Joshua 1:1-9 KJV Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying, 2 Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast. 5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. 6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. 7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. 8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. 9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Deuteronomy 1:1-8 KJV These be the words which Moses spake unto all Israel on this side Jordan in the wilderness, in the plain over against the Red sea, between Paran, and Tophel, and Laban, and Hazeroth, and Dizahab. 2 (There are eleven days' journey from Horeb by the way of mount Seir unto Kadeshbarnea.) 3 And it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spake unto the children of Israel, according unto all that the LORD had given him in commandment unto them; 4 After he had slain Sihon the king of the Amorites, which dwelt in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, which dwelt at Astaroth in Edrei: 5 On this side Jordan, in the land of Moab, began Moses to declare this law, saying, 6 The LORD our God spake unto us in Horeb, saying, Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount: 7 Turn you, and take your journey, and go to the mount of the Amorites, and unto all the places nigh thereunto, in the plain, in the hills, and in the vale, and in the south, and by the sea side, to the land of the Canaanites, and unto Lebanon, unto the great river, the river Euphrates. 8 Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them.
It was a land promised hundreds of years before, to Abraham, Isaac and then Jacob. The Children of Israel stood on the verge of fulfilling their call, yet failed because of an evil report. It is an all too tragic fact that many have drawn back at the very moment when they should have pushed on.
It makes no sense to swim halfway across the river then turn back because you are afraid you will not make it fully across!
It seemed the logical thing to do in enlightening Israel concerning the obstacles ahead and it was! It's always good to know what you have to face! The follow up speech however served to create a nation of craven cowards who were afraid to proceed, but rather wanted to go backwards. We will always be confronted with new challenges and the accompanying dangers as we move forward. But remember the old saying: Nothing ventured, nothing gained!
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31 KJV
Like I said before, It's always good to know what you have to face! But it is much more vital to know Who is on your side when you are facing the enemy! Crossing Jordan requires fortitude, focus and faith in God.
People who fail to move into new territory are condemned to spend the rest of their lives moving in endless non productive circles. They usually get the faithful entangled in their barren wasted years of wandering in circles until the cycle is broken.
People who fail to move onto new challenges, new commissions and new consecrations are condemned to the wilderness of cynical, cyclical and critical carping and complaining. They are not satisfied with the way things are but are never willing to step out into the deep waters of challenging undertakings because they are always citing previous tries and failures. They have toiled all night and caught nothing. It becomes senseless to expect anything now. It's past the time. I've tried and I've failed. How about trying again, this time with Jesus!? Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. 5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. Luke 5:4-5 KJV
Both Ruth and Orpah were made acquainted with the expected hardship they were traveling towards as they approached Jordan River. Orpah made what was probably deemed a sensible decision, and turned back to familiar territory and anonymity, forever a type of those who are content to remain unchallenged, uncaring, uncommitted, and unconsecrated! They remain the types who are content to lean on their own understanding and not trust in the Lord. Orpah's father-in-law Elimelech made that same logical and supposedly sound decision when he dragged his family with him to Moab some ten years before!
Nothing is wrong with formulating plans and making decisions, but it is important after all the planning, for the believer to go to God with this plan and let His Word judge it and then to stand on what God tells him to do...for better or worse! And I have news for you God will NEVER contradict His Word! Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV
Ruth trusted Yahweh "...your God will be my God...!" She crossed Jordan right into the eternal pages of the Redemption Story! She moved right into new territory and faced new challenges to rise up and become a famous mother in Israel and an ancestress of our Savior! But she had to cross Jordan!
Every pawn on the chessboard is a potential queen but it will never experience coronation until it leaves first base in a persistent forward movement through enemy territory! Each pawn will take a different route for each starts from a different square but its movement should ever be forward if it is to be promoted! It does not get to be queen until it reaches the final rank! Any permanent stop at any other rank is a failure to achieve its potential!
There are no two snowflakes alike and there have been multiplied billions of them in the course of time! Similarly there are no two persons alike not matter how sure you may be that they are. We are each different individuals with different levels of understanding and at different levels of development. We may not start out from the same place but we are surely heading towards the same place via the Cross! And God deals with you according to your build and make up for He knows you more than anyone else!
In crossing Jordan we are entering into new territory.
Hopping from one church to another is not moving to new territory and challenges. Oftentimes church hopping is simply the way a believer does an Orpah and get away from challenges. In new territory we face new challenges and we are confronted with new problems to which we must find solutions. In our own family we will find ourselves thus confronted sometimes daily. We do not run away from it all but we find solutions as we trust in God. What did God tell Joshua? Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Joshua 1:7-8 KJV
This is when spiritual growth occurs and where spiritual growth takes place. Faith is tried and tested and proven when it is worked! Without works it is dead! Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? James 2:18-20 KJV
In crossing Jordan we are facing new enemies.
They may appear new now but they were the same enemies that their fathers ran from about 40 years before. The enemy did not disappear but remained there larger than life and still a very formidable threat. We will find that we cannot run away from our problems. They will not go away. Running away only complicates things and delays the inevitable. God will bring you right back to the place where you ran even if He has to charter for you your own sea going vessel to do so! Ask Jonah! In God's school you do not graduate unless you have successfully completed the course. There is no entitlement here! What we need to remember however is that God has promised and HE does not lie!
There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. Joshua 1:5-6 KJV
In crossing Jordan the manna stops and we live off the land!
When we make that new commitment to God we will find that life in not the same. The manna has stopped. We have to live off the fruit of the land and therefore have to do some real working of the land!
And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho. And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the passover, unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the selfsame day. And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year. Joshua 5:10-12 KJV
Miracles do not make one mature and are not an indication of maturity. Israel experienced the miracle of manna day by day in the wilderness. All they had to do was pick it up as instructed. They had water miraculously and had the tangible visible presence of God in the camp. That did not mean they were mature or high up in God's estimation. Actually there were on a circular march of death due to disobedience and rebellion. In Canaan they had to plant in cooperation with God expecting an increase from Him. Today many are inclined to follow after and emphasize miracles as though it is a sign of maturity on Christ. Never in the pages of the gospels do we find Jesus emphasizing signs and miracles. Rather He continually exalted His Father and all signs and miracles served to show men the glory of the Father.
Of course miracles occurred in Canaan too! Look however at the way the miracles differed. And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. Exodus 14:21-22 KJV
And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap. And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people; And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,) That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho. And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan. Joshua 3:13-17 KJV
In the former the waters parted first before the people crossed. In the latter the waters parted only when the feet of the priests touched it in on obedience to God!
Jericho fell after a week of obedience to God’s command! It was now a case where man had more responsibility. When they exited Egypt it was without one sick or feeble among them as God unbidden, performed a major healing on the nation.
People fail to cross Jordan because they think too much of themselves.
People fail to cross Jordan because they are not keen to face the enemy.
People fail to cross Jordan because they are not willing to make the effort
People fail to cross Jordan because they contented with the status quo
In our daily lives we will be faced with new challenges, new issues, and new problems. It may seem daunting but when we realize that we are not alone in this but we have One who said "...I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. Hebrews 13:5-6 KJV
We should therefore look forward with confidence to new challenges, new planning, new advances, new directions, new goals, and it won’t be too long before we are rejoicing in new victories. When our church never move and never progress we need to examine how willing or reluctant we are to engage in new territories under the guidance of the Lord. It is foolish presumption to take it upon ourselves to give advice to God or to think we are more capable of determining what is best for us. No one can imagine trusting themselves to a blind chauffeur! "...Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? Luke 6:39 KJV
How much more foolish are we when we presume to know more than God who dwell in eternity where past and future are all present before Him? He sees the beginning and the ending as continuously present before Him.
Do not be satisfied or contented in the same territory or make tabernacles. And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them. 3 And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them. 4 And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus. 5 And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. 6 For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid. 7 And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. Mark 9:2-7 KJV
Many times we prefer that with which we are familiar and friendly. We tend to surround ourselves with a personal armor that will not be penetrated and therefore often shut the Lord out so He ends up outside our lives saying, Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20 KJV
It is imperative that we listen to the voice of God than follow the carnal advice of mere men. More often the carnal advice of men will distract us from the perfect will of God.
But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:7-14 KJV
