We know the story of how God held back the waters of the Jordan River and allowed the Israelites to enter the Promised Land on dry ground. The waters of the Jordan were at flood stage. The people of Canaan thought they were safe behind the impassable boundary of the Jordan River. The Canaanites worshiped Baal – the god of rain and storm. In a certain sense, we might say that Canaan was being protected by their god.
But the one true God of Israel showed his power over Baal by holding back the waters.
The text explains these events in great detail. God said that “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…” (Josh. 3:13a). God did not hold back the waters until the priests put their foot in the water. And we know that the Jordan had steep embankments and dropped off very quickly. Can you image the anxiety of the priests as they started down the steep embankment toward the raging river? Perhaps they had argued that morning over who would be out front.
This is the nature of faith. It is proceeding when you don’t see the way. It is obeying, when it doesn’t seem like it is going to work out. Paul instructed Timothy to have this same mindset. Timothy was to pursue faith (1 Tim. 6:11). He was told to trust God. In contrast to the false teachers, Timothy was to trust God – regardless of his own intellect, desires or intuition.
We live in an age of pragmatism. We think we know a better way to navigate life. And too often we allow our emotions to dictate our behaviors. We follow God when it is easy and when it makes sense to us. But we deviate from the path when we can’t discern a good outcome. May God raise up a new generation that obey God and trust him with the outcome. May God help us boldly put our feet into the waters, trusting that he we will make a way through the raging river.
Pastor Jeff
Photo credit: https://pixabay.com/en/man-legs-feet-shoes-walking-male-872100/
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