(Joshua 3:1-17) Then Joshua got up early in the morning; and he and all the sons of Israel set out from Shittim and came to the Jordan, and they spent the night there before they crossed. 2 Then at the end of three days the officers went through the midst of the camp; 3 and they commanded the people, saying, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God with the Levitical priests carrying it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it. 4 However, there shall be a distance between you and it of about two thousand cubits by measurement. Do not come near it, so that you may know the way by which 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 miracles among you.” 6 And Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, “Take up the ark of the covenant and cross over ahead of the people.” So they took up the ark of the covenant and went ahead of the people.
7 Now the Lord said to Joshua, “This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, so that they will know that just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you. 8 So you shall 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.’” 9 Then Joshua said to the sons of Israel, “Come here, and hear the words of the Lord your God.” 10 And Joshua said, “By this you will know that the living God is among you, and that He will assuredly drive out from you the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Hivite, the Perizzite, the Girgashite, the Amorite, and the Jebusite. 11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is crossing over ahead of you into the Jordan. 12 Now then, take for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one man for each tribe. 13 And it will 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, that is, the waters which are flowing down from above; and they will stand in one heap.”
14 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, 15 and when those who were carrying the ark came up to the Jordan and the feet of the priests carrying the ark stepped down into the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks all the days of harvest), 16 then the waters which were flowing down from above stood and rose up in one heap, a great distance away at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan; and those which were flowing down toward the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. So the people crossed opposite Jericho. 17 And the priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan while all Israel crossed on dry ground, until all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan.
TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:
The Lord is right here, among those who believe. As we are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, because of His power and grace, we have eternal security. He is always with us, and will never forsake us. It truly is a miracle that we can have this close, intimate relationship with God!
Our salvation is not the only miracle that God will work in our lives! As our loving heavenly Father, He wants us to go to Him for absolutely everything! It's interesting how we "limit" God n our own thinking, but He is able to do far more than we could ever imagine. And as Jesus Christ said, "You don't have because you don't ask." Just ask! The "worst thing" that could happen is that He says "no"...
BUT - because the Lord is all-knowing and wants the best for us, there will always be excellent reasons why He has said "no"... or "not yet". We can take comfort in knowing this! And when asking for something that is in His will, like having more wisdom, this prayer will be answered!!! We can have confidence in knowing this!
As well, God will go ahead of us in order to guide us into His perfect peace. But it takes our obedience, which is based on our trust in the Lord. Just as the priests had to take that first step into the water - and THEN - the waters parted as God promised! When we take each faithful step in God's will, God will "part the waters" for us! Even when there are various struggles in our lives, as we are obedient, God will make sure that we stand on solid ground, because He is our firm foundation.
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