July 14, 2023

Today's Reading: 

Daily Lectionary: Joshua 1:1-18, Acts 8:1-25

No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.  Joshua 1:5

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Our English Bibles don't lead us down the path of understanding what's going on in the Old Testament and how it is connected to the New Testament.  However, in today’s reading we have a good glimpse of that connection between the old and new.  Today we hear about Joshua.  In the Greek language, the name Joshua is Jesus.  Joshua is what we theologians call a “type of Christ.  

After Moses died, the Lord gave authority to Joshua to lead the Israelites into the promised land.  With the help of the Lord, Joshua conquered the land of promise for God’s people and boldly stood up to their enemies.  Likewise, Jesus conquered the forces of evil, both human and demonic, as well as the grave itself, so that His people would inherit an eternal land of promise, the new heaven and the new earth.

The Law of Moses with its threats and promises could not bring God’s people forgiveness or eternal rest.  The blood of lambs and bulls was not enough, because they only pointed to a greater Lamb to come.  The plagues upon Egypt and the parting of the Red Sea, fantastic and powerful as they were, pointed to even greater realities to come: the plagues of God’s wrath against sin.  That wrath was placed onto the greater Joshua, Jesus Christ on the Cross.  In your Baptism you have passed through the sea of death and sin and hell and have been preserved safe.

Jesus, the greater Joshua, grants you  eternal promise of life and salvation..  We cross the Jordan in Baptism, and will soon take possession of that promised land we have been given, when Jesus returns to resurrect all flesh.   

So our enemies are conquered, even though it does not always seem that way.  The world is still full of evil that threatens us.  Death terrifies us sometimes.  The devil is as deadly as always, even though he is mortally wounded by our Jesus.

In Jesus be strong and courageous as you go through this world.  Yes, you are vulnerable to the attacks of many enemies.  But with Christ our new Joshua, He will lead us in order that we can be strong and courageous.  Thanks be to God for Joshua’s courage by the mighty Hand of God.  Thanks be to God for our Joshua, Jesus,  Who has faced down our strong foes so that we share the victory He purchased with His suffering and death and resurrection. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Mighty Victim from the sky, Hell's fierce pow'rs beneath You lie; You have conquered in the fight, You have brought us life and light. Alleluia! (LSB 633:5)

-Pastor Kent Schaaf is Pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Little Rock. AR.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey.

Study Christ's words on the cross to see how you can show more Christlike grace in your life. Perfect for group or individual study, each chapter has a Q&A at the end, and the back of the book includes a leader guide. Available now from Concordia Publishing House.