Seeing Beyond

Seeing beyond the rocks and water

The Book of Joshua is the 1st of 12 Hebrew books that tell of the rocky and erratic response of Israel to God's Love as they lived in the "promised land." In these writings we get a sense of ever increasing separation from God and of God's long suffering and Grace. This book takes it's name from Joshua, who was appointed by God to succeed Moses as leader of Israel. “Joshua” means “יהוה [the God] of Israel saves” or “the LORD is salvation.” God delivered Israel and brought them into the promised land with Joshua as the leader of the people.

Israel has been wandering for 40 years - they are finally brought to the door step of the promised land and there is a river. First - I've read experts claiming that the Jordan in this era was a raging river and I've heard experts say it was but a trickle. I suggest if it was the latter there would have been no need to stop and even mention the crossing; in its journey through the landscape of the eastern Mediterranean, Israel would have encountered and crossed without comment hundreds of brooks, burns and ditches. So something more is going on here. As recently as 100 years ago we see the Jordan as a river overflowing its banks! Also in a few verses beyond what we read today the Bible tells us that after Israel had crossed, "the water of the Jordan flowed again and returned to flood stage."

Second - there are many ways to cross a river. There are natural and man made fjords, bridges and dams - all quite useful and quite within the power and ability of the nation of Israel. But Israel uses none of these. Instead they humble themselves before God, they hear God, they obey God, they trust God, they mark what God had done and they worship God.

They humble themselves before God: “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” [consecrate is to set yourself aside or dedicate yourself for a purpose - in this case God's purpose]

They hear God: "command the priests who are carrying the ark of the covenant, saying, ‘When you come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan."... It shall come about when the soles of the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan will be cut off, and the waters which are flowing down from above will stand in one heap. (Joshua 3)

They obey God: So when the people set out from their tents to cross the Jordan with the priests carrying the ark of the covenant before the people, and when those who carried the ark came into the Jordan, and the feet of the priests carrying the ark were dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks all the days of harvest), the waters which were flowing down from above stood and rose up in one heap. (Joshua 3)

They trust God: So the people crossed...

They mark what God had done: "When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What are these stones?’ then you shall inform your children, saying, ‘Israel crossed this Jordan on dry ground.’ For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed, just as the Lord your God had done to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed" (Joshua 4)

They worship God: "that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, so that you may fear the Lord your God forever." (Joshua 4)

There are many ways to cross a river, just as there are many ways to engage every other challenge, trial and stress of life. We live in a fallen, distracted sin filled world - that's not the point - we will encounter the results of sin. The question for us again is how do we respond? Paul in his second letter to Corinth tells followers of God who are of this world, to look beyond our world to God. Do we behave as God's people and look beyond this world to Him or not? This in essence is the challenge of Lent - we are called to a hard long look at who we are and how we respond to God.

So, how do we respond to God? God seeks His people; He uses us to reveal the nearness of His Kingdom - are we His followers or not? Do we humble ourselves before God, do we hear God, do we obey God, do we trust God, do we mark what God has done and do we worship God in good times and in bad?