Deuteronomy 3:28 But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him: for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see.
Moses was very old and about to die, and he was not permitted to enter the Promised Land, after spending a long life preparing for it. But he was able to ordain a successor, who would take over the leadership and finish the job. Joshua would be used as the instrument of God to cause God’s people to inherit the Kingdom. Joshua is the Hebrew name for the Greek name Jesus, meaning God saves. The symbolic meaning is clear.
But Joshua is a weak sinner, like Moses, and he needs the encouragement and strengthening of the Lord to complete the mission. Moses responded to God’s will by giving heart and spiritual strength to Joshua. (Encourage means “put heart in.”) Joshua responded by doing what he was called and commissioned to do. With God-given courage, with God’s heart, and with God’s supernatural help fighting for him, Joshua conquered the enemy-occupied land and took over the Kingdom promised to believers.
Jesus did this at the cross and He will make it real and forever at the End. Revelation 11:15: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” The faith of Moses and Joshua led the way for the coming of the Final and Forever Savior.