the second Joshua

In my listening through the book of Numbers, I'm almost to the end. I've reached the part where the Lord has told Moses that he's about to die. And Moses petitions the Lord to give the people of Isreal another leader, in his place, "that they be not as sheep which have no shepherd."

In answer to Moses' plea, the Lord appoints Joshua, whose name means God saves.


And as I listed to that, I remembered the gospel's observation about the second Joshua, whose name also meant God saves, who looked upon the crowd of Israelites in front of them, and "He had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd."


The first Joshua took God's people, tutored under the law of Moses, and led them into the promised land.

The second Joshua took God's people, harassed and helpless under the law of Moses, which had been twisted and misunderstood under the weight of years and sin, and led them into redemption, and peace, and eternal life.


"You shall call His name Jesus" the angel said - Jesus, the Greek version of Joshua - "for He will save His people from their sins."



Peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell