Moses and Jesus

“On that same day the LORD [Yahweh] told Moses, "Go up into the Abarim Range to Mount Nebo in Moab, across from Jericho, and view Canaan, the land I am giving the Israelites as their own possession. There on the mountain that you have climbed you will die and be gathered to your people, just as your brother Aaron died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people. This is because both of you broke faith with me in the presence of the Israelites at the waters of Meribah Kadesh in the Desert of Zin and because you did not uphold my holiness among the Israelites. Therefore, you will see the land only from a distance; you will not enter the land I am giving to the people of Israel."
(Deuteronomy 32:48-52)

Moses, as lawgiver, represents the Torah. The biblical law or commandments are sometimes collectively referred to as “the law of Moses.” Moses was a “type” of the Law. Yet, Moses did not make it to the Promised Land. If even Moses (who was the mediator between God and the Israelites), because of one sin he committed, was not allowed to enter the Promised Land, how much less can the average person expect to enter the eternal Promised Land by their own works?

Earlier in his life, Joshua was called, simply, ‘Hoshea’ (Numbers 13:8,16), meaning “salvation.” But later, Moses changed his name to ‘Joshua,’ meaning “The Lord saves” (or, “the Lord gives victory”). This same name (the Greek form of which is Jesus) was given to Mary’s firstborn son (Matthew 1:21).

The Law cannot save us. Joshua (Hebrew: Hoshea, Yeshua or Jeshua; Greek: Jesus) took over and replaced Moses (who symbolizes the Law) to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. Just as Moses is an Old Testament type for the Law, so Joshua is an Old Testament type for Jesus (Yeshua). Jesus alone can lead us into the Promised Land.

Only complete trust in the shed blood of Christ can save a person from God’s wrath and bring them into Heaven, the eternal Promised Land.