son of God—will make salvation available to mankind, a divine act of mercy and love (Hebrews 4:8) GN