“Action Pattern for a Crossover People,” Joshua 3:5-17
Introduction
An old writer said that Faith and Reason may be compared to two travelers. Faith is like a man in full health, who can walk his twenty or thirty miles at a time without suffering. Reason is like a little child, who can only, with difficulty, accomplish three or four miles. “Well,” says the old writer, “on a given day Reason says to Faith, ‘O good Faith, let me walk with you.’ Faith replies, ‘O Reason, you could never walk with me!’ However, to try their paces, they set out together, but they soon find it hard to stay together.
When they come to a deep river, Reason says, ‘I can never ford this,’ but Faith wades through it singing. When they reach a lofty mountain, there is the same exclamation of despair; and in such cases, Faith, in order not to leave Reason behind, is obliged to carry him on his back. Oh, what luggage is Reason to Faith!”
Transition
We are living in challenging times and just as Joshua and the Israelites came to the Jordan River and trusted God to make a way for them to cross, so too, we have flooded rivers in our lives which need crossing. When circumstances in our lives reach flood stage, what are we to do? When it seems that there is no way across the treacherous waters of our situation, where are we to turn?
This morning we will take a look at what the Bible has to say about Joshua and the Israelites crossing over the Jordan River and how that applies to us. As we examine chapter three of the book of Joshua, we see a pattern emerging in the text that can be well applied in our lives individually as well as to us as a church.
We all have times in our lives that we must crossover a flooded river in our faith, in our families, in our finances, or any many other ways too numerous to list. When the rivers rage and the flood waters rise it is not simply enough to take action or make a plan based on our own insights and perceptions of what is right.
Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way that leads to death.” (NET) If we are to be a crossover people, a people who cross over the rivers of this life, rather than being swept away by every tide of every rushing stream, we must learn to apply God’s action plan for the victory in our lives; leaning on His provision, rather than upon our strength.
Today, we will take a look at God’s action pattern for a crossover people.
Exposition
Background. In today’s Scripture reading we see the Israelites standing at the gate to the Promised Land. They had followed Moses out of Egypt and, after wondering in the dessert for forty years, now stood at the edge of inheriting the promise that God had made to them. Moses had died without seeing the Promised Land and God had given that privilege to their new leader, Joshua.
The Nation of Israel had wondered in the desert for forty years. They had seen the miracles of God in the seven plagues which led to their being released by Pharaoh as well as the miracle of God parting the Red Sea in their flight from an angry Pharaohs army. Interestingly, modern archeology has confirmed much of the biblical historical accounts in regard to this period in Israel’s history.
In 1978, divers exploring a site in the Gulf of Aqaba, where Moses and the Israelites crossed, found the remains of what are very likely the armies of Pharaoh. Since that time, multiple dives have uncovered the gold that was used to house Egyptian chariot wheels, as well as human and horse bones at incredible depths.
God’s word is trustworthy. Modern archeology has done much to confirm ancient biblical accounts. The Bible is unlike so much shifting sand in the world. It is the trustworthy revelation of God to His people. It is confirmed in our hearts as we see the fruit of its activity in our lives and by archeology and science.
Follow the Lord. The first and perhaps most important step in God’s action plan for being a crossover people, is to follow the Lord. We are surrounded by land mines in this culture which drive a wedge between us and our ability to follow the Lord. We are attacked on this side by the lies of the modern world view.
Universalism is propounded by all quadrants of society be they popular media or otherwise. The lie of universalism is that all religious truth claims are of equal value. The collective modern worldview says that each person should follow their own heart, follow any wise teacher that comes along, or, and perhaps most disconcerting of all, it simply rejects the very notion of being led altogether.
That is not, however, what we learn from this most trustworthy of sources; the Bible. In verse 6 Joshua tells the priests to take up the Ark of the Covenant and go up ahead of the people. The Ark was to be carried by the Priests into the edge waters of the Jordan and the people were to follow behind as the Priests traveled across the place where the river was, on dry ground.
The Ark of the Covenant, as you’ll recall contained the Ten Commandments, a jar of mammon, and the staff of Aaron. The Ten Commandments were God’s holy decrees. The Jar of Mammon – the food which had fallen from heaven during the Israelites wanderings in the desert – represented God’s provision. Aaron’s staff, which had budded, as is recounted in Numbers 17 as a sign of the tribe of Levi being chosen by God for priesthood, represented the worship of God.
The Ark was ultimately a sign of the covenant between Yahweh and man. It represented, and continues to represent, the specific promises made by Elohim, which is the first name used for God in the Old Testament, in the Hebrew Tanakh. In traditional Hebraic thought, Elohim is the Name of God as the Creator and Judge of the universe. It is the name used of God in Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God [Elohim], the One creator, the One judge of the Universe.” (Paraphrased)
The Bible knows nothing of a Greek pantheon, the Hindu notion of a great myriad of gods, or of the modern worldview of one god having revealed Himself in all world religious traditions. If we are to follow the Lord, as Joshua followed the Lord, if we are to be a crossover people, as the Israelites were a crossover people, then it is imperative that we know who it is that we follow.
We, like they, follow Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who has revealed Himself in the person of Jesus Christ and has indwelt us with His Holy Spirit that we be enabled to follow Christ across the rivers of this life.
There is but one universal saving principal and that is the love of God in Christ.
Consecrate Yourselves. The second principal for being a crossover people is that we must consecrate ourselves, that is, set ourselves apart unto God. In verse 5 Joshua says, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.” You see, the biblical idea of consecration comes from the biblical idea of holiness.
Something which is holy is something which has been set apart or separated. Previously, in Exodus 19:15, this was done by all of Israel washing their garments and their bodies and abstaining from sexual activity for a time, as a way of showing their total devotion and consecration to the Lord as Moses climbed atop Mt. Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments.
We, like they, must consecrate ourselves to the Lord. This does not mean that we must become holy before we can cross the rivers of this life.
It does, however, mean that we must commit ourselves to seeking only after those things which are fitting to a follower of the Most High. When we truly dedicate ourselves to trusting God with our lives and following Him, we do not lose anything although we may, in a sense, lose some control, as we let go of our lives, placing them fully in God’s most capable hands, we lay down not only control, but worry, anxiety, and, among many other ills; fear.
Something which is consecrated is set apart for God and His service. “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among us.” (v5) Do you long to see God do amazing things among us? I do. Let us be a people earnestly devoted to the Lord in genuineness, in honest seeking of His will for us, and in honest service of one another and our community, in His name.
R. J. Stewart, the Scottish born author and composer, writes, “Holy has the same root as wholly, it means complete. A man is not complete in spiritual stature if all his mind, heart, soul, and strength are not given to God.”
Trust God with the Outcome. In order to live lives as crossover people, in order to live lives full of victory and free from worry, we must learn to trust God with the outcomes. We follow the Lord, dedicate ourselves to Him alone, and then we must do what is perhaps the most difficult for many of us; trust God in the circumstances rather than trusting ourselves.
I occurs to me that that this is the most difficult part of God’s action plan for being a crossover person and people because this is the part where we must let go and let God, this is where we set aside self and put on Christ, this is where, in order to see God at work in our lives, we place our complete trust in Him.
Remember, this was flood stage in the Jordan River. To accept the idea that God would stoop the flow of this river, which during that season, had grown from a fairly tranquil river to a mighty torrent, would have taken a great deal of faith. We all watched what the Illinois River became during flood stage only a matter of weeks ago. Though the Jordan is somewhat smaller a river, it is not difficult to imagine the faith necessary to trust God with the outcome of crossing this river.
In Joshua 1:19 the Lord says to Joshua, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (NIV). It was Palm Sunday, 1987, when a dear woman was waiting for service to conclude and looking forward to an afternoon when the entire family would enjoy a rare day together.
As the final song was beginning to flow from the congregation, she knew something was wrong. Pushing past the other family members, she made it as far as the outside steps. It was Tuesday when she awoke and found herself in the hospital with her family & Doctor. A visit to a neurologist was suggested.
The neurologist found an aneurysm in the major artery of the brain. No symptoms: no headaches, no blurred vision, no motor problems--never been in better health. Still young in years, still eating correctly, still exercising--yet within a touch of death. She had two choices: 1) live with the knowledge of the aneurysm and hope for the best; or 2) have brain surgery.
How does someone handle news like this? How would you handle it? How did our friend handle it? Where is God at a time like this? The tears came first, then the resolve to stay busy. So she went back to work and did not tell anyone about it. She discussed it only with family and a trusted physician. Her decision – surgery.
She began to review life and wonder why, and at the same time, be thankful for what God had already provided. Then the panic attack came. Would the surgery leave her paralyzed, blind, or even dead? All were possible. There were long talks with her husband far into the night – there was inability to sleep--it was real--it was happening and it was happening to her!
On one of those sleepless nights she walked downstairs, picked up her Bible, looked at a red ribbon imprinted with suggested topics: sorrow, worry, loneliness, courage – and picked courage. The passage was Joshua 1:9, and the words jumped out at her: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord Your God will be with you wherever you go.” Tearing a piece of paper from a note pad, she copied the verse and clasped it in her hand. The sense of panic then drained away.
The piece of paper remained with her during the days leading up to the day of the surgery. Surgery day found her with no fear of the surgery or the future.
The piece of paper remained in her right hand as she was moved into the operating room. The final exam by the attending nurses revealed the paper. The piece of paper with the verse had served its purpose. She told the nurse to throw it away. But in her beautiful wisdom, the nurse responded, “I have to take it now; but when you wake up, you will find it taped to your palm.”
Twenty-six hours later two smiling nurses appeared. “Did you find your verse?” Slowly she opened her fist. The tattered scrap was secured with surgical tape.
Reading it would not be possible for a long time, but the words are etched forever in her memory, “for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Only He can give us the courage to face life and death. Let us be moved to call upon His power and promises daily as we trust God with the outcome.
Conclusion
Just as God brought the Israelites into the Promised Land, making them a crossover people, so too, He has called us out of the darkness of the world to live lives full of victory, crossing over the flooded streams of this life.
As we consecrate ourselves to following and trusting in Him alone, He will lead us through the paths of this life’s journey. He already knows the way. We don’t have to be afraid of what may come around the corner because if we are following Him, we can trust Him with the outcome.
Psalms 20:1-9, “May the LORD answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion. May he remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings. Selah May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the LORD grant all your requests. Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed; he answers him from his holy heaven with the saving power of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm. O LORD, save the king! Answer us when we call!” (NIV)
Amen.
