Crossing Over || Part 4
Crossing Over || Part 4, Day 3
Joshua 1:1-11 NKJV
After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying: “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, “Pass through the camp and command the people, saying, ‘Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you will cross over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the Lord your God is giving you to possess.’”
(Prepare)
Crossing over requires faith-infused preparation.
Joshua sends the officers to go through the camp and prepare the people to cross over the Jordan. On the outside looking in, this doesn’t seem like it would take much faith to tell people to prepare themselves.
However, you have to remember, they are preparing to cross over a river that they don’t know how to get across.
At this time, there is no word from the Lord on how they are going to cross over the Jordan River. The Bible tells us that the Jordan River would overflow its banks during that time of year. At this time, they don’t know exactly how they are going to cross over. All they have is a promise from the Lord that they would possess the land.
The children of Israel that died in the wilderness would not have prepared themselves. They would have called a meeting and complained to Moses about not having a way to cross over. However, the children of Israel 2.0 learned that complaining kept you away from God’s best. They learned that complaining and doubting caused you to eat manna casserole for 40 years.
The other thing they have learned is God will give you a picture of the destination, but He won’t tell you every step it takes to get there. Why? Because He wants us to use our faith! This is how you please Him.
Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
James 2:17-18, “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”
Pray with me…