The story of Israel crossing the Jordan is filled with significance. The miracle of the water parting would establish Joshua as a great Divinely appointed and affirmed leader. Perhaps not as great as Moses, their recently deceased leader. Yet nonetheless leading them in a miraculous crossing just as Moses did at the Red Sea.
The crossing is significant of course because on the other side lay the long awaited land of promise. God had told them while in Egypt that there was land waiting for them, land He would give them. Land that He would help them possess as they conquered the present residents.
They had seen God supply their needs via numerous miracles since they left Egypt. They had seen Him lead them to victory over several enemies. They had heard from the spies that the residents of Jericho were waiting fearfully for the invasion. Those in Jericho had heard of the great things the God of Israel had already done.
It was time to cross the Jordan. Scripture records that it was the rainy season, the time when the Jordan flooded, so it would be running deeper and wider than normal. (Joshua 3:15) The Israelites had been desert dwellers for decades. Their experience with rivers was quite limited and the Red Sea crossing was a distant 40 years in their past. My guess is that none of them could swim. Possibly none of them had ever forded a river.
Now it was time to cross and the priests were leading the way. The promise of God was that when the priests' feet touched the water, the river would cease to flow. All the preparation was completed. It was time to act in faith and step into the water. Did any priest hesitate? I wonder.
When we face challenges, many of us are pretty good at praying and planning. We can talk about what needs to be done: the difficulties and the potential. We may do very good cost analysis and evaluations. But sooner or later we have to decide: is this the time? Should we step into the water. More important: do we have the faith and courage to step into the water? Some Christians never take risks. Even though the Spirit of God and the needs they see are prompting them to move ahead, they never take the risk, never take those steps. And as a result, they never see God do something very special in and through them.
Only when we take those steps do we give God an opportunity to prove He is at work here and now. The priests risked looking foolish; maybe risked even being swept away in the flood waters. But God had made it clear: if they were to receive the miracle, they had to step into the water.
Don't let your fear of getting wet prevent you from doing the will of God.
The crossing is significant of course because on the other side lay the long awaited land of promise. God had told them while in Egypt that there was land waiting for them, land He would give them. Land that He would help them possess as they conquered the present residents.
They had seen God supply their needs via numerous miracles since they left Egypt. They had seen Him lead them to victory over several enemies. They had heard from the spies that the residents of Jericho were waiting fearfully for the invasion. Those in Jericho had heard of the great things the God of Israel had already done.
It was time to cross the Jordan. Scripture records that it was the rainy season, the time when the Jordan flooded, so it would be running deeper and wider than normal. (Joshua 3:15) The Israelites had been desert dwellers for decades. Their experience with rivers was quite limited and the Red Sea crossing was a distant 40 years in their past. My guess is that none of them could swim. Possibly none of them had ever forded a river.
Now it was time to cross and the priests were leading the way. The promise of God was that when the priests' feet touched the water, the river would cease to flow. All the preparation was completed. It was time to act in faith and step into the water. Did any priest hesitate? I wonder.
When we face challenges, many of us are pretty good at praying and planning. We can talk about what needs to be done: the difficulties and the potential. We may do very good cost analysis and evaluations. But sooner or later we have to decide: is this the time? Should we step into the water. More important: do we have the faith and courage to step into the water? Some Christians never take risks. Even though the Spirit of God and the needs they see are prompting them to move ahead, they never take the risk, never take those steps. And as a result, they never see God do something very special in and through them.
Only when we take those steps do we give God an opportunity to prove He is at work here and now. The priests risked looking foolish; maybe risked even being swept away in the flood waters. But God had made it clear: if they were to receive the miracle, they had to step into the water.
Don't let your fear of getting wet prevent you from doing the will of God.
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