For the past several days we have been talking about the
“Word of Faith” that was share with Joshua, the leaders, and the people of
Israel as they faced their first major obstacle between them and the Promise
Land, where they could claim their inheritance. They needed a message and a
miracle, and the LORD was ready with both! Today, I want to challenge you to
take the “Step of Faith” that must be taken before you can see the “wonders”
and miracles that you will experience as you fulfil God’s will, plan, and
purpose for your life!
During most of the year, the Jordan River was about a
hundred feet wide; but at the spring flood season, the river overflowed its
banks and became a mile wide. As soon as the priests bearing the Ark put their
feet into the river, the water stopped flowing and stood like a wall about
twenty miles away upstream, near a city called Adam. It was a miracle of God in
response to the faith of the people.
Unless we step out by faith (Joshua 3:3, 15-16) and
"get our feet wet," we're not likely to make much progress in living
for Christ and serving Him. Each step that the priests took opened the water
before them until they were standing in the midst of the river on dry ground.
They stood there as the people passed by; and when the whole nation had
crossed, the priests walked to the shore and the flow of the water resumed.
When God opened the Red Sea, He used a strong wind that
blew the whole night before (Ex. 14:21-22). This was not an accident, for the
wind was the blast of God's nostrils (15:8). When Moses lifted his rod, the
wind began to blow; and when he lowered the rod, the waters flowed back and
drowned the Egyptian army (14:26-28). When Israel crossed the Jordan River, it
was not the obedient arm of a leader that brought the miracle but the obedient
feet of the people. Unless we are willing to step out by faith and obey His
Word, God can never open the way for us.
When Peter saw Jesus walking on the water in the middle of
storm tossed sea, he asked Jesus to invite him to get out of the boat and walk
on the water to Him. Peter took the step of faith and one of the greatest
miracles in the New Testament took place as Peter walked on the water to Jesus!
We need to remember that the crossing of the Jordan River
is not a picture of the Christian dying and going to heaven, contrary to what
is said in some songs. The crossing of the Red Sea pictures the believer being
delivered from the bondage of sin, and the crossing of the Jordan River
pictures the believer claiming the inheritance in Jesus Christ. Joshua is a
type of Jesus Christ our Conqueror who leads us from day to day into the
inheritance He has planned for us.
What a tragedy it is when God's people fail to claim their
inheritance and wander aimlessly through life as Israel did in the wilderness.
The Book of Hebrews was written to challenge God's people to go on in spiritual
maturity and not go backward in unbelief. In Hebrews 3-4, the writer used
Israel's experience at Kadesh Barnea to warn foolish Christians not to come
short of all that God had planned for them. We never stand still in the
Christian life; we either move forward in faith or go backward in unbelief.
Today, it could be that the Lord is inviting you to join
Him out in the stormy sea of Christian service! You must take the step of faith
to get out of your secure and comfortable place of sitting on the pew, with all
your family and friends around you. It may be the Lord wants you to go to the
mission field to an unreached people group. Or now, to become a deacon or a
Sunday School teacher. Or to run for office in your community, your state, or
even on a national level. But the fear of the unknown, or even the known, is
keeping you in the boat or in the wilderness on the wrong side of the Jordan.
My friend, the step of faith will set you free to
experience the Lord and His miracles in wonderful ways!
God bless!
