Skip to main content

The Jordan

             And the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.’”

 Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground. (Joshua 3:7-8 & 15-17)

Another repeat. This time, instead of a pillar of cloud and fire, they had the ark of the covenant. This time, instead of fleeing a battle, they were preparing to start one. And this time, we’re told specifically that the Jordan was at flood stage. With the Red Sea, the wind blew throughout the night, and it took them most of the night to cross. With the Jordan, we don’t know the time frame, but  what we do know is that it’s a repeat event, and it’s a repeat of one of three events that Rahab mentioned as striking fear into the people of the land. In fact, it's the one event (of the three) that could not be attributed to the Israelites. God was letting the people of the land know that the same God who was with the Israelites in Egypt was with them at Jericho.

At the same time, the Red Sea had taken place more than forty years earlier, and those who still lived would have been very young. Some hadn’t been born. While they had heard about it, it wasn’t really a repetition for them. It did, however, link the two events and the God who caused them. He was letting the people know that the same God who had been with Moses (and them) was the God who was with Joshua. However, there is a not-so-subtle shift. While God was exalting Joshua, Joshua wasn’t carrying the ark as Moses had carried the staff. There’s a little distance involved, and I think Joshua accepted that.

That leads us to the question of the day. When you or I think God isn’t doing for us what He did for Moses, or Joshua, or any other Biblical person we choose, or what we think He should do, are we right? Gideon complained along these lines when an angel greeted him. If they were God’s chosen people, why were they in these difficult times? Perhaps more importantly, while what God was using Joshua to do in the land was impressive, could it be that what God is doing in us and through us is more so, but we can’t see it? Are we waiting for a crossing the Jordan moment rather than the still, small voice?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Virgin?

           Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)           This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 1:18)           But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”            “How will this be,” Mary asked the...
Post a Comment
Read more

Higher Thoughts

  “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the  Lord . “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)           The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments,   for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord      so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (I Corinthians 2:15-16) If you read about the ancient gods of the various peoples, you’ll find that they think just like people. In fact, they think just like the sort of people we really wouldn’t want to be around. They think like the most corrupt Hollywood producer or, like hormone overloaded teens with no upbringing.   It’s embarrassing to read. I have a friend who argues that because God is not just like us, He is so vastly dif...
2 comments
Read more

Saved?

  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” (John 10:28-30) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ ” (Matthew 7:21-23) Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written: “So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.” (Romans 3:4)   What conclusion do you draw when someone who was raised in a Christian family and church, perhaps even playing a significant role in a chur...
Post a Comment
Read more