Tag: Jordan River

Dry Ground

Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan

Joshua 3:14
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, 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), 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. 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.

Jeremiah 49:17
As when Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring cities were overthrown, says the Lord, no man shall dwell there, no man shall sojourn in her. Behold, like a lion coming up from the jungle of the Jordan against a perennial pasture, I will suddenly make him run away from her. And I will appoint over her whomever I choose. For who is like me? Who will summon me.

2 Kings 2:6
Then Elijah said to him, “Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on. Fifty men of the sons of the prophets also went and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. Then Elijah took his cloak and rolled it up and struck the water, and the water was parted to the one side and to the other, till the two of them could go over on dry ground.

 

I wonder if we truly believe this or consider it fiction.  The Jordan river in a time of over flowing it’s banks stops flowing and the people cross over on dry ground.  If we were to read this outside of knowledge of God we easily would say impossible and discount anyone who is trying to say it happened.  Yet this is recorded not once but multiple times where God has done this.  God, the creator of heaven and earth and all that is in it, is able to do so much more than this.  There is nothing impossible for Him.  So why is it we limit our thinking and belief on what He can do.  Scripture is clear that He can do more than we ask and much more than we can imagine.  He can touch the heart of those we think impossible to reach. He can create a new person out of the most vilest sinner.  He sends His holy spirit to indwell in those who seek Him and choose to serve and glorify Him.  This is much more of a mystery to me than stopping the Jordan river or Red Sea.  Take time to think about God and His awesome power and endless love for those who desire Him.

Greater and Mightier

Know therefore today that he who goes over before you as a consuming fire is the Lord your God.

Joshua 1:10
And Joshua commanded the officers of the people, “Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, ‘Prepare your provisions, for within three days you are to pass over this Jordan to go in to take possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving you to possess

Deuteronomy 9:1
“Hear, O Israel:you are to cross over the Jordan today, to go in to dispossess nations greater and mightier than you, cities great and fortified up to heaven, a people great and tall, the sons of the Anakim, whom you know, and of whom you have heard it said, ‘Who can stand before the sons of Anak? ’ Know therefore today that he who goes over before you as a consuming fire is the Lord your God. He will destroy them and subdue them before you. So you shall drive them out and make them perish quickly, as the Lord has promised you.
“Do not say in your heart, after the Lord your God has thrust them out before you, ‘It is because of my righteousness that the Lord has brought me in to possess this land,’ whereas it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is driving them out before you. Not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart are you going in to possess their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations the Lord your God is driving them out from before you, and that he may confirm the word that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
“Know, therefore, that the Lord your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stubborn people. Remember and do not forget how you provoked the Lord your God to wrath in the wilderness. From the day you came out of the land of Egypt until you came to this place, you have been rebellious against the Lord. Even at Horeb you provoked the Lord to wrath, and the Lord was so angry with you that he was ready to destroy you.

Deuteronomy 11:31
For you are to cross over the Jordan to go in to take possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving you. And when you possess it and live in it, you shall be careful to do all the statutes and the rules that I am setting before you today

 

A promise given many years before is coming to be realized.  The promised land.  A land where God has predetermined for His chosen people.  The worrisome part in this is that the land they are to go take is occupied by great warriors.  In fact when Moses sent out the 10 scouts to scout out the land 8 of the ten came back and said no way should we try to overtake this land and people. Two of them however gave a good report (Joshua and Caleb).  Joshua was Moses’s right arm and when Moses died Joshua was made leader of the people.  I think there are a couple of lessons to take from this today.  Take possession of a land controlled by greater and mightier nations”, and “know that He that goes before you as a consuming fire is the Lord”.  How many times are we facing things that seem greater and mightier than our abilities?  How many times do we take the same mindset as the “8” who feared what was before them?  Remember these people had spend day and night with God providing for them in the wilderness and yet they did not see God as able to work miracles. God has not changed He is still the author and creator of all there is and is still able to do more than we ask and much more than we can imagine.  So why do we limit our faith in what He can and will do?  Maybe we think we are not good enough, or that He is not able or willing to lead and help us.  No matter what giants greater and mightier than you, you are facing come to God knowing that He is more than able to lead you on a victorious path – for His honor and glory.