Crossing the Jordan

 

Joshua 3:14-17

 

So when the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people,  and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest), the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho.   Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan.

 

That would have been something to see, and the priest as they headed to the Jordan it is in flood stage, and yet they follow the orders of the man of God, and did as told.  But you and I have someone greater than Joshua telling us to cross our Jordan’s and we see the flood water all around and stay for a time of our choosing.  Now, what happens when they put their toes in the water, it stopped flowing and build up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city is beside Zarethan.  

 

Can you envision the impact of the crossing of the Jordan on the nations that saw and heard about all these people passing over the Jordan on dry land?  We have seen what happens to nations our nation with a pandemic like the China Virus, and it is crippling.  People allow the fear of the unknown to arouse a fear that controls their thoughts and actions.

 

These people had heard what God had done to Egypt at the Red Sea, they heard about the king that had been defeated and they feared the God of the Jews, they did not fear this ragtag group of people.  For he understood it was not people they were engaging in battle, it was the God that made the heavens and the earth, and they were right to be in fear.  I would be so bold as to state they had more faith in and feared God more than many in the Church today.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

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