Joshua 3:1-5 - Early in the morning Joshua and all the
Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan,
where they camped before crossing over. After three days the officers went throughout the camp, giving orders to the
people: "When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD
your God, and the priests, who are Levites,
carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. Then you will know which way to go, since you
have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about a thousand yards between you and the ark; do not go near it." Joshua told the people, "Consecrate
yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you."
Sounds easy…get up early and
travel as close to the river Jordan as you can safely camp…camp there three
days while God gives Joshua and all the leaders the details of how you are to cross the river….and follow the
holy Ark of the Covenant…God’s presence with the people of Israel… across the
river to the land God had promised them.
It was going to be such a special day that they were told to consecrate
themselves….to prepare for God’s great miracle to come.
But the people must have looked
wide eyed at the overflowing river Jordan.
It was Spring…and the river could have been over a mile wide from the
rain and snowmelt from mount Herman….it could have been up to 12 feet deep. They
had 3 days to watch the swift river flow and think on the only three directives
Joshua had given them ‘follow the Ark’… ‘stay
at least ½ mile away from it’….and ‘consecrate yourself to see a great miracle
from God.’
I can just imagine the oohs and
ahhs as the Priests carrying the Ark stepped toward the river. What a
combination of thrill and awe must have struck them to see the river stop
flowing before their eyes. They had
heard the great stories of how God parted the Red Sea for their ancestors…but
now they got to see God’s power with their own eyes…and process his greatness
to a whole new level in their hearts. It must have been something to
behold.
We are talking 2 million people
here…crossing a river…damned by God himself at a town upstream. It must have taken days…and we are not told
that those priests swapped off the task of carrying the ark. For as long as the ark stood in the middle of
the river…the waters stayed blocked. All
I can say is …wow…unbelievable...unless you believe in the great God of heaven
and Earth...and his ability to do pretty much anything he wants.
Father…I thank you for the
reminder that you have the power to do great things in our lives if we follow
your simple directions. Help me find the trust and faith to follow you wherever
you go…even into an overflowing river. Give
me the physical strength to carry your word as long as it takes to get the job
done…and let you guide me in all that I do. Forgive me Lord for the times that
I have been afraid to follow you…and help me from this day forward to listen
and focus and trust in the directions you give. Consecrate me Lord...so you can do great miracles in my life too. Amen.
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