“And they were written for our admonition,” is the point made in 1 Corinthians 10:11 in referring to the Old Testament accounts. God inspired the record of His dealings with His people, the nation of Israel. As the Lord’s spiritual people, the church, we are to pay attention to these examples, in order to avoid making the same mistakes.

Are you able to reveal the spiritual application of these events? The ability to do so is the basis of effective biblical counseling. Christian ministry requires the skilled use of the whole “sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17). Just as the Israelites escaped slavery in Egypt by God’s power and entered the promised land, so have Christians been delivered from “the power of darkness” and brought “into the kingdom of the Son” (Colossians 1:13). The book of Joshua reveals that the promised land had strongholds still standing that had to be conquered. In the same way, believers must tear down the strongholds left from a former life of sin. It is interesting to see the pictures of Joshua’s battles depicting spiritual struggles in the Christian life. For example, the walled city of Jericho looks very much like bitterness. Proverbs 18:19 states, “a brother offended is harder to win than a strong city.” Studying how the battle of Jericho was won provides insight into helping someone overcome bitterness. The city of Ai reveals a problem of failure due to deception. How was that place finally overcome? Proverbs 28:13 tells us that “he who covers his sins will not prosper.” What about Gibeon, the Amorites, King Jabin, and the Anakim? Why is Joshua’s call in chapter 24 so important to understanding how to enjoy victory in the Christian life? Hebrews 5:14 declares, “But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

Sin cera, Erik

Erik O. Garthe is Associate Pastor at Canton Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland.

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