Donna Naborsyour Spiritual jewelry box.

 

Crossing Your Jordan

“the Lord of all the earth is crossing over before you” (Joshua 3:11).

When the Israelites left Egypt, God led them. He went before them in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire at night. They went into the wilderness and camped by the Red Sea. When Pharoah sent armies to bring them back, they were afraid and longed for their previous captivity versus the hardships that came with the promise of a new life. Then comes one of my favorite scriptures where Moses told the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord . . . The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”

When God parted the Red Sea, they walked on dry land across the sea. There was a wall of water on either side of them. Once they were safely across, the walls of water crashed over the Egyptians and destroyed them. Israel was safe on the other side. I think of this as a turning point of no going back now. The only options were to become stagnant or move forward.

Forty years later when they were finally allowed to enter the promised land, a new generation came to another obstacle of water, the Jordan River. As they prepared to cross over, Joshua told them, “the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is crossing over before you into the Jordan.” The waters in the river that came down from upstream stood still. So there was only a wall of water on one side and very far away (3:16). Scripture again says they walked across on dry land.

I always think of the movie, The Ten Commandments, with Charlton Heston playing Moses. As they crossed the Red Sea there was a mixed multitude with them including those that didn’t trust in God. I was always struck by a character in the movie that was a trouble maker and full of fear at the crossing. While God’s people walked across with what they had been given in obedience, the others went along with the crowd in fear. In the movie, this character rushed across.

Years later in the crossing of the Jordan, Joshua 4:10 says they hurried and crossed over. This wasn’t written necessarily as a negative but it reminded me of this movie character and got me thinking (uh-oh).

When God leads me somewhere or to do something and I cross that point of no going back, am I too anxious for the end result that I miss the journey? Am I rushing to get to the end so I don’t fail or have to experience setbacks? Am I moving forward because there is no other way or out of fear? OR am I trusting Him and the steps He has set before me?

I need to remember to be still for a moment and see the salvation of the Lord confident that He will fight for me. If I know this is the direction He wants me to go, then I need to remember that He is crossing before me. I must trust His leading.

Thought for the day: When God makes a way, do you confidently trust Him on the journey or run ahead in fear that the waves will crash over you at any moment?