Keep God’s provision constantly in your mind so that you will continually serve him

Scene 1/ Losing focus is so easy to do!

Perhaps you have walked from one room to another and been distracted by something.

When you get to where you were going you can’t remember why you went there.

Or the stories you hear about people who set out to travel around Australia – and only make it a month into their journey and then spend the next 10 years in one spot.

If you have ever watched one of those airplane disaster documentaries, you are reminded that often there is a plane crash because the pilot loses focus on where he is.

Rather than trusting his instruments he reacts to all that is going on around him and he ends up making a series of bad decisions.

Decisions which are not based on facts, but on a perception.

The problem with making these sorts of decisions is that perceptions are often wrong.

The horizon indicator is an instrument in a plane which tells you which way is up and is the plane tilting to the left or the right.

It is very easy to get confused, especially when you can’t see at night or in bad weather., that is why this instrument must be trusted.

A pilot must not lose focus on which way is the sky and which way is the ground, especially if you need to be going towards the opposite!

It is very similar with a submarine.

If you lose situational awareness in a submarine it is very easy to drive the boat into the sea floor, or into a rock shelf.

Both of which have a very great chance of not ending well!

It is the same with our faith, we can lose sight of what the Lord would have us be and do.

All too often people tell me that they really didn’t know how they ended up where they are.

They are just travelling along in life and they lack a clear focus, a clear direction and then they wonder why their faith is going nowhere or is even going backwards.

It is very easy to do!

The nation of Israel is a prime example of losing focus.

Throughout Biblical History, they kept going off track.

In the wilderness after they left Egypt.

After they arrived in the promised land.

Under the rule of various kings and right up to the time of Christ & beyond.

Israel took their eyes off the Lord and they suffered terribly as a result.

We need to keep God’s provision constantly in mind so that we will continually serve him.

Scene 2/ That is why God gives us reminders of all he has done and will continue to do.

For Israel one such reminder was the Jordan River crossing.

They had spent 40 years in the wilderness and now they literally stood at the banks of the Jordan River and were about to enter the promised land of Canaan.

It was spring time, in fact the 10th day of the Israeli month of Nisan.

Three days later after crossing the River they would celebrate the Passover feast.

Exactly 40 years since leaving Egypt. [1],[2]

This river crossing was a reenactment of the crossing of the Red Sea retold countless times in the last 40 years.

The whole idea was to remind the nation of the provision of God.

To confirm for them that Joshua was God’s anointed leader just like Moses.

To demonstrate the Lord’s powerful hand to the Canaanite peoples who had heard about the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea 40 years earlier; when the Lord destroyed the Egyptians.

We read in Joshua chapter 3 that there was a series of four instructions each one building on the one before and giving more information.[3]

In Joshua 3:2-4 The officers of Israel tell the people to get ready, when they see the Ark of the Covenant being carried by the priests they are to set out formed up ready for battle.

The Lord dwelt above the Ark of The Covenant and he will lead his people into the promised land.

In Joshua 3:5-6 we read that Joshua commanded the people to purify themselves in preparation for the morning when the people will be lead across the River Jordan.

This wasn’t just another desert river crossing.

This was incredibly significant as the Jordan River marked the boundary into the Promised Land.

In Joshua 3:7-8 we read that the Lord spoke to Joshua and told him that this will be the day when he confirms Joshua’s leadership to the people of Israel.

The Lord will perform a miracle for Joshua just like he did for Moses.

The people will cross the Jordan River on dry ground.

Then in Joshua 3:9-13 Joshua passes onto the people what the Lord has told him.

It is a call to action, a command to follow the Lord wholeheartedly, a challenge to focus on the Lord and his might.

To see the Canaanites driven out before them so that they can take the Promised Land.

All of this will be achieved because the Lord is with them.

This was to be a powerful reminder of the Lord’s provision & protection.

And we see this in Joshua 3:14-17

It was harvest time and the normally small Jordan River was in full flood as the winter snows melted far to the north.

They crossed where the river was at its greatest.

The normal spring time fords across the Jordon were to their north.

Yet as soon as the feet of the Priests who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant touched the water the river came to a stop.

Joshua 3:16 identifies that the water stopped at a place called Adam.

Landslides have been observed occurring in this location on a number of occasions.

Maybe the Lord used one to block the river; maybe he just held it up as a wall of water like he did at the Red Sea crossing 40 years earlier

The result was that the river bed was dry for 30km.

This enabled the whole nation to cross the river quickly when their enemies were not expecting it![4]

The Lord was with them, his provision and protection was a reminder of who he was and whose they were.

This was represented in the presence of the Ark of the Covenant.

In ancient times the deity of the nation was seen as the one who fought and led them into battle.

Every war was a Holy war.

But for Israel there was a notable difference.

Not only was the Lord present with his people as he dwelt above the Ark of the Covenant.

He was also God over nature as he demonstrated through the Exodus and through the provision in the wilderness and now also through the entry to the Promised Land.

He had defeated the great international power of Egypt; he would also defeat the small Kingdoms of the land of Canaan.

No matter where Israel was she could depend on the Lord for deliverance.

But his presence, his provision and his protection required something of Israel.

The Lord would not help Israel automatically.

They had to identify themselves as his by their heartfelt obedience to his commands!

They had to identify themselves by following his chosen leaders.

They had to remember and retell his stories to each new generation.

He would not perform great miracles just because; He would perform great miracles because they were needed for a reason.

He would protect and provide for a people who remained focused on him[5]

Scene 3/ There is a danger that we will constantly look for some great experience as a sign of God’s provision for us; instead of looking to the physical memorials that he has already provided.

The miraculous should be expected but we need to accept that the miraculous is not necessary for us to remember God’s provison and protection in our lives.

So many people get discouraged because they are always chasing some great experience or another.

They are looking for this movement of God or that.

They chase after the celebrity figure, the miracle worker, the rock star Christian music figure.

They miss sight of the reminder of the Lord’s provision that is right in front of them.

When we look at Joshua 4:6-7 we come across an interesting structure in the original languages.

A structure which is not so evident in our English translations.

The reminder for Israel wasn’t just the experience and the stories that would be passed down; there was also a physical structure.

A tangible memorial.

A pile of rocks.

Chapter 4 repeats a lot of the content of Chapter 3.

That is always significant in Scripture.

It is making a point; this is important, pay attention.

Chapter 4 sets out for us in verses 6-7 why the stone memorial is important.

Chapter 4 repeats the explanation of the importance of the stones in verses 21-24.

Joshua 4:21–24 NLT

21 Then Joshua said to the Israelites, “In the future your children will ask, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 22 Then you can tell them, ‘This is where the Israelites crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 For the Lord your God dried up the river right before your eyes, and he kept it dry until you were all across, just as he did at the Red Sea when he dried it up until we had all crossed over. 24 He did this so all the nations of the earth might know that the Lord’s hand is powerful, and so you might fear the Lord your God forever.”

In the culture of ancient Israel there were a number of stone memorials at different places wherever there had been a dramatic encounter with God.

As people travelled throughout the land with their families, they were to use these places as a time of instruction to their families.

As they carried out the various festivals and days of remembrance they were to use these times to instruct their families.

Every year, every season, every community event had meaning.

In our culture we lack much of this “corporate remembrance”.

The closest we have is ANZAC Day.

That message is having a growing impact as it is retold with increased interest and focus.

Scene 4/ The reminder for the church of what the Lord has done and is continuing to do in us is communion.

Listen to these words of Jesus in Luke 22:14-20

Luke 22:14–20 NLT

14 When the time came, Jesus and the apostles sat down together at the table. 15 Jesus said, “I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. 16 For I tell you now that I won’t eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.” 17 Then he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. Then he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. 18 For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come.” 19 He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.

This is our memorial.

This is our reminder of God’s provision and protection.

The early church recognised the importance of remembering God’s provision.

The Apostle Paul spoke of it in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 NLT

23 For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread 24 and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.” 26 For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.

Let’s keep God’s provision constantly in our mind so that we will continually serve him.

We do not need to look for a warrior God to freeze our enemies with fear and give us a land.

Our hero won the victory through self-giving and suffering.

But we can learn from the story of Israel crossing the Jordan River.

We can understand what the true nature of the people of God is to be.

At any time in history, the people of God will continue to face opposition. [6]

We can be tempted to chase after other gods of pleasure, of comfort, or of popularity.

We are called again to confess that there is only one Lord of all the earth.

Let’s remind ourselves of God’s provision.

Jesus is our identity.

Jesus is our focus.

Let’s pay attention to Christ’s work, for that is where our provision & protection is found

[1]Pfeiffer, C. F. (1962). The Wycliffe Bible Commentary: Old Testament (Jos 4:19). Chicago: Moody Press. [2]Carson, D. A., France, R. T., Motyer, J. A., & Wenham, G. J. (Eds.). (1994). New Bible commentary: 21st century edition (4th ed., p. 240). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press. [3]Carson, D. A., France, R. T., Motyer, J. A., & Wenham, G. J. (Eds.). (1994). New Bible commentary: 21st century edition (4th ed., p. 240). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press. [4]Carson, D. A., France, R. T., Motyer, J. A., & Wenham, G. J. (Eds.). (1994). New Bible commentary: 21st century edition (4th ed., p. 241). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press. Also lists dates of blockage 1267, 1906, 11 July 1927 [5]Butler, T. C. (1998). Joshua (Vol. 7, p. 52). Dallas: Word, Incorporated. [6]Butler, T. C. (1998). Joshua (Vol. 7, p. 52). Dallas: Word, Incorporated.