Texts: 1 Corinthians 10:1–13; Matthew 2:15; Joshua 1:1–3; Acts 3:22–26; Hebrews 3:7–4:11; 2 Corinthians 10:3–5

If you were expected to carry on a family legacy, could you?

NCAA fans remain unimpressed by Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning who delivered 389 passing yards and 6 touchdowns to propel his team to victory over the Arkansas Razorbacks on November 22nd. Rather than credit the young Manning, spectators credit the Razorbacks with a poor performance.

Maybe football fans have taken this approach because Manning, grandson of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning and nephew to the legendary Peyton and Eli Manning brothers, was overhyped in the media prior to his SEC debut.

Maybe it’s because Manning, who during the preseason was expected to walk away with the Heisman Trophy and No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft, plummeted to 83rd in the nation in quarterback rating over the span of three weeks.

Maybe it’s because Manning, feeling the pressure of carrying on a lineage of quarterbacking excellence, was not performing like a member of the Manning dynasty.

How different Arch Manning’s situation is from that of Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, sons of former NHL power forward and U.S. olympian Keith Tkachuk. In fact, the brothers have been so outstanding that the sons-father trio grace the deluxe edition cover of EA SPORTS™ NHL® 26.

The brothers play a similar style to that of their gritty, hard-nosed, high-scoring father, and will represent the United States at the 2026 Olympics, just as Keith did in 1992, 1998, 2002, and 2006.

However, Matthew accomplished something his father never did: win the Stanley Cup (and he did it twice). And while Brady has yet to win the coveted Cup, he’s considered by many to exhibit superior honed skills in two-way play and situational awareness in comparison with his father.

While resembling the five-time All-Star in many respects, the brothers have exceeded expectations.

Similarly, the prophet Elisha – though not translated directly to heaven – performed twice as many miracles as Elijah, who himself prefigured John the Baptist (Malachi 4:5-6, Matthew 11:11-15).

Not unlike Elijah’s successor, Joshua also filled the role of prophet and leader of God’s people, following in the footsteps of his mentor Moses. And Joshua, unlike Moses, was able to lead the Israelites into their inheritance, the Promised Land.

Although Joshua was a great warrior and spiritual leader commissioned by God to lead Israel (Numbers 27:12-23), Joshua was just a type for Who was to come.

Jesus is not only the head of God’s people but also the victor of spiritual warfare and redeemer of humanity, bringing us all into the allotted inheritance of God’s heavenly kingdom. Christ is the fulfillment of God’s word Who changes our hearts to also reflect the character of God.

 

For Reflection

 

Connecting: The Bible is full of many types who prefigured Christ. Who is your favorite and why?

Sharing: Read Hebrews 3:7-4:11 and Acts 7:45. Consider the following ways Joshua paralleled Jesus Christ. What others can you add to this list?

1. Joshua brought Israel into rest from wandering the desert as Christ brings us into rest from this life on earth
2. Joshua and Jesus share the same Hebrew name
3. They both wandered in the wilderness, surviving on God’s word
4. They both led Israel in overcoming an enemy
5. They both were prefigured
6. They prayed on behalf of Israel

Applying: What aspects of ancient Israel foreshadow us as a community of believers today? How can we use the experience and example of ancient Israel to positively guide our lives today?

Valuing: Read Numbers 13:1-16. Did you know that Moses changed Hoshea’s name? What theories do you have for why this happened? What is the significance of this action?

~ Stefani Leeper