In Joshua, chapter one, verse two, the experiences of Israel in the wilderness, the entrance and conquest of Canaan can be called an example is written for our admonition. The promised land and its victory by the people of God typifies not heaven, but believers present spiritual inheritance and salvation in Christ. Although believers already possess salvation and, in one sense, are in the “heavenly places in Christ,” as in Ephesians one verse three, we must fight the fight of faith before we enter into eternal rest. As with the taking of Canaan, to possess the promises involves spiritual warfare and conquest. For Joshua and the Israelites, the possession of the promised land was realized and maintained by faith in God, expressed in obedience to His Word and warfare against God’s enemies.
For the believer under the new covenant, the possession of salvation and God’s blessing are by a present living faith in Christ expressed in obedience to His Word and spiritual warfare against sin, the flesh, and Satan. The possession of the land may be forfeit, as Joshua warns. The hope of ownership of God’s ultimate rest lies in faith in His promises, His power, and His presence.
Joshua had to lead the whole body of the people of Israel, over six hundred thousand men or more, besides an enormous number of women and children, and no boats to carry them or pontoons to put across the river Jordan. Therefore it could be no case of conscience with Joshua to go and take it out of the hands of the present inhabitants since the Lord, who had a right to dispose of it, gave it to them. Let not the withering of the most hands be the weakening of ours. When God has work to do, he will either find or make instruments fit to carry it on.