jordan

(part 1 of 3 on the book of Joshua)

“Here is what I am commanding you to do. Be strong and brave. Do not be terrified. Do not lose hope. I am the Lord your God. I will be with you everywhere you go.”
— Joshua 1:9

The wandering Israelites couldn’t stop worrying about the future. God—who had already demonstrated his awesome might in freeing them from bondage in Egypt—promised that his plans were nothing short of spectacular. Yet they fretted constantly. Wasn’t the certainty of shackles and beatings better than the uncertainty of a frightening wilderness? What if God had underestimated their enemies? Would their children starve to death before they reached the land flowing with milk and honey?

Even though God faithfully met their daily needs, the Israelites had no faith that he held their future in his kind and gracious hand. So God decided that they didn’t get to taste the sweetness of the promised land after all.

The next generation of Israelites, though, got a second chance. All the grumblers were dead, and Moses, too. Joshua was leading the people now, and God told them to get ready. The future—with all its glorious promise—would at last be theirs. All they had to do was cross the Jordan River. The hugely swollen, fast moving, deep, dark, cold Jordan River.

You and I may not live in the Holy Land, but we all have experienced a Jordan River of our own, haven’t we? Our future lies before us, but the way God has provided to get there is the way of swirling currents and deep waters and nagging doubt. We can see that he has brought us to the river, but we nervously question his ability to get us across.

At these times, when we’re on the banks of our Jordan, we would be wise to remember two things that God said to Joshua and the Israelites as they prepared to cross.

First, an encouragement: “Be strong and very courageous…Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night…” (Joshua 1:8). When we remember God’s love and all that he has done in the past, we find deep wells of courage to trust his plans for us. “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear…” (1 John 4:18).

And second, a call to obey: “…When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river” (Joshua 3:8). It goes against our every instinct to simply wade into the depths of a flood. We should have a life jacket or some swimming lessons, right? But if we trust God and obey his commands, he will meet us in the midst of life’s raging rivers. “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you” (Isaiah 43:2a).

Father, I remember all you have done for your people and for me. Help me to meditate on your word day and night so that I can be strong and courageous when faced with the deep water of life. Help me to trust you and obey your commands. I can’t cross the Jordan by myself, but you will guide me safely to the other side if I put my hope in you. Amen