ESHUA The high priest of the captivity Ezra 2:2 Assists Zerubbabel in restoring the temple Ezra 3; 4:1-6; 5; Haggai 1:1,12-14; 2:2 SYMBOLICAL Of the restoration of Gods people Zechariah 3; 6:9-15 JOSHUA: GUIDEBOOK TO VICTORY by Ray C. Stedman The book of Joshua (whose name means "God is salvation") is packed with practical lessons -- challenging concepts to help grasp the principles of a Spirit-led life. The key to the book is given to us in the New Testament: "these things...were written down for our instruction, upon whom the end of the ages has come." (1 Cor. 10:11) What the people of Israel went through in their actual historical experiences become patterns, or metaphors that we can apply to the spiritual battles in the spiritual pilgrimage in which we are engaged. These experiences have an exact and accurate application to us. Joshua is one of the two books of the Old Testament that every Christian should master. (The other is the book of Daniel.) These messages are primarily designed to help Christians withstand the first full impact of the battle of the world, the flesh, and the devil. If you feel the force of the opposing powers; if the tremendous, subtle deceptiveness of the principalities and powers against which we are engaged have come upon you so that you sense that you are in the conflict (Eph. 6:12), these books will be especially important to you. The fact that Joshua follows the book of Deuteronomy is certainly in the wisdom and care of God. Deuteronomy prepares us for Joshua by introducing us to the great second law of the spiritual life -- "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death" (Rom. 8:2) -- which will lead us into the experience set forth in Joshua as the book of victory. The book of Joshua falls into three main divisions. Chapters one through four concern the entrance into the land and all that involves. If you are struggling ...
