When Moses had finished speaking these words to all Israel, 2 he said to them, I am now one hundred and twenty years old and am no longer able to go out and come in; besides, the Lord has said to me, Do not cross this Jordan. 3 It is the Lord, your God, who will cross before you; he will destroy these nations before you, that you may dispossess them. (It is Joshua who will cross before you, as the Lord promised.) 4 The Lord will deal with them just as he dealt with Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, and with their country, when he destroyed them. 5 When, therefore, the Lord delivers them up to you, you shall deal with them according to the whole commandment which I have given you. 6 Be strong and steadfast; have no fear or dread of them, for it is the Lord, your God, who marches with you; he will never fail you or forsake you. 7 Then Moses summoned Joshua and in the presence of all Israel said to him, “Be strong and steadfast, for you shall bring this people into the land which the Lord swore to their ancestors he would give them; it is you who will give them possession of it. 8 It is the Lord who goes before you; he will be with you and will never fail you or forsake you. So do not fear or be dismayed.”
In Deuteronomy 29–30, Moses renewed the covenant, warned Israel of the consequences of disobedience, and called them to choose life by remaining faithful to God (Deut. 30:15-20). In Deuteronomy 31:1-8, Moses, at 120 years old and forbidden by God from crossing into the Promised Land (Deut. 31:2; cf. Num 20:12), announces Joshua as his successor. He assures the Israelites that God will go before them to conquer the land, just as He did with Sihon and Og (cf. Num 21:21-35). Moses exhorts the people to be strong and courageous, assuring them that the Lord will not abandon them (Deut. 31:6). He then encourages Joshua with the same assurance of God's presence (Deut. 31:7-8). This passage highlights divine faithfulness and leadership succession, prefiguring Christ’s promise of His abiding presence with His disciples (Matt. 28:20).
In Matthew 28:20, Jesus, like Moses, gives a farewell discourse but with a divine promise: “I am with you always, until the end of the age.” This echoes Deut. 31:6, 8, where God assures Israel and Joshua of His abiding presence. Just as Moses prepared Israel for life in the Promised Land, Jesus prepared His disciples for their mission in the world, ensuring His presence through the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-17). The promise of unfailing presence extends the Israelites to the entire Church, as reaffirmed in Hebrews 13:5-6: “I will never forsake you or abandon you.”
The transition from Moses to Joshua typologically mirrors the shift from the Old Covenant, mediated by the Law, to the New Covenant, fulfilled in Jesus (Heb 3:5-6). Joshua’s Hebrew name, Yehoshua, means "The Lord is salvation," the same as Yeshua (Jesus) in its later Aramaic form. This linguistic and theological connection reinforces the typology: Joshua (Yehoshua) leads Israel into the earthly Promised Land, while Jesus (Yeshua) leads His followers to the eternal kingdom (Heb. 4:8-10). Just as Joshua succeeded Moses and brought God’s people into their inheritance, Jesus, the greater Joshua, leads His people into the fullness of salvation.
Just as God commanded Joshua to be strong and courageous (Deut. 31:6-8; Josh 1:5-9), Christians are called to trust in His providence. 2 Timothy 1:7 reminds believers that “God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control,” while Philippians 4:13 affirms, “I have the strength for everything through Him who empowers me.”
Finally, Joshua’s role as Israel’s leader prefigures Christ’s greater victory over sin and death. Just as Joshua led Israel to conquer Canaan, Christ achieves the definitive victory through His Passion and Resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15:57 proclaims, “But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Joshua brought Israel into the Promised Land, but Jesus brings His followers into eternal life.
Almighty God, Your faithfulness endures forever and you never abandon Your people. As You strengthened Israel and guided Joshua, so too, You have promised to be with us always through Christ our Lord. Fill our hearts with courage and trust, that we may walk in Your will, knowing that You go before us. Strengthen us to follow Jesus, our true Joshua, who leads us to the eternal kingdom. This we pray through the same Christ our Lord. Amen!
Sources
- McSorley, Joseph. An Outline History of the Church by Centuries (From St. Peter to Pius XII). 2nd ed., B. Herder Book Co., 1944.
- Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
- Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
- Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
- Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: The Pentateuch. Four Courts Press, 2017
- Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Prentice Hall, 1990.
- Charpentier, Etienne. How to Read the Old Testament. Translated by John Bowden, 1981.
- Komonchak, Joseph, et al., editors. The New Dictionary of Theology.
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