Patrikin – Kinship through The Father

[Y]e shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the LORD your God giveth you to possess it. – Joshua 1:11b

Israel’s entry into their “Promised Land” has long been seen as symbolic. The church has many hymns, like “On Jordan’s Stormy Banks I Stand“ equating the “Promised Land” with Heaven. But while Heaven is a promise, the “Promised Land” symbolizes something else.

In heaven our fighting will be over but in this life, as in Israel’s Promised Land, there are “giants” to defeat, crops to plant and harvest, successes and failures based on our obedience and partnership with Christ.

Taking over the promised land, driving out the sinful inhabitants, and occupying in faith is the same process of kicking out our old habits and sins, establishing Christ’s rule over our lives, and living for Jesus in the power of God’s Holy Spirit.

See it that way as you read the biblical book of Joshua and it takes on a whole new relevance.

– fritz@langgang.com