Introduction
   We had a visitor some time ago at the Assembly who was tech savvy. He was sharing what his cell phone could do; and, actually, what it couldn't do. When we tried the voice search for “Yahweh's Assembly in Yahshua,” it had difficulties in identifying the Names Yahweh and Yahshua. What it did finally start showing was the name Joshua.
   I was actually surprised that it didn't identify Yahweh's Name, because it is in just about every Bible commentary that you can pick up today. But Yahshua should have also been easily identified.
   Today, we really don't want to get into the etymology (origin) of the Names, but do want to show a comparison which can be made between Joshua, the son of Nun, and, Yahshua, the Messiah, the Son of Yahweh.

Servants
   Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of Yahweh, that Yahweh spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying… Joshua 1:1 NASB.
   We want to stop here and notice the word servant, i.e., Joshua was a servant. The word used denotes specifically, in context, one who is a willing servant. One who will do what is asked of him because he joyfully wants to, not one who is a slave by force or to somehow pay off a debt. Many slaves willingly did, because they had no other way to pay their debt.
   It's interesting to note that in the New Testament, we are told we are bought with a price, so we are actually slaves and servants to Yahweh because of the purchase through Messiah's sacrifice. His example to us:
   For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many, Mark 10:45 NASB.
   Here, of course, is a parallel of Joshua and Yahshua, both being servants.
   Scholars have noted that Moses is to Yahweh, as Joshua, son of Nun, is to the Savior. When we think of Joshua the son of Nun, serving Moses, we have a picture of Yahshua serving Yahweh. This is not literal of course, but allegorical or figurative. Literally we find Moses was Yahweh's servant.
   Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel, Joshua 1:2 NASB.

Promised Land
   The connection here is obvious. Yahshua the Messiah is leading us today into the Kingdom of Yahweh, with the directive from Yahweh to do so.
   Before, at this time, it was the physical people being led into the promised land by Joshua (whose name really is Yahshua), but today it is Yahshua leading us by the Spirit of Yahweh as He continues to submit to Yahweh's will. Read our mini-study on How the Savior's Name Was Changed.
   Today we, if we are not spiritually killed in the wilderness, will enter into the Promised Land. Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of Elohim and of Messiah and will reign with Him for a thousand years, Revelation 20:6 NASB.
   Here are those who overcome and are able to come into the Kingdom as firstfruits, Spirit beings, changed in the twinkling of the eye. Scripture says they did not love their lives, even to death. Neither must we, as we continue to strive to overcome; to be obedient children of Yahweh no matter the cost. Yahshua said those that try to save their lives will lose it (Luke 17:33). As we take the attitude that He must increase, while we decrease, then we will be on the right track.
   It's interesting to note the point made in the Old Testament that there were very few who entered into the promised land. Many died off and were not allowed in because of their disobedience. This is why we are to do the opposite and be obedient, even if it means losing out on the riches in this life (Heb. 11:25-26). For we know that eternal life and the rewards there will far outweigh any perceived loss here in this world.

Spiritual Strength
   Yahshua has been given the directive to bring us in and we are helped by the Spirit of Yahweh. As Scripture says in Zechariah 4:6, "Not by might nor by strength (i.e., not by human might nor strength), but by My Spirit says Yahweh of Hosts."
   This is what Yahweh told Zerubbabel concerning the physical Temple of Yahweh being built. Today we understand the same process is occurring, but each spiritual stone is being built up in the body of Messiah and He is the figurative Corner Stone.
   Is there strength in this building? Absolutely. And strength was also provided to Joshua. Look at what Yahweh told him:
   No man will be able to stand before You all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you, Joshua 1:5 NASB.
   This is the promise to Joshua and also to Yahshua, and also to us. I suspect the boldness which came from Joshua was not only that he was a bit of a military man, but that the very promise of Yahweh was given directly to him, that he would be able to stand and that no man could prevail against him all the days of his life. Yahshua Messiah also knew that no man could stand against Him, as long as He submitted to Him.

Warriors
   This is most likely why we read of courage and humility we see from Joshua in the following account.
   And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, “Are You for us or for our adversaries?” So He said, “No, but as Commander of the army of YAHWEH I have now come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, “What does my Master say to His servant?” Joshua 5:13–14 NKJV.
   The long-held image I've personally had of this over the years was Joshua is the one with the drawn sword. But, as I've taken a closer look at the wording, I now realize it is the Angel of Yahweh which has His sword drawn.
   We understand this was the pre-existent Yahshua approaching, battle ready. We don't normally think of Yahshua as a warrior, but indeed He is. This is yet another comparison of Joshua and Yahshua, but this makes Joshua's courage that more impressive than what I had originally thought, because Joshua went right up to Him to confront Him even though His sword was already unsheathed and out in the open ready for battle.
   The other thing we see here is Joshua, though courageous and a warrior himself, humbles himself before this Messenger of Yahweh. Why? Because He recognizes His authority over him. Over us as well, we have Yahshua and Yahweh. In the Kingdom it will be that every knee will bow before Yahshua as King, placed in His position by Yahweh the Ancient of Days.
   Thinking of Yahshua as a Warrior, we have an account in Revelation:
   And they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him Who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of Their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” Revelation 6:16–17 NASB.
   Who was able to stand against Joshua? No one. He conquered and brought the people into the promised land. Yahshua, with Yahweh's help, will also bring us into the Promised Land (the coming Kingdom).
   All governments will be laid low, the only government that will ultimately stand is Yahweh's and His law will go forth from Zion. It's the same laws we see now in Scripture, the very ones Yahshua upheld when He walked the earth.

Judicial Judgment
   Going back to Joshua conquering and removing the evil out of the land, we read:
   They utterly destroyed everything in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox and sheep and donkey, with the edge of the sword, Joshua 6:21 NASB.
   This is Jericho that they went into, of which we have the archeological proof today standing or rather, laying in ruins. It's referred to as "the oldest city in the world" in some circles. The account is given that the walls fell and the people went in, the ramparts are seen which broke apart and in which the walls came down.
   The question sometimes comes up as to why Yahweh would allow entire cities and nations to be wiped out this way? The answer is, most likely, that they were not able to be rehabilitated. They had gone too far in utter abominations.
   Just as there have been archaeological evidence of cities like Jericho, there have been findings of human venereal diseases within animal remains which archeologists have also found and which scientists have confirmed.
   The only cure for such cancer is to cut it out. Yahweh had the right of judicial judgment over them.
   Now when these people are brought up in the second resurrection, will they be told what is what? Will they be given the facts of life? We would certainly think so. Will they have an opportunity to accept Yahweh's instructions and live according to His ways? We also would think so, but that judgment is not ours to make.
   Whatever Yahweh chooses to do will be the just and right thing to do, because He is a just and merciful Judge. This judgment has actually been handed to the Son to delineate (John 5:22), but that does not change the headship. The Son is with the Father even now as a High Priest interceding on our behalf (Heb. 4:14-16).
   Similar to a just and equitable judge today, the Righteous Judge will punish this world for its evil practices, which are contrary to His laws and ways of doing things. This is why we are told in the book of Revelation, a book of revealing:
   Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, My people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues; for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and Yahweh has remembered her iniquities, Revelation 18:4–5 ESV.
   Is this being spoken on behalf of Yahweh? Yes. Is it Yahshua? Is it Gabriel? We're not told, but this is end time prophecy.
   Is Yahweh going to allow sin to continue? No. And, by the way, if there is no more law or need for it as some say, then there can't be any sin. Because sin is the transgression of Yahweh's law (1 John 3:4). If there is no more law, there is no need to come out of what the world does against Yahweh's laws. Therefore, the idea that there is no law is false. Especially, since this is specifically a message for Yahweh's people at the end of the age, written after Yahshua had already died and went to heaven.
   When He comes back, He comes back with tribulation and the wrath of Yahweh first (Rev. 7:16), then He will stand on the Mount of Olives to begin the establishment of the Kingdom of Yahweh at the end of the tribulation period.
   And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him Who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh, Revelation 19:21 NASB.
   Joshua conquered with a sword and so will Yahshua, which is described on this white horse. This is not to be confused with the false messiah riding a white horse in Revelation, chapter 6.
   Going back to the account of Jericho, we can find an area of which there is a parallel concerning the timing of events with Joshua and Yahshua.

Trumpet Blasts
   At the seventh time, when the priests blew the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, “Shout! For Yahweh has given you the city,” Joshua 6:16 NASB.
   The trumpets were blown for seven days, and in Revelation we see the trumpets blown seven times to conclude the tribulation and the start of Yahshua's reign as King of kings.
   The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdoms of the world are become the kingdom of our Master and of His Messiah, and He will reign for ever and ever,” Revelation 11:15–16 NIV.
   We find a similar mention of the last trumpet and shout, which is what the people did at Jericho. They were told specifically not to shout or speak until the very end:
   For the Master Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of Elohim, and the dead in Messiah will rise first. 1 Thessalonians 4:16 NASB.
   This is quite the ending when you consider the beginning of Yahshua's birth and childhood. Yahshua had to actually be taken and hidden away from those that would want to harm Him.

Escaping Trouble
   Even the Apostle Paul had to be lowered in a basket down from a wall to get away from those wanting to kill him. Not too far from being a parallel to Yahshua.
   Though not directly a parallel comparison, one of the things we see with the spies dispatched by Joshua is that they were taken and hidden. And by a known harlot, of all people.
   But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them, and she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from." Joshua 2:4 NASB.
   In the New Testament we have Yahshua as a child, somewhere in the age range of one or two most likely, since Herod sent his men to kill all male infants at and under the age of two:
   Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of Yahweh appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him,” Matthew 2:13 NASB.
   We find both Joshua and Yahshua had to be hid to be protected. These are some of the parallels we find, but there may even be more as we search for some for the deeper things of Scripture.
   Hopefully, as technology gets better, cell phones will be able to better identify the Names of the Father and Son, but in the meantime our brains still work a lot better with the help of Yahweh's Spirit and we can see not only proof of Their Names, and what They mean, but we have clear evidence that Yahweh's Word is inspired.
   Since we know these things, now is a good time to prepare and be ready for Yahshua's return. The last thing we need to do is be found without proper clothing for the wedding Feast to come.

Feasting
   One of the other things that Joshua and his men did once in the land was to feast. No longer manna, which they may have gotten a little tired of, but food provided in the promised land. Similarly, those who come into the coming Kingdom as firsfruits eating of the spiritual food in abundance. Even now we are given what we need to sustain us from on high.
   They made it through the wilderness and we can too, with Yahweh's help, as His Son leads us like Joshua led the people.

Trust and Obey
   There is another comparison we can consider today, which we will want to keep in mind for the rest of our lives and emulate ourselves. Joshua like Yahshua, followed Yahweh fully.
   I was forty years old when YAHWEH’s servant Moses sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out this land. I brought an honest report back to him. The men who went with me, however, made our people afraid. But I faithfully obeyed YAHWEH my Elohim. Because I did, Moses promised me that my children and I would certainly receive as our possession the land which I walked over. But now, look. It has been forty-five years since YAHWEH said that to Moses. That was when Israel was going through the desert, and YAHWEH, as He promised, has kept me alive ever since. Look at me! I am eighty-five years old and I’m just as strong today as I was when Moses sent me out. I am still strong enough for war or for anything else, Joshua 14:7–12 TGNT.
   What a powerful testimony of someone who trusted and obeyed Yahweh and entered into the promised land in a strong way, and was just as strong as when he started out; with zeal and vigor for Yahweh's Word.
   Yes, he most likely got tired during the battles and trekking through the wilderness. But he stuck with it and didn't give up, just like Yahshua.
   One last parallel we should consider of Joshua being like Yahshua, is here at the very end of Joshua's life. He says, at the threshold of the people receiving their inheritance of the promised land which flows with milk and honey:
   "...take careful heed to do the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of YAHWEH commanded you, to love YAHWEH your Elohim, to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments, to hold fast to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Joshua 22:5–6 NKJV.
   Yahshua, wholeheartedly, is in agreement.
   And a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” And He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?” And he answered, “YOU SHALL LOVE YAHWEH YOUR ELOHIM WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” And He said to him, “You have answered correctly; DO THIS AND YOU WILL LIVE,” Luke 10:25–28 NASB.
   Joshua and Yahshua are much more in agreement and alike than many are willing to admit, but in the end all those that love Yahweh and do His will, as Joshua and Yahshua did, will end up inheriting all things.