The priests, the Ark, and the rams’ horns that were part of the procession around the walls of Jericho all point to Jesus. Even the Sabbath, the seventh day, points to Him for He is our Sabbath rest (Hebrews 4).

Imagine that it’s Valentine’s Day and you walk into your house and see your wife hugging and kissing your picture. “Surprise!” you say as you hold out candy and roses, expecting her to run toward you. But if she remains more infatuated with your picture than with you, you would say, “Why are you so wrapped up with the picture, when the one it portrays is right here?”

So too, were Jesus on the scene in Joshua’s day, He would say, “I am the fulfillment of the Sabbath and of the silver trumpets. I am the fulfillment of the priesthood and of the Ark of the Covenant. They’re just pictures. Focus on Me.” Yet I wonder how many of us are focused on rules, regulations, and religion even in the Promised Land of the Spirit-filled life. I wonder how many of us subconsciously say, “It’s Sunday. That’s a holy day. I’m off to church,” or “It’s morning. I’m disciplined. It’s time for devotions.”

To us, Jesus would say, “Rules, regulations, and rituals are only necessary if I’m not present. But if I’m present, those things are replaced by relationship with Me.” Gang, we know more than the early Church knew about typology and illustrations. The question is, Do we know Who they knew? They knew Jesus. And they responded to His leading moment by moment. We too will be free from religion and predictability, from legalism and traditions, from habits, ruts, and routines to the degree that we realize that the Captain of the host, the Captain of our salvation, Jesus Himself, is in our midst.