STRANGE TERRITORY
Joshua 3:1-4
The phrase ". . . for ye have not passed this way heretofore," always comes to mind at the beginning of a new year. 2007 is in the books. It is done, over, gone for ever. The only thing left to do is to look forward to 2008 and hopefully anticipate the new set of 365 (this year 366) opportunities. Yet as we have stepped into a new year, we all realize we have no idea what the year holds. We “have not passed this way heretofore.” We don’t get a practice run or a preview.
Israel had been in the wilderness for 40 years. Now they are about to cross over the Jordan River into the promised land. “…Ye have not passed this way heretofore” (v. 4). The Israelites were about to go into a new land— A land where they’ve never been.
They knew not what the future had hidden in the form of opposition; they knew not what forces where hiding behind the mountain; they couldn’t tell difficult the path through the mountains would be.
"for ye have not passed this way heretofore." Joshua’s officers were saying to the Israelites, "You’re about to take a journey to where you’ve never been before. You’re about to go down a road that is new to you. You’re about to travel through strange territory."
That, in principle, is exactly where you and I stand right now, as we embark upon a brand new year. We have no way of knowing what awaits us in 2008. We don’t know what gains or losses, or what joys or sorrows, are waiting for us.
You or I do not know whether death, disease, or disaster will come our way this year. You and I do not know what tests or trials we will face.
New challenges
New opportunities
New ministries
New additions to family
New jobs (employment)
New heartaches
New friends
I’m thankful that in his instructions to Joshua and the Israelites, God has given to all of us four sure, dependable guidelines for traveling in strange territory and doing so victoriously.
I. We must rely on God’s PRESENCE (vs. 3-4)
To the Israelites, the ark symbolized the presence of God. In that ark were the following items: First, the two tablets of stone on which the ten commandments had been written by the hand of God himself. The ten commandments testified to our need for a Savior, and then they served as a blueprint for the Christian life. Second, a supernaturally preserved pot of manna, reminded them that God is one who can satisfy. Jesus said later, in John 6:35, "I am the bread of life." Thirdly, Aaron’s budding rod, would remind the people that God is a miracle-working God. Nothing is impossible with him.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE ARK. There was a space between the ark and people (v. 4). Why the space? God wanted the ark to be clearly visible to everyone. Had there been no space between the ark and the people, those who followed closely behind it would obscure the view of the others—only those in the first few ranks had been able to behold it. But being borne by the priests half a mile ahead of the people, the ark would be visible to the whole multitude.
If the crowd followed too closely, only those in front
could see it. Every Israelite would end up following the person in front of him.
We are to Follow God!
That’s what you and I must do if we’re to make it victoriously through the unknown territory that lies before us in 2008. We must be determine to keep our spiritual eyes on Jesus, just as those Israelites kept their physical eyes on the ark. That’s the very best New Year’s resolution that you and I could possibly make.
First, be sure that you’ve repented of your sins and by faith have received him as your personal Lord and Savior. But then, having been saved, make certain that every day you reaffirm and reassert your allegiance to him. In other words, as a believer resolve to keep your focus on Jesus.
Don’t focus on on your job, your hobby, your recreation, not even your family, as important as they are, but Jesus.
Several decades ago a Methodist minister, Harold Bosley, told a story from his student days at the University of Chicago in the 1930s. He and some fellow students went to a conference that was being held at a large black church on the north side of Chicago. The conference featured a panel of four speakers who were discussing how to deal with the problems of life. One of the speakers was the attorney, Clarence Darrow, who had gained prominence as the defense lawyer in the famous Scopes trial in Dayton, Tennessee.
Those were the dark, difficult days of the Great Depression in America. People were in desperate need, but couldn’t find jobs, and there was despair throughout the land--but, of all people, the blacks of Chicago seemed to be suffering even more than others. When Clarence Darrow rose to speak, he began to talk about those issues, and the hard times that the blacks were experiencing. In the course of his remarks he said, "But, I don’t understand it. You sing such great music. I have heard you singing here today. Amid all the woes of life, how can you sing? What in the world do you have to sing about in the face of all you’re going through?"
He intended that as a rhetorical question, not expecting anyone to answer, but quick as a flash a woman stood up right in front of him and said, "Why do we sing? What do we have to sing about? We have Jesus to sing about!" - and all over the congregation people shouted, "Amen! Amen!"Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in his wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of his glory and grace. Are you willing, right now, this very moment, to resolve to make Jesus the focal point of your life? If you’re not already saved, yield to Christ now in repentance and faith. If you’re already a Christian, resolve right now to rely upon His presence in 2008.
A consciousness of God’s presence will produce a life without fear and without dread.
II. We must reckon on God’s POWER (vs. 5, 15-17)
Three days they had encamped before the river Jordan. God wanted to grasp what they were up against.
Man’s extremity furnished the most suitable opportunity for God to display His power.
Would it not be better to wait until the river had subsided and the flood season was over? Would it not be bitter to wait until the might be able to wade thorough when the river was low?
God selected a month when conditions were such as to form the most suitable background for an glorious display of His power. He did not defer the crossing of the river until the end of summer, when it had been at its lowest, but chose the month when it was at its broadest and deepest, that His hand might be the more plainly seen.
Let the banks of Jordan be filled to the brim, filled till they rush over it, it is just as easy to Omnipotence to divide them and dry them up then, as it wold be if they were narrow, and shallow: it is all one unto the Lord.
However, here was a real test of FAITH to the priest. NO doubt that it seemed stupid to wade into the flooded Jordan. It was going to be have to be a STEP of faith! They proceeded to their utmost limit in the path of duty and then reckoned upon the omnipotent God to undertake for them.
God’s power is activated by the faith of the priests in God’s Word. God could have divided the Jordan without the priest, but the priest could not divide the waters without God.
As the consciousness of God’s presence produces a life without dread, so the comprehension of God’s power produces a life without dismay.
In 1939 the people of England were a troubled and fearful people. The Second World War was underway. Hitler had invaded Poland. It was obvious that he had other conquests in mind, as well--and the people of England were deeply disturbed over what might lie ahead. On Christmas Day that year, 1939, King George addressed the nation, and at the close of his speech quoted the words of an obscure Canadian woman named Minnie Louise Haskins. The little piece she wrote was entitled, "The Gate of the Year." Here is the excerpt that King George quoted to encourage his people: “And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: ‘Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.’ And he replied: ‘Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.’”
So, that’s my challenge to you - and to myself: Right now, right here, reckon on the hand of God. You have no need no fear of traveling in strange territory when your hand is in His.
III. We must rest on God’s PROVISION (v. 7).
Just as God was with the saints of old, He is with us today. God can still send revival; God can still save hardened sinners; God can still provide our needs; God can still mend broken homes.
God has not grown weaker over the years. His power has not diminished at all. It is our faith that has become weaker.
“As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee. ” He has not changed. As He was in 2007, so will He be in 2008!
Learn to live on His provisions! God Knows perfectly well what we need even before we ask.
A. He will SUPPLY!
B. He will SUSTAIN!
C. He will STRENGTHEN!
“He will without fail.”
IV. We must respect God’s PRECEPTS (V. 8)
His precepts maybe rejected by the Supreme Court, but that does not do away with what God Has said in His book.
I think it is worth our attention to note here that the people were commanded to follow the priests as far as they carried the ark, but no farther, and God’s children today are responsible to heed and obey His servants (Heb. 13:7, 17) only while they set forth and honor Him of whom the ark was a figure.
There must be unquestioning submission to His Word. It is to the God of the Word and the Word of God that were owe our allegiance.
We must not spend out time looking for loopholes.
Comedian W. C. Fields could make audiences roar with laughter, yet he himself was chronically unhappy. Religion apparently played no part in his life. But it’s been said that as he faced the possibility of dying, he started to devote time to reading the Bible. When he was asked about his new interest in Scripture, Fields, always the comedian, replied, "I’m looking for loopholes, my friend. Looking for loopholes."
God means what He says and says what He means.
The command was stated exactly as it was meant. There was no room for interpretation or discussion. God meant what He said. God knows what He is saying.
Some of the Lord’s commandments present less difficulty than others, for some are embodied in the laws of our land and respected by all decent people; however, there are others of His precepts which are most trying to flesh and which are scoffed at by the unregenerate. Nevertheless, our course is clear: there can be no picking and choosing — "whatsoever He saith unto you, do" (John 2:5).
Life would be so much simpler and richer if we would just do what God says.
Psalm 119:128 “Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right.”
A tourist once approached a sign that read, "ROAD
CLOSED. Do not enter." However, the road ahead looked
good, so the tourist ignored it.
A few miles down the road the came to a bridge
that had collapsed. He turned around and retracted the route.
When he came back to the sign that he had ignored, someone
had written on this side, "Welcome back, stupid."
Don’t spend your time looking for loopholes in what God says. God means what He says and says what He means.
"And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan, " (8) What a testing of their faith and obedience was that! The swollen river before them, and they are ordered to advance unto the very edge thereof, yea, to stand still in it! How senseless such a procedure unto carnal reason, but God said it!.
A. It was a BOLD STEP of faith (15)
B. It was a BOLD STAND of faith (17)
What a test of the priests’ faith and obedience was this! —It was a much more severe one than that required of them in verse 8. There they were only bidden to step into the brink of the water, which at most occasioned but a temporary inconvenience. However, they were asked to do it before any miracle was wrought. It called for unquestioning, submission to the Divine will. But now they were required to remain stationary in the center of the river bed, which to sight was a most perilous situation—with the great mass of the higher waters liable to suddenly rush down and engulf them. But there they patiently abode, for it must have taken many hours for such a huge multitude to pass over on foot. The Lord fully vindicated the priests’ obedience, holding back the mighty torrent until after they too had crossed to the other side; thereby denoting that the same power which divided the waters kept them suspended.
Conclusion
The Israelites were going into strange territory just as we are in this new year.
Israel had to trust what God said to get them there. So do we!
Perhaps God is BESEECHING you to do something in 2008 you have never done before:
Get saved
Get baptized
Answer the call to full-time ministry.
Enroll in Bible College
Start tithing
Begin witnessing and soul winning.
Teach Sunday School
Read the Bible through
While we make God’s precepts our standard, His promises our stay, and His power our strength, and His presence our sufficiency, we need not dread the strange territory.
