Greetings to all my friends in the precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ! All the glory to my Lord and my Savior, Jesus Christ!
Moses lead the Israelites for forty years and then the leadership was handed over to Joshua who had been with him. Moses lead the way to the promised land, while Joshua lead them to inherit the promised land. When God gives us a promise, whether it be regarding the life on this earth or Godliness, there is a way to it and there is the inheritance part. The promised land was not given to Israelites at once. They had to fight and conquer it part by part. Each challenge had a unique way to be fought against.
Here we see their first challenge opposing the inheritance of their promise. They had to cross river Jordan which often overflowed over its banks. It was an obstacle for their journey ahead. At times we encounter such obstacles which seem to overwhelm our minds and hearts, so much so that we cannot think of journey ahead. But Joshua, lead by His Spirit was instructed to command the priests bearing the ark to stand still in the Jordan which would separate the river for their journey ahead.
‘When you have come to the edge of the water of the Jordan, you shall stand in the Jordan.’ ” God could have separated it even before they reached the edge of the waters. But He waited for their feet to rest in its waters to perform the great miracle. Often we eagerly desire the barriers and chaotic issues to give way at the earliest. But then we see Him allowing us to touch the waters of the same.
A mind focused on His Word alone can rest in waters of Jordan : The priests, whose feet rested in waters of the river carried the ark of God. They had to pay much attention to be careful in same so that they all would carry it in one accord. Their disunity in their walk would create an imbalance in the ark of God, and this which represented His very presence was handled with much care and reverence. Their mind was focused more on ark rather than the disturbed waters where their feet rested. God teaches us to be focused on His Word more even when our feet touches the chaotic issues of life. But when our mind is focused on His Word, its strengthened and stable enough to stand still. The waves and overwhelming situation all around fails to touch our inner person.
All situations are subject to His Word : Josh.3:16”…. that the waters which came down from upstream stood still, and rose in a heap very far away [e]at Adam, the city that is beside Zaretan. So the waters that went down into the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, failed, and were cut off; and the people crossed over opposite Jericho.” The waters that went down into Salt Sea failed. It gave way to the power of the ark of God which was manifested through firm steps of the priests bearing the ark of God. There is no overwhelming situation which cannot be stopped by His Word. Jer.32:”26 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying, 27 “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” Let our minds and hearts be overwhelmed by the power of His Word rather than the crushing pain of the circumstances.
Josh.3:17,”Then the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan; and all Israel crossed over on dry ground, until all the people had crossed completely over the Jordan.” The feet of the priests which stood firm in the waters now stood firm on dry ground of the bed of Jordan river. The cut off waters were now standing as a heap on either side of the way made for the Israelites to cross over. Heap of water is not same as heap of sand or stones. It can gush back to its original form any time and that poses as a threat in any mind. The waters of Jordan that earlier blocked the way now stood with threats raising waves of fear inside the hearts. Here too the priests bore the ark of the Lord and stood firm. The Word of God which cut off the waters now cut off the power of threats and fear. Let us turn back and ponder over the various times of life where His Word cut off various issues from before our way ahead. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. The power of His Word is same. It does not diminish with its use. Its forever He Himself, the everlasting and eternal power of the Lord. It has power to cut off every weapon formed against us.
Situations become subject to His Word when lives in these situations subject themselves to the Word. The priests bore the ark of God. The fear of God, the reverence for the Lord and the presence of the Lord which was manifested through the ark of the Lord ruled the priests heart and mind. And hence the waters of Jordan were subject to their firm feet.
Josh.4:2-3“Take for yourselves twelve men from the people, one man from every tribe, 3 and command them, saying, ‘Take for yourselves twelve stones from here, out of the midst of the Jordan, from the place where the priests’ feet stood firm. You shall carry them over with you and leave them in the lodging place where you lodge tonight.’ ” After the Israelites came out of Jordan, the Lord commanded them to take 12 stones out of midst of Jordan from where the feet of the priests stood firm as signs of memories to be passed onto generation to generation. God specified the place and the attitude to be kept as memories. Midst of Jordan i.e midst of any overwhelming situation of lives or the peak time of any trial where everything around seem to crumble. Standing firm in these situations stand as memories for ever to strengthen all for ever. We learn from various lives in the Bible only because of their firm and stable stand on His Word when all around were against them, and the final victory was the Lord’s. A staggering faith cannot inspire others, while the firm ones build up lives beyond our expectations. Each Jordan river like challenge is another opportunity to be testimonies for Christ.
The Israelites walked into the Jordan and they walked out of Jordan. They were safe and protected. The waters could not touch them or harm them. A God’s child who is focused on His Word may have to walk into several Jordans in their faith life, but the Lord makes them walk out of them all too. Ps.34:19, ‘Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.’ Our deliverance is in our complete trust in His Word, which alone makes our steps stand still and firm to see His glory. He is faithful. He is merciful. He will never leave us nor forsake us. Lets love His Word and rejoice in it and see ourselves walk out of the Jordans overflowing waters.
God bless us all.
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