Following God's Will at times does not always make sense.
Stay in the river: Positive example of following God's guidance. The instructions do not make sense, key word: obedience.
Act 1: Taking the first step. The priests do not know the entire game plan in Joshua’s instructions. V4 They knew that they were to follow the ark which will go before them. But from V5 we learn that they do not know what is going to happen. The priests were simply told to stay in front of 2-3 million people, but what is going to be the way forward? It doesn't seem to make sense. Often we want 100% certainty that the proposal will be successful. We want to be certain before we move ahead. Ps 119:105 “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” A strong torch will be able to show the path ahead, but a lamp can only shine the next step.
Principle: God guides us enough to take the first step. one step one step at a
time. If priests had not put it in their hearts to obey God, they
would not have crossed the Jordan that day. If we do not put it in our heart to
be obedient, we will not follow God. We need to obey and take the first step.
Act 2: The Game-plan is out: The priests were to step into the river before the water will stop. It can look like rubbish at its best. They could be wondering, “Are you sure God? At this flood stage? It’s going to be very scary. What if I fall, we will slip and fall and lose the ark in the raging waters.” The last time they crossed any body of water was under Moses’ leadership. All that Moses had to do was to raise the rod only. The sea bed was dry when he led the people through it. The priests could have asked, “Why ask me to get wet first?” Human condition: we often think that we know best. They were able to take the second step.
Act 2: The Game-plan is out: The priests were to step into the river before the water will stop. It can look like rubbish at its best. They could be wondering, “Are you sure God? At this flood stage? It’s going to be very scary. What if I fall, we will slip and fall and lose the ark in the raging waters.” The last time they crossed any body of water was under Moses’ leadership. All that Moses had to do was to raise the rod only. The sea bed was dry when he led the people through it. The priests could have asked, “Why ask me to get wet first?” Human condition: we often think that we know best. They were able to take the second step.
The higher principle they held on to was this: in order to take the
second step is this: God's ways are higher than our ways. In obedience, they
took the second step. What is going to happen next?
Act 3: Stay in the river. Many times we fail to how much stress the priests had to face. From V15 we know that the water did stop. The water piled up a great distance away, at a place called Adam, 16 miles (i.e. 24 km) away. Assuming that the water moved at 10 miles per hour it will take about 2 hours for the water to stop flowing. For the priests, this means that they will have to stay in the water for 2 hours while the question continue to turn in their heads, “Is it going to stop flowing? Am I going to die?” The priests needed to be obedient to stay in the river.
Act 3: Stay in the river. Many times we fail to how much stress the priests had to face. From V15 we know that the water did stop. The water piled up a great distance away, at a place called Adam, 16 miles (i.e. 24 km) away. Assuming that the water moved at 10 miles per hour it will take about 2 hours for the water to stop flowing. For the priests, this means that they will have to stay in the water for 2 hours while the question continue to turn in their heads, “Is it going to stop flowing? Am I going to die?” The priests needed to be obedient to stay in the river.
Principle: God has done the miracle but we cannot feel it yet. Our
knowledge is limited. When we step out in faith, at times, it feels like God
has played us out. But obedience will reap a mind blowing blessing that has
already begun. But because they stood in the river long enough, they
experienced the promise of God.
Reflection Question: Have you ever walked and
stepped out in faith and obedience?
Illustration from Alice in Wonderland: Alice asked the Cheshire Cat for direction: “Which way are we to go from here?” His answer, “It depends a great deal on where you want to go.” Alice answered, “I don't care, as long as I go.” The Cat wisely said, “Then it doesn't matter, any direction will make sense.” Today many people continue to ask today, “Please tell me where we can get into the centre of God's will?” God does not serve our purpose, but when He brings us across the river, we will have a bigger vision of God.
Joshua had the people stack stones by the banks of the Jordan as a
constant reminder to them of who their God is. The Awesome One. When faced with
the seeming nonsense of God's guidance, we are not just to know the future but
to know the One who is in front of us, but for knowing God deeper. Reflection Questions:
1. If you do not have a direction in your life: learn to follow God.
2. If you have taken a bold step of faith but it appears that things are
not working out, and you begin to doubt that God has played a terrible prank on
you, it’s not strange. God has not abandoned us.
For Jesus, the river was the cross. When Christ was on the cross, he
felt abandoned by God. God seems to have turned his back on him, he felt
totally quiet, God silent, it is at the moment when things are the darkest, and
god seemed to have forsaken me, he was in the center of God’s will. Because
Christ stood there, we are able to enjoy immense blessing. The blessing has
already begun.
No comments:
Post a Comment