Thursdays with Joshua

Read Joshua 3:14-16 – So it was, when the people set out from their camp to cross over the Jordan, with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, and as those who bore the ark came to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests who bore the ark dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks during the whole time of harvest), that the waters which came down from upstream stood still, and rose in a heap very far away at Adam, the city that is beside Zaretan. So the waters that went down into the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, failed, and were cut off; and the people crossed over opposite Jericho. (NKJV)

In Moses’ generation, God rolled back the waters of the Red Sea with a powerful east wind that blew all night. Here, in Joshua’s day, God works a similar victory for Israel. When the priests’ feet touched the water, something happened upstream—the waters began “piling up”. What a sight that would have been! But what does that look like 18 miles downstream? The water would have slowly receded until dry land emerged. That’s right, no instant path emerged through the Jordan, but instead the people waited for the water to move. That’s often the way God works—He moves the obstacle slowly. He wants us to step into the challenge, but then wait until He clears the way. So there is faith when we step into the water, and there is faith as we wait for the challenge to recede. God will show His power for us, but we must be willing to show our faith in Him.

– Dr. Mike Clarensau serves as Senior Director of the Healthy Church Network of the Assemblies of God.