![]() After Elijah ascended, Elisha again parted the waters with Elijah's cloak so he could return to Israel. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, 16 the water from upstream stopped flowing. The water parted so that he and Elisha could cross. Before being taken up to heaven, Elijah struck the Jordan River water with his cloak. The river became a barrier of protection for David and his people. David was forewarned and crossed the Jordan with his people during the night. Absalom, David's rebellious son and the leader of Israel's army, schemed to kill King David and everyone who was loyal to him. The river became a barrier of protection for Elijah. After Elijah gave his prophecy, God told him to cross to the east side of the Jordan and hide from the king. Elijah warned King Ahab of Israel that there would be a drought in the land because of Israel's evil deeds. The Israelites wandered for forty years, and despite begging God to allow him to enter, Moses only viewed the Promised Land from a distance. As punishment for their lack of faith, God did not allow any Israelite over twenty years old to enter the Promised Land including Moses. The Israelites feared the people of Canaan. When they didn't, they had consequences to pay. In each case, it was important for God's people to listen to God's calling and stand on the right side of the river. God often called his followers to cross the Jordan as part of his divine plan. _ stepped out in faith.Several Bible stories involve the Jordan River. So today, remember the miracle of the crossing of the Jordan River. If you want to quit and need some encouragement, read my post When You Feel Like Quitting. If we give up now, we will miss when God comes through and does the impossible. We are holding our ground waiting for God to work a miracle in our lives and in the lives of those around us. Will we choose to step out in faith and wait for God to move? We can’t give in and throw in the towel because we get weary or frustrated. Sometimes God chooses people to stand and hold their ground for those who aren’t strong enough to do it themselves. Has God asked you to step into the water and hold your ground for somebody else? God asked the priests to hold their ground for everybody else. We are supposed to do it for others, not for ourselves. I think the craziest thought in all is that the priests had to step in and stay there for everybody else.Įven if we manage to step into overflowing waters and stay there, I think the last part does us in. Most of us can handle stepping into the water, but staying there? No thank you. ![]() Not only are we supposed to step in, but we are supposed to stay there and hold our ground. We step in and it’s wet and dirty and mucky. Sometimes God asks us to step into the overflowing waters. I read it once more and had to stop and think about it. Standing Firm and Holding Our GroundĪre there places where God asks us to stand firm and hold our ground? What would have happened if the priests decided it wasn’t worth the risk? Or what if they had grown tired of standing in the Jordan and decided to step out of the water before all the children of Israel got across? Scholars don’t know for certain how long it would have taken for everyone to get across, but some estimate it could have taken as long as 29 days!ĭid the priests take turns standing in the water? I’m not sure how it all worked out, but I do know it was a supernatural act of God that could only be accomplished by the complete obedience of His people. This miracle only happened because the priests did their part. I stopped and thought about those statements. ![]() God held back the waters as they remained steadfast. God asked Joshua and the priests to step in, to stand firm, to hold their ground. On that day there was partnership between God and man. They stood their ground until everyone was safe. Rebekah Lyons author of You Are Free writes these words about the account from Joshua 3. (Joshua 3:15,17) Standing Firm and Holding Our Ground The priests had to stand in the water until everyone had passed over.Īnd as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,)Īnd the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan. Once their feet stepped into the Jordan, the waters would part, and the Israelites could walk across on dry land. God gave instructions to Joshua to tell the priests to step into the river. At this time of year, the Jordan River was at it its highest, overflowing its banks. God came to Joshua and told him to prepare the people to cross the Jordan River. Joshua chapter 3 tells the story of the crossing of the Jordan River. ![]() Photo credit: Anastasia Taioglou The Crossing of the Jordan River
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |