Get Your Feet Wet!
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A New Year Commitment
Read Joshua 3-4 n
Ever been afraid to get your feet wet? To take the plunge? You buy your first car, maybe new, but probably used. Were you amply prepared? You felt like you did your homework, but did you know everything you should know. Probably not, impossible, but you did your best; you even brought a car guy for insurance, that you trust. You pray to God that you do not get a lemon. Deal done …you take the plunge.
How about your first home. Was your heart beating harder and faster as you signed the papers. Did the home inspector see everything? Did we bargin a good price? Did we choose the right term, variable or fixed, can we live with the interest rate? Hopefully, we choose the right neighborhood, hope the neighbors are nice, it did have a fireplace, right? Deals done …you took the plunge.
That guy or girl asks you out for a date, do you say yes, or no? They seem nice, easy on the eyes, intelligent, they speak the language, so … you take the plunge.
Some decisions are big, some decisions not so big, but they all require one to commit and make a choice, a decision, a step of faith either in yourself, in someone else, in God, or for some people it may be your day, your sign, one’s belief in fate, or you just feel like rolling the dice. Every day requires you and I to get our feet wet and take a plunge. Some things work out, some things not so much; but how, what, why, or in whom, we base our decisions upon matters a great deal in determining if we sink or swim.
Some decisions are easy, some are hard, some are trivial, some are detramental, some are black and white, some are grey …it’s the grey areas and decisions that keep us up at nights. How do you decide between two good things, or two negative things, when those seemingly are the only options?
Andy Stanley, before his detour, wrote a solid book called ‘The Greatest Question Ever”. In it he helps the reader address the issue of what to do when we face a situation that is not about right or wrong, but instead about gray areas and/also, making decisions about two good things or two bad things. What is one to do? You seek wisdom, and that is what Andy’s question was designed to address.
The greatest queston ever is: What is the wise thing to do? Based on your past experiences, your future hopes and dreams, and your situation today, what is the wise thing to do?
Not all decisions or situations we face are about right or wrong, sometimes they are grey, the Bible may not address them directly, or even in-directly. For example, what should you have for breakfast today? What socks should you wear? Should you read the NIV translation or the ESV translation today? What job you should take considering they are equal in all things? Should you drive or walk? What stock should you invest in? Which Christian man or woman should you date, even marry, given they are of equally good and godly character?
The truth is we all have choices to make, and we want to make the best choice possible, that is God honoring, right, and wise. We can get paralysis by over analysis, but ultimately we have to take a step of faith, and make a choice, a decison and follow it through on whatever truth, facts, homework, persons, and wisdom we have relied upon. We have to get our feet wet and stand in/with our choice or decision.
Let me ask this question. Do you believe this statement?
For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.
How about this one?
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
And this one?
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.
And these?
I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.”
These are all promises and commands, some freely received promises, some require action of obedience and belief on our behalf to receive. They require us to step into the water and stand in belief and obedience.
Joshua, Israel, and the Jordan River (Joshua 3-4)
Moses is gone, Joshua has now been chosen, by the LORD God, to lead Israel into the promised land. A nation a million strong, leave Shittim and campout before the Jordan across from Jericho. The Israelites are commanded by Joshua, to follow the Ark of the Covenant into the Jordan River and cross. Here lies the decision, believe and follow, or possibly wander in the desert for another 40 years, as their fathers and grandfathers first did, when they doubted God’s provision of the promised land under Moses and the twelve spies (Numbers 13).
Four groups of people have a decision to make. The commanders, priests, and Israelites need to believe that Joshua is the LORD God’s appointed leader and has heard God, and heard Him right. Joshua, himself, has to believe that he heard God right, and the command to lead the people into the Jordan river to cross into the promised land at Jericho. The second part of the decision …obey the command and follow through.
Faith is to believe and obey in action, in spite of the consequence. What is it to have victory in life? According to God’s Word it is faith.
For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
The Israelites, commanders, priests, and even Joshua himself needed to have faith in God, that He would provide a way for them to cross into the promised land, in spite of what they would see before them. The same for the faithful of God today. In spite of what we see before us today, if we believe that God is for us, then who, or what, can stand against us?
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
Even though we may suffer today in trial and tribulation, do we ‘know that all things work together for good, for those who love God, and are called according to His purpose’ (Romans 8:28? Do we believe God’s Word in this, delievered to the apostle Paul, by the apostle Paul, to God’s people?
No doubt, God’s words to Joshua, come to mind, as he commands the commanders, priests, and all Israel to go into the water,
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Be strong and courageous in the LORD! Take Him at His Word and promise. Have faith, obey, and take action!
The Jordan River
Joshua 3:15 “ (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest),”
The Jordan River was at flood stage. What was 3-10 feet deep, was now over 150 feet deep. What was at one time 100 feet wide, overflows it’s banks. This travelers excursion he found the Jordan River to be 1.6 km wide, which is one mile. And 45.7 meters deep, which is 149.9 feet. That is the equivalent of 3/4 of a regulation size NHL hockey rink. That is 9 parking spaces stacked upon each other. That is 11/2 Boeing 737’s or half the Statue of Liberty in Manhattan, NY.
I hope you see that the Jordan River was nothing to scoff at. The Jordan River was beyond formiddable and the Israelites were not getting across without divine intervention. It is reported, according to Bibleplaces.com, that in 1864, an expert swimmer attempted to cross the Jordan at Jericho, but could not because it was too wide and too strong.
So what should you do when you are faced with an overwhelming situation or circumstance? When you do not know which way to go, because you have not been down this road before? Let God take the lead and believe.
The Ark of the Covenant
The Ark of the Covenant was “the throne of God” where His glory rested in the tabernacle (Ex 25:10-22) and He sat “enthroned between two cherubim” (Ps. 80:1). The Ark represented the presence of God, that God was with the people, and was to go before the people in their sojourns.
Whenever the ark set out, Moses would say, “Arise, O Lord, let your enemies be scattered, and your foes flee before you.”
Joshua commands the commanders to make ready the people. Once they see the ark of the covenant move to the front and break camp …follow likewise. The commanders believe Joshua and obey in action. The priest believe Joshua and obey in action by carrying the ark forward. All Israel believes Joshua and follows in obedience, but at a distance. Why? God is holy, and is to be treated so. He should be revered. He will not share His glory with another. He is not our ‘buddy’, He is God, Creator and sustainer of the universe. He is not a casual acquintance, but Life itself. Our world has lost any fear of God that they may have had, and I wonder if the Church has as well.
When Joshua commands the people to ‘sanctify themselves’(v.5) he is ordering them to make ready for a new beginning with God. It meant bathe, change your clothes, and devote yourselves wholly to the Lord (1 Cor 7:1-6). It is a symbolism of cleansing oneself of sin, defilement (Ps. 51:2, 7). God has to cleanse us before we can follow Him. That’s why Jesus had to give His life on the cross for us …to cleanse us from the defilement of sin. It can only be received if we believe and have faith in Him, by and through His grace (Jn 3:16-17).
Do we want God to work in our lives? Do you know Jesus? Have you believed in Him, received His gift of grace and love, through the cross? Only when we draw near to God, will God hear us …and we can hear Him.
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
Joshua second command to the people is for them to draw near to God. Why? So that they can hear Him.
Joshua then said to the Israelites, “Draw near and hear the words of the Lord your God.”
One can only hear God if you draw near to God, and that is only through belief and faith in Jesus Christ. Were the people beginning to grumble like their forefathers? They saw the Jordan river, they knew what they were facing, and death would surely result if Joshua was wrong. Why do people struggle to hear God today? Why is the church going off the rails and embracing and blessing same sex unions, and censoring it’s own people from using the terms ‘husband’ and ‘wife’ or ‘sister’ and ‘brother’ (Gateway Pundit Jan 3, 2024; Dec 18, 20, 2023)? Why are some denominations embracing the Woke Agenda, Critcal Race Theory, and Progressive Christianity? Because instead of drawing near to God, they are walking away from God and the Bible. How is faith actually built? By hearing and reading the Word of God (Rom 10:17).
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Are you struggling to hear God? Are you reading and hearing the Word of Christ? What I put in is what I will receive. You ignore your marriage, your spouse, your children what do you expect to happen? Why would it be any different with God? The union of the Church with Christ is symbolized and imageried by marriage. Unfaithfulness results in destruction, impurity, and distrust. Draw near to God in order to hear God …and you will know the way which you should go.
The people had never been this way before. They needed a guide, someone to lead. Why would they not trust God, who commanded through Joshua, and led them through the wilderness all the 40 years with every provision they needed. That’s true sustainability! After all, is God not the Lord of all the earth? Is He not “the living God”? Is He not able, and capable, to go where He wishes and pleases? Just look at how far and wide the Gospel of Jesus has spread today from it’s beginnings in Bethlehem! Their is no nation impervious to the Gospel and Kingdom of Jesus Christ! Why should our city, town, and province be any different? It should not, if we believe and obey …and stand in the river.
Standing in the River
And Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on before the people.” So they took up the ark of the covenant and went before the people.
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.
The levitical priests had the responsibility to bear the Ark of the Covenant into the river. They had the responsibility to walk into the water first and stand in the middle of the creekbed, while a million people crossed on dry ground. Could they do this on their own? Not a chance! They needed God to go before them and stand up the waters and cut the flow. So, then why, do we insist on doing things on our own, in our own strength and knowledge, when God knows the way we should go? Pride, selfishness, we really want and desire to be God, to be in control. Maybe, more likely, we have little or no faith in God to keep His promise to have good for us. If the earth is all God’s (Ex. 19:5), why do we limit Him to such a small space in our lives?
Some of you have been appointed to serve as the priests bearing the ark of the LORD before others. Are you doing so? People take their cues from you, because you seem to be one with God. Are we really? Are we drawing near to God, in order to hear God, and stand in the river, witnessing to the world of the glory of God? This is what the church is missing today: those who will bear the glory of God, stand in the tumult, and be faithful to Him.
Are we willing to get our feet wet this year and bear the glory of God and stand in the river, encouraging others to make the trek to true life? To face the trials and tribulations of this world with faith, actions, and obedience in God. If not you, who? If not now, when? The church needs your encouragement, The church needs your engagment. The church needs your courage. Draw near to God, stand in the river, and encourage others to faith in Christ.
Amen!