by Nick Miller

What are you willing to do to save the friends, the family, and the people around you?

In my studies this week, I began to look at the book of Joshua found in the Old Testament. It is an incredible book following the leadership journey of Joshua, Moses’ assistant and eventual replacement as leader over Israel.

Joshua begins after Moses is taken from Earth before reaching the promised land that was destined for the nation of Israel. Moses leads the nation to a place where they can see the promised land, and suddenly God takes him and Moses vanishes. In this moment, Joshua receives the call to leadership over the nation of Israel and has to continue into the promised land. In this journey, Israel is going to face hardships, but it all begins with crossing the river Jordan.

Joshua hears from the Lord that the nation is to cross the river, however, the water in front of them is dangerous:

Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. – Joshua 3:15

With the water overflowing, the river had become more difficult to cross over. In my mind, when I had read this before, this journey seemed like an easy task to accomplish. However, when thinking about it further, imagine thousands upon thousands of men, women, and children crossing a tumultuous river. Not only is it going to be difficult helping people across, they also had their belongings, their flocks, and their tents. This process, in light of the sheer mass of people and things to get across, seems impossible. However, God is going to make a way like He always does!

This is the important portion of this story. Joshua hears from God as to the process of crossing the Jordan. God’s specific direction to Joshua is to send the priests into the overflowing river carrying the Ark of the Covenant, the literal presence of God:

”Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.’” – Joshua 3:7-8

In the middle of the flooding season, the priests are commanded to step into the water. The only reason that this group would do this is the hope that God would do a miracle and lead the entire nation to the other side. What would your thoughts be as the priest in this situation? This is a confusing and terrifying situation that I wouldn’t want to be in. However, we have to realize that if the priests do not take the step, the entire nation will not be able to cross. With that being said, the priests take action, carry the Ark, and step into the tumultuous water.

As they step in, the miracle happens, and God splits the river so that the entire nation can reach the other side:

”The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.” – Joshua 3:11-17

I think that we can learn amazing things from the courage and faith of the priests. When we walk with faith into the water, not only does the river split and the miraculous happens, but others receive the heavenly benefits of our step! Only a few carried the presence of God, but an entire nation walked out on dry ground.

I want to be a man of faith that is always willing to walk into tumultuous situations, to see God do the impossible. With faith, our entire life can be filled with sea splitting moments. We can witness the power and faithfulness of God even in the difficult moments. However, these miracles aren’t just for us, but as the miracles happen around us others will begin to see how great He is!

What if your bold step could help others find freedom? What if your step into a “flooding” situation could result in the miracle that people need? What if the revival that God wants to start in your family, your workplace, and your friends starts with a little step… would you take it?

I want to encourage you this week to step up in faith, expecting that the miracles that follow will bring about freedom for everyone around you.

When you walk in, nations will walk out.

photo: unsplash.com