Saturday June 01
The Step of Faith
Joshua 3:14-17
14 So it was, when the people set out from their camp to cross over the Jordan, with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people,
15 and as those who bore the ark came to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests who bore the ark dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks during the whole time of harvest),
16 that the waters which came down from upstream stood still, and rose in a heap very far away 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.
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.
For the past several days we have been talking about the “Word of Faith” that was share with Joshua, the leaders, and the people of Israel as they faced their first major obstacle between them and the Promise Land, where they could claim their inheritance. They needed a message and a miracle, and the LORD was ready with both! Today, I want to challenge you to take the “Step of Faith” that must be taken before you can see the “wonders” and miracles that you will experience as you fulfil God’s will, plan, and purpose for your life!
During most of the year, the Jordan River was about a hundred feet wide; but at the spring flood season, the river overflowed its banks and became a mile wide. As soon as the priests bearing the Ark put their feet into the river, the water stopped flowing and stood like a wall about twenty miles away upstream, near a city called Adam. It was a miracle of God in response to the faith of the people.
Unless we step out by faith (Joshua 3:3, 15-16) and "get our feet wet," we're not likely to make much progress in living for Christ and serving Him. Each step that the priests took opened the water before them until they were standing in the midst of the river on dry ground. They stood there as the people passed by; and when the whole nation had crossed, the priests walked to the shore and the flow of the water resumed.
When God opened the Red Sea, He used a strong wind that blew the whole night before (Ex. 14:21-22). This was not an accident, for the wind was the blast of God's nostrils (15:8). When Moses lifted his rod, the wind began to blow; and when he lowered the rod, the waters flowed back and drowned the Egyptian army (14:26-28). When Israel crossed the Jordan River, it was not the obedient arm of a leader that brought the miracle but the obedient feet of the people. Unless we are willing to step out by faith and obey His Word, God can never open the way for us.
When Peter saw Jesus walking on the water in the middle of storm tossed sea, he asked Jesus to invite him to get out of the boat and walk on the water to Him. Peter took the step of faith and one of the greatest miracles in the New Testament took place as Peter walked on the water to Jesus!
We need to remember that the crossing of the Jordan River is not a picture of the Christian dying and going to heaven, contrary to what is said in some songs. The crossing of the Red Sea pictures the believer being delivered from the bondage of sin, and the crossing of the Jordan River pictures the believer claiming the inheritance in Jesus Christ. Joshua is a type of Jesus Christ our Conqueror who leads us from day to day into the inheritance He has planned for us (1 Cor. 2:9-10). "He shall choose our inheritance for us" (Ps. 47:4).
What a tragedy it is when God's people fail to claim their inheritance and wander aimlessly through life as Israel did in the wilderness. The Book of Hebrews was written to challenge God's people to go on in spiritual maturity and not go backward in unbelief. In Hebrews 3-4, the writer used Israel's experience at Kadesh Barnea to warn foolish Christians not to come short of all that God had planned for them. We never stand still in the Christian life; we either move forward in faith or go backward in unbelief.
Today, it could be that the Lord is inviting you to join Him out in the stormy sea of Christian service! You must take the step of faith to get out of your secure and comfortable place of sitting on the pew, with all your family and friends around you. It may be the Lord wants you to go to the mission field to an unreached people group. Or now, to become a deacon or a Sunday School teacher. Or to run for office in your community, your state, or even on a national level. But the fear of the unknown, or even the known, is keeping you in the boat or in the wilderness on the wrong side of the Jordan.
My friend, the step of faith will set you free to experience the Lord and His miracles in wonderful ways!
God bless!
Comments