Joshua 3, 4

Joshua 3
1 Then Joshua rose early in the morning and they set out from Shittim. And they came to the Jordan, he and all the people of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over. 2 At the end of three days the officers went through the camp 3 and commanded the people, "As soon as you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall set out from your place and follow it. 4 Yet there shall be a distance between you and it, about 2,000 cubits in length. Do not come near it, in order that you may know the way you shall go, for you have not passed this way before." 5 Then Joshua said to the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you." 6 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. 7 The LORD said to Joshua, "Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. 8 And as for you, command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, 'When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.'" 9 And Joshua said to the people of Israel, "Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God." 10 And Joshua said, "Here is how you shall know that the living God is among you and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Perizzites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, and the Jebusites. 11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is passing over before you into the Jordan. 12 Now therefore take twelve men from the tribes of Israel, from each tribe a man. 13 And when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap." 14 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, 15 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), 16 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. 17 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.

A few years back, I heard my pastor in Boone speak about this passage. It was powerful. So powerful. He encouraged us to close our eyes and put ourselves in the place of these men and women. All of the people were sleeping in their beds the night before - knowing that the next day they were to cross the mighty Jordan River. You know what I heard? I heard rushing water; I heard the roaring rapids and imagined the depth of the center of the river. The river was high in this time, overflowing its banks because of the season. That's a lot of water to cross! And God was going to get me through it??? YES.

This passage is one of my favorites. All we have to do is FACE OUR FEARS. Face hardship, just dip our toe into something overwhelming, something that may seem impossible. Because to God, nothing is impossible. He can DO it. He wants to do it in our lives! All these priests had to do was dip their toes in the water, just give it a try, trusting in what they could not had never had seen before. And up the waters rose. They crossed on dry ground.

The thing I keep thinking is "We've heard this story before." Yes, in Moses' day, the waters of the Red Sea were parted in order that the Israelites might pass in front of their enemy on dry ground. Did they die? Did anyone drown? Not a single one but their enemy. And again here...the waters certainly rose a second time, in a new place, in a new situation. And the people once again crossed on dry ground. Not one lost his life. What makes us think that this time in life is any different? Why are we so afraid of trials, of persecutions, of suffering, of pain? Why do we think it's the end of all? Why do I keep my eyes so focused on the overwhelming reality of the situation and forget - FORGET - that God has made the waters rise before? He will certainly do it again!!! This passage gives me great confidence that even though it's not a physical river or sea that we face, these very real situations and experiences and calling we face - no matter how overwhelming or scary or painful they may seem - God intends for us to dip our feet into it. He desires we step fully off the safety of the bank and walk into the water. Our feet may be wet at first, but we will certainly walk through on dry ground.

Joshua 4:20-24
20 And those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up at Gilgal. 21 And he said to the people of Israel, "When your children ask their fathers in times to come, 'What do these stones mean?' 22 then you shall let your children know, 'Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.' 23 For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, 24 so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever."

What is the purpose of walking through deep waters in life? I believe it is so we leave a legacy...not a legacy of stories of trials we've overcome, but trials God has taken us through in order to display His mighty power and His name unto the world.

I have a newfound passion and desire - I want to seek out the members of my family. Those whom I know are still alive - my grandparents, my great aunts, my parents, my cousins...and I want to make a record of the hardships they faced and the story of walking through them on dry ground. I want to make a legacy of how God has worked in my family. Even though these stories may come out of the mouths of unbelieving family members, I know that it has been GOD in my family. What a beautiful thing! And I dont want to miss it. The days are getting shorter, lives are too precious not to ask these questions now. I want to set up my own 12 stones and may they be a legacy and a testimony for my children, for my neighbors, for anyone who comes by and asks "What do these stones mean?" To God Almighty be glory and praise and honor.