“So the LORD was with Joshua, and his fame was in all the land” (Josh 6:27).
One of the central goals of the book is to present Joshua as an ideal leader. Throughout the book, Joshua most often is compared to Moses. But lest we forget Joshua’s tribal identity, the author makes use of a strategic allusion to another ideal leader in the Torah. For this exact phrase (“so the LORD was with”) is also used to describe Joseph. “So the LORD was with Joseph, so he became a successful man. And he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian” (Gen 39:2; see v. 21).
An intentional analogy between Joshua and Joseph is quite likely when we consider three additional details in the book. First, Joshua really is a “son of Joseph” (he’s from the tribe of Ephraim). Second, the book of Joshua ends by highlighting the fulfillment of Joseph’s request to bury his bones in the land of promise (compare Josh 24:32 with Gen 50:24-25). Third, Joshua and Joseph are the only two people in the Hebrew Bible who die at the age of one hundred and ten years old (compare Josh 24:29 with Gen 50:26).
Within the book of Joshua is a network of analogies comparing Joshua to other great leaders (in Joshua chapters 2, 9-10, he is also compared to Abraham). And a network of analogies to Israel’s great leaders in the Torah continues all throughout the Former Prophets (Joshua – 2 Kings): Samuel is likened to Joseph and Moses (see 1 Sam 1-3); David is likened to Joseph (see 2 Samuel 11); Elijah is compared to Moses (see 1 Kings 19); Elisha is compared to Elijah and Moses (see 2 Kings 2:13-14). And these ideal-leader analogies also appear in the Latter Prophets and the Writings as well.
We must always remember who our true leader
By discovering this network of analogies we realize how much all the prophetic authors of the Hebrew Bible longed for the coming of Israel’s greatest leader. And this perfect leader will not only be the net sum of the virtues of all Israel’s very best leaders, but he will not have any of their flaws. No wonder, therefore, the Gospels constantly draw comparisons between Yeshua and these great leaders in the Hebrew Bible. And Yeshua is not only the sum total of all their best qualities, he is far, far greater.
And in terms of a practical application, we must always remember who our true leader really is in this politically charged and highly divided world. Yeshua is the only leader truly worthy of all our allegiance. And lasting change will not come to our nations through a ballot box, but through the Son of David when he finally takes his seat upon David’s throne!
“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this” (Isa 9:6-7).
