One of my favorite narratives in the entire Bible is the description of Joshua leading the people of Israel to cross the Jordan River so that they could occupy the promise land. God had been patiently preparing the Israelites for decades to enter the promise land and the stage was set for a miracle to be treasured for generations.
Joshua prepared the people with the following instructions, “Purify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do great wonders among you” (Joshua 3:5 NLT). In spite the Jordan River being at flood stage, Joshua instructed the Jewish Priests to lead the way in crossing the river by carrying the Ark of the Covenant and to take a true step of faith into the river. The people were promised, “As soon as their feet touch the water, the flow of water will be cut off upstream, and the river will stand up like a wall” (Joshua 3:13 NLT).
Once the Israelites crossed (on dry ground) to the other side of the Jordan River, Joshua led the people to recognize that they had truly experienced a miracle of God. Joshua praised God with the following statement, “The Lord did this so all people would know he has great power and so you would always respect the Lord your God” (Joshua 4:24 NCV)
Here are some questions for each of us to ask ourselves: Is God longing to work miracles in my life? Is the Lord first calling me to purify my heart of self reliance, lack of faith, impure motives, or other sins that are standing in the way of Him being honored in my life? Is God calling me to take a step of faith that I can’t see the outcome prior to taking the first step? Am I willing to anticipate God working miracles in my life and in the life of the church?
Could it be that the Lord God is longing to work miraculously in our lives and yet He is waiting for us to take a step into a flooded river?
Corresponding Bible Reading: Joshua 3:1-6:27
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment