Joshua 3 - Crossing into the Promised Land

It's time! It's been a loooong time in the desert. Can you relate? Do you sometimes feel like you are wandering around the desert waiting to enter your Promised Land? Take a minute and read Joshua 3, and then we'll look together at ways we might apply these verses.

There they were, God's chosen children, all set to cross the Jordan River. I have tried to imagine how they must have felt. Were they nervous and anxious? Excited and filled with anticipation? Like we feel at our wedding, a move, starting college, or the birth of a child, etc.

Many have referred to "Crossing the Jordan," as an expression used for passing from this present life to the next. I believe we can also relate it to our faith/love relationship with God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As we cross the Jordan, and are drawn into fullness of faith, we experience the end of life lived by human effort alone and into a life lived in trust and obedience through God's love, Jesus' reconciliation, and the fruit of the Holy Spirit. (Galatians 5:22)

God had promised this land to His children years before through Abraham. One of the greatest blessings of reading through the Bible is the many times we see evidence of fulfilled prophecy and the realization of God's promises. We are so blessed to know that God, the same yesterday, today, and forever, is still in the business of keeping His promises. So, for the next couple of weeks I want to take a look at some of the promises we can count on as we look at the Book of Joshua. This week . . .

The Promise of Preparation: What is the raging river in your life that is keeping you from crossing into your "Promised Land?" Have you felt trapped or comfortable in a desert experience?

Anytime I take my focus off the Lord. When I get stuck thinking about myself. When I selfishly want things my way. When I allow myself to be influenced by how things appear rather than the way they are . . . I am setting myself up to stay on the wrong side of the river. My faith is challenged and I am not living in the fullness of my Promised Land.

Think about two million people wandering together in the desert! Two million! Do you feel like it's hard enough to get a long with the handful of people who live with you? I can't imagine the mixing of all of those personalities, and the added emotion of the moment. Wow! How often do I allow the influence of others to prevent me from living in my Promised Land.

God repeatedly told Joshua, "Be strong and courageous! Don't tremble or be terrified, because the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Chapter 1:5,6,7,9, and 18.

When we are focused on the One who has the power to not only stop the flow of water in the river, but instantly dry the ground and keep it that way while 2,000,000 people cross . . . then we are prepared to follow Him into our Promised Land. God - Jehovah Nissi - God our Banner goes before us to prepare and lead the way. As He sent the leaders before the people carrying the Ark of the Covenant, reminding to remain back far enough to know the way to follow, He also leads us with the banner of Word and Sacrament. Our Lord faithfully guides us, and with eyes and hearts fixed on Him we too know the way to follow.

Let's take a look at some of the promises we have that remind us that the Lord prepares a way for us:

    Don't be troubled. Believe in God, and believe in me. My Father's house has many rooms. If that were not true, would I have told you that I'm going to prepare a place for you? If I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again. Then I will bring you into My presence so that you will be where I am. John 14:1-3 (GW)

We speak about the mystery of God's wisdom. It is a wisdom that has been hidden, which God had planned for our glory before the world began. Not one of the rulers of this world has known it. If they had, they wouldn't have crucified the Lord of glory. But as Scripture says; "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined the things that God has prepared for those who love him." 1 Corinthians 2:7-9 (GW)

Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my [brimming] cup runs over. Psalm 23:4-5 (AMP)

Sometimes my eyes are focused on the raging river that must be crossed, and I fail to cross out of fear. Do you ever find yourself paralyzed by fear of the future? Have you ever heard someone say, "Things might not be great at the moment, but at least I know what I'm up against?" As long as we keep our eyes on Jehovah Nissi, the One who goes before us and prepares our way, we have nothing to fear. Remember last week we looked at how He had gone before them. When Rahab said in Joshua 2:11When we heard about it, we lost heart. There was no courage left in any of us because of you. The Lord your God is the God of heaven and earth. God prepared the way!

The truth - we don't want to remain on the desert side of the river. We want to enter into our Promised Land. Why? What's there?

* In the Promised Land God alone is sovereign. If He is not on the throne of your life, you are not in  your Promised Land where we are blessed with every spiritual blessing.

* In the Promised Land Jesus love and forgiveness is in evidence in us and through us.

* In the Promised Land we experience the fruit of the Holy Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Please pray with me: Father, give us courage and strength. We trust your promise that You go before us as our Jehovah Nissi. You are our banner to follow. You promise to make our lives rich with every spiritual blessing. All that we need for today, for tomorrow, and for eternity. We thank You! We praise You! We glorify You! Forgive us for the many times our focus wanders, and fill us with all that we need to surrender our lives completely to Your care and keeping. Give us courage to step into the river, prepare the dry ground for our steps, and guide us to the other side. We thank You, for this is only possible by Your grace and mercy given in and through Jesus. Amen.