Introduction: Did you know that newspapers and popular
magazines are written at a level that those with a seventh-
grade education can read and understand? Why is that? My
answer is that you use words that are simple enough that the
reader understands. You do not want to make understanding
difficult. When I write legal briefs, I generally write at a
“low” level. Not because judges are uneducated, but rather
because if I want to win, I want judges to be able to easily
understand. I take that same approach when writing these
Bible study outlines. This week our subject can be described
in theological terms like “type” and “antitype.” These are
uncommon words. I prefer to use the more common terms
“illustration,” “symbol,” or the phrase “acted out
prophecy.” Simply put, Joshua is a symbol or illustration
of the coming Jesus. Let’s plunge into our study of the
Bible to learn more about symbols and illustrations and why
they have practical value!
I. Symbols and Types
A. Read Romans 5:12. Who is the “one man” who caused
death to spread to all men? (Adam.)
B. Read Romans 5:14-16. We read that Adam was a “type”
of the One who was to come. Who does verse 15 tell
us is the one that Adam typified, symbolized, or
illustrated? (Jesus.)
1. Is saying that Adam teaches us something about
Jesus some sort of needless puzzle? Or is this
something that will make it easier to
understand the work of Jesus? (Paul’s point in
Romans is that Adam made all of us sinners
even if we did not commit the same sin as
Adam. Just as Adam automatically made us all
sinners, so Jesus automatically gave us all
the gift of God’s grace so we need not die
eternally because of our sins.)
a. Does this comparison help you understand
what Jesus did for you and me?
C. Read Hebrews 4:14-16. These verses refer to Jesus
as “a great high priest.” What did the people of
Joshua’s time understand about the work of the High
Priest? (The sanctuary service with its sacrifices
and the Day of Atonement was the way in which the
people dealt with their sins.)
D. Read Hebrews 9:11-14. What does the symbolism of
the sanctuary service on earth teach us about the
future work of Jesus?
1. How does the earthly High Priest compare to
Jesus, our High Priest in heaven?
a. Does the sanctuary service in the Old
Testament help us to understand Jesus’
present work in heaven?
2. In the Bible there are several symbols for
Jesus. What are some you can think of? (Lamb.
Word. King.)
E. Can you think of any other acted-out symbols of
Jesus in the Old Testament?
1. Read Genesis 22:1-2. Is Abraham being told to
sacrifice Isaac a symbol of what Jesus will do
in the future?
2. We are not going to read it, but Genesis 37-50
are the chapters of the Bible that describe
Joseph being sent into slavery, going down
into the depths of prison, rising to become
the prime minister and, as a result, saving
his family. Is that an illustration of the
coming Jesus?
II. Joshua a Type or Symbol of Jesus
A. Read Numbers 13:16. Do you see that Joshua has two
names?
1. Why is that? (We find that Moses changed his
name from Hoshea to Joshua.)
B. “Hoshea” means salvation or “the saved,” and
“Joshua” means the Lord is salvation or “Yahweh
saves.” Looking at the meaning of these two words,
why do you think Moses made the name change?
1. If I said you were in need of salvation, what
would that say about you? Anything good? (It
would mean that you are lost and have no power
to do anything about it.)
2. What if I said you are in need of salvation
and the Lord is your salvation? Does that put
a different light on the problem? (This means
that you have the power of the Lord to get out
of your terrible situation.)
C. Read Joshua 6:1-2 and Joshua 6:20. In light of this
defeat of Jericho does this name change make sense?
(The important ingredient is that the Lord saves!)
D. Read Deuteronomy 18:15. Who is speaking here?
(Moses is speaking to the Hebrews in the
wilderness.)
1. What is Moses saying about the future? (That
God will raise up a prophet like Moses.)
E. Read Deuteronomy 18:16. Why do the Hebrews need a
prophet? (They asked for one. They did not want to
have direct communication with God. They wanted
Moses to tell them what God had said.)
F. Read Deuteronomy 18:17-18. Who is this promised
“Moses” who will speak for God? (Joshua!)
1. Let’s explore this. Do you think Joshua
symbolizes Jesus? Does he illustrate in some
way the work of Jesus?
G. Read John 1:14 and John 1:17-18. What does this
tell us was the work of Jesus? (To make God known
to humans. That is the same work as Moses and
Joshua when they told the people what God had in
mind for His people.)
1. How does Jesus build on the work of Moses and
Joshua? (He brings the grace and truth that
are so important to understanding the law.)
III. Joshua and Rest
A. Read Hebrews 3:5-6. Are we like the Hebrews in the
wilderness? Those who repeatedly disobeyed Moses?
1. Verse 6 says that we “are his house, if indeed
we hold fast our confidence.” Does just living
in this world make us part of God’s house?
(No. It seems that we are not automatically
God’s house. We need to have confidence in
Jesus.)
2. How was Joshua, who took over from Moses,
worthy of being God’s house? (He had the
courage to go in and take the land God had
promised. He had confidence in God.)
a. How is this a symbol for us today? (When
we hear God’s voice, we should confidently
obey and not rebel.)
B. Read Hebrews 3:7-11. What “rest” did those who were
in the wilderness for 40 years not find? (They died
in the wilderness, they did not enter into the rest
of the promised land.)
C. Read Hebrews 4:6-11. At the end of the 40 years the
Hebrews under Joshua entered into God’s rest in the
land promised to Abraham. What is the “another day”
rest spoken of here? Is it the Sabbath? (God’s
ultimate rest for us is heaven. But the rest in the
salvation provided by Jesus is the key to the
ultimate rest in heaven.)
1. When the Hebrews entered Canaan they began a
bunch of battles. How can that be considered a
rest, or like heaven? (We do not have to wait
for heaven to enter into God’s rest. God will
give us His rest right now in the midst of
battles.)
D. Look again at Hebrews 4:4 and Hebrews 4:7-10. How
many symbolic rests do you see? (I think we have
three “rests” that are symbols: The first rest is
after Jesus created the world. The second rest is
when God’s people entered the promised land with
Joshua leading. The third rest (verse 7) is where
we hear God’s voice and let it enter our hearts
rather than harden our hearts.)
E. Friend, do you see how Joshua and Moses symbolized
what Jesus did later? Not only did they share the
words of God with the people, but they gave
leadership on the path to the land promised to
Abraham. Jesus gives us a path to heaven. God’s
offer is to give us rest if we believe. He offers
not only a rest from current problems, but He is
the path to eternal rest in the joy of heaven. Will
you enter into that rest today?
IV. Next week: Living in the Land.
Copr. 2025, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. Scripture quotations are
from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard
Version ), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing
ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All
rights reserved. Suggested answers are found within
parentheses. If you normally receive this lesson by e-mail,
but it is lost one week, you can find it by clicking on this
link: http://www.GoBible.org. Pray for the guidance of the
Holy Spirit as you study.
