Take Two: Joshua 3, Proverbs 26

In Chapter 3, the Israelites begin to do something that is a major test of faith for them. They are to cross the Jordan. This act of crossing over into their new land is the very place their ancestors turned back and suffered because of it. For 40 years as they wandered in the desert, they had heard stories of how their parents refused to believe God, rebelled against God and failed to obtain the promise God had given them.

Now, they were encamped alongside the Jordan river, which was in flood stage. This means that it had overflowed its banks. Here are the instructions. The priests will go ahead of you carrying the Ark of the Covenant. Now the Ark symbolized the presence of God. So hear it this way: The Lord will go before you (v.3). Stay 1000 yards behind the Ark (v.4). [I think this is a cool picture of following after God but doing so with holy reverence....]

In vv.7-8, God tells Joshua that He will begin to exalt Joshua in the eyes of the people so that the people will know that Joshua is walking closely with God and is His appointed leader.

This is very interesting to me as a baptist in the modern era. We have a tendency to want to "normalize" the pastor to such a point that he is just one of the guys. In many ways...he is. But at the same time, he is also God's chosen/appointed leader and God uses him in a unique way. In these verses, it seems that God knew that people place a great deal of confidence in their leaders...and that is ok with God; in fact, He promotes that. Perhaps we in the modern era are missing something when we try to make everyone the same.

V.13 (see also 15-16) is a pretty cool verse that has influenced me in recent years. God promised to stop up the Jordan "when" the priests stepped into the waters. God did not stop up the river until the priests believed God and demonstrated their belief by stepping into the river. Many times, we want God to make everything clear and work out all the details in our life before we decide to trust Him and obey. I have found that God will give us enough for one step...and when we take it, God gives us the next step.

V.17 says that the priest stood in the midst of a dry riverbed while the nation of Israel crossed over. I am not sure how long it takes for a riverbed to dry up...but I do know that this would not have happened without a powerful demonstration of God's power. Not only did He stop a river up while in floodstage...far up river...but He dried up the ground where the people would walk so that as long as they did as God directed, they would stand firmly on solid ground. (I sort of want to sing a hymn here!)

There is no limit as to what God can do and will do to accomplish His purpose. He has spent 40 years preparing His people for this chapter of their lives. Now God...to fulfill His covenant promise is going to dispossess tens of thousands of people of their land and give it to Israel. What is required to receive this blessing from God? The faith to step into the water. The faith to follow after God with holy reverence. The faith to believe Him...even when the circumstances seem too difficult to overcome.

Proverbs 26:20 is the takeaway today. "For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down." As wood is the fuel to a fire, so a whisperer (a gossip) is to contention, dissension, and strike.

Grace,