Read
Israel Crosses
1Early the next morning, Joshua and the Israelites packed up and left Acacia. They went to the Jordan River and camped there that night. 2Two days later their leaders went through the camp, 3-4shouting, “When you see some of the priests carrying the sacred chest, you'll know it is time to cross to the other side. You've never been there before, and you won't know the way, unless you follow the chest. But don't get too close! Stay about a kilometer back.”
5Joshua told the people, “Make yourselves acceptable to worship the Lord, because he is going to do some amazing things for us.”
6Then Joshua turned to the priests and said, “Take the chest and cross the Jordan River ahead of us.” So the priests picked up the chest by its carrying poles and went on ahead.
7The Lord told Joshua, “Beginning today I will show the people that you are their leader, and they will know that I am helping you as I helped Moses. 8Now, tell the priests who are carrying the chest to go a little way into the river and stand there.”
9Joshua spoke to the people:
Come here and listen to what the Lord our God said he will do! 10The Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Perizzites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, and the Jebusites control the land on the other side of the river. But the living God will be with you and will force them out of the land when you attack. And now, God is going to prove that he's powerful enough to force them out. 11-13Just watch the sacred chest that belongs to the Lord, the ruler of the whole earth. As soon as the priests carrying the chest step into the Jordan, the water will stop flowing and pile up as if someone had built a dam across the river.
The Lord has also said that each of the twelve tribes should choose one man to represent it.
14The Israelites packed up and left camp. The priests carrying the chest walked in front, 15until they came to the Jordan River. The water in the river had risen over its banks, as it often does in springtime. But as soon as the feet of the priests touched the water, 16-17the river stopped flowing, and the water started piling up at the town of Adam near Zarethan. No water flowed toward the Dead Sea, and the priests stood in the middle of the dry riverbed near Jericho while everyone else crossed over.
Reflect
After forty long years in the desert, years during which one whole generation had died, years of signs and wonders but also years of tedium and frustration, the people are about to enter the land promised to them so long ago. Why did it take forty years to get to this place? Because even after they saw the amazing work of God in bringing them out of Egypt with great power they had not believed that God was great enough to bring them into this land. Now, encamped on the east side of the Jordan River, looking westward, belief and dedication to God is everything. And so Joshua says: “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.”
All of us have some place in our lives where we long to see God do amazing things, although sometimes, like the children of Israel, the wait may be because of our own unbelief. But also God might be having us wait so that we might grow in faith. But eventually we will see God’s work and we need to prepare for the moment of seeing.
Prepare, says Joshua, by consecrating yourselves, which means giving God ownership of everything, and denying every other claim of ownership, including claims of country, companies, clients, even family and friends, breaking the claim of all that entrances, pleases and tempts, and being for God alone in all you are and ever will be. Like Joshua, the apostle Paul urges us to “offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.” (Romans 12:1, NIV)
What a great promise: “the Lord will do amazing things.” It’s a promise you don’t want to miss out on.
Respond
Heavenly Father:
So much of my life is cluttered with loyalties and hidden sins that keep you from having the freedom to show me amazing things. I renounce all falseness and impurity, and I deeply desire to be wholly owned by you, wholly dedicated to you, Jesus Christ.
Franklin Pyles
Franklin Pyles was a pastor of churches that served inner city neighborhoods, taught theology at Canadian Theological Seminary, and then was a pastor in a medium sized Ontario city. He then served his denomination, The Christian & Missionary Alliance as President for the full time allotted. He has written on C.S. Lewis and on a variety of ministry and church concerns. He continues a preaching and teaching ministry, currently at McMaster Divinity College. Publications: Most electronic and in house for the Alliance.