And when those who carried the ark came into the Jordan, and the feet of the priests carrying the ark were dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks all the days of harvest), the waters which were flowing down from above stood and rose up in one heap….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. 

Joshua 3:15-17, NASB

The Lord had spoken to Joshua and His command had been clear: the Ark of the Covenant was to be carried across the Jordan River. Not only was it to be carried, but the priests who carried the Ark were to stand still in the middle of the river. That’s not a big deal if we are talking about a small stream where the water is no more than a peaceful trickle, but this was no small stream. There was no trickling. In fact, the river was flooded. That changes things a bit, doesn’t it? It requires a bit more trust. OK, a lot more trust.

The Ark contained the stone tablets on which the Ten Commandments had been written. To say it was a treasured possession would be a gross understatement. Yet when the Lord told them to pack up the Ark and cross the overflowing river, they went. It wasn’t until the soles of their feet rested in the waters that the flow was cut off and dry land appeared.

I love it when God shows up and shows off, don’t you?

Imagine what would have happened if the Israelites had refused to trust God with the Ark and hadn’t crossed the river? What if they had waited for the river to stop flowing first? I guess they’d still be waiting. Thankfully, they were faithful and obedient.

We all have things we value that can prevent us from stepping out in faith and following God’s call for our lives, to bring us to the Promised Land the Lord has for us.

Maybe it’s our career or our home? The Lord has told us it’s time to move on, but there are too many unknowns. The new job pays less, comforts may be lost, and relationships left behind, so we stay where we are.

Maybe the Lord has stirred your heart toward fulfilling the Great Commission and taking the gospel to the nations? The risks are too great and the unknowns are too many to count so we push those stirrings aside.

Your heart wants to leap at the chance to serve in an area of ministry? You feel ill-equipped and afraid of failure, so you never put yourself out there.

You’ve felt compelled to share your faith with your neighbor? You don’t know enough, your life is far from perfect, and they might think you’re weird. You’ll do it when you know more and if they initiate the conversation first.

Remember friend, God didn’t dry up the water until the priests placed their foot in the flood waters. What step is God asking you to take today?

Stepping in faith,

Traci