GETTING STARTED
When I was a little girl, my small North Texas town experienced a 100-year flood. No one living there had ever seen anything like it. For two solid days, people had to boat, canoe, or helicopter from place to place in search of dry ground. After the floods abated, it was weeks before the ground began to show any signs of drying out. I remember asking my mom if my shoes would ever stop squeaking when I walked. She laughed, but the sad reality was that it would be a very long time before we would stand firm on dry ground.
- Have you ever experienced a flood or been thankful to be standing on dry ground? What was that time like for you?
READ THE WORD: JOSHUA 3:14-17 (ESV)
14 So when the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, 15 and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest), 16 the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho. 17 Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan.
English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
DIGGING DEEPER
- What action began the process that led to the “heaping up” of the Jordan River (vs. 15)?
- Verse 14 and the first half of verse 15 show that Joshua and the Israelites were following God’s previously stated instruction. The second half of verse 15, however, gives new information. What is the new information and what is the purpose of mentioning it?
- In verse 17, what word describes how the priests stood in the midst of the Jordan? Why could they stand that way?
- Are you currently standing firm on the safe, dry ground of God’s promises? Why or why not?
RESPOND TO GOD
In today’s passage, the Israelites did not proceed hesitantly; they didn’t slog their way to the other side through miry mud. They didn’t call out the Israeli corps of engineers to make sure a safe crossing was feasible. Rather, because they were obedient, because they dared to dip their feet in the brisk current at God’s instruction, the people of Israel stood firm and crossed into the Promised Land on dry ground. Stepping into the water during flood season was an act of faith. The Israelites believed God and his word. And God did what only he could.
- Ask God to reveal to you any place in your life where he is instructing you to “dip your feet into the water” in obedience to him.
- Pray for the strength to do it so that you can stand firmly on dry ground in your life today.