Daily Readings - Thu Aug 17 2017
Joshua
7The LORD said to Joshua, "Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.8And as for you, command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, 'When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.'"9And Joshua said to the people of Israel, "Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God."10And Joshua said, "Here is how you shall know that the living God is among you and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Perizzites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, and the Jebusites.11Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is passing over before you into the Jordan.13And when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap."14So 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,15and 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),16the 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.17Now 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.
Sermon
The passage from Joshua recounts the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River by the Israelites, a pivotal moment as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. The priests, carrying the Ark of the Covenant, step into the river, and the waters part, allowing the people to cross safely. This event is a testament to God's continued presence and power, reinforcing His covenant with the Israelites.
In context, this event occurs just before the conquest of Jericho, serving as a test of the Israelites' faith and trust in God. The parting of the Jordan is a significant miracle, reminiscent of the parting of the Red Sea, symbolizing God's ongoing providence and leadership. It underscores the importance of community faith, where the collective trust in God's plan is essential, with leaders like Joshua and the priests taking the first steps into the unknown.
In our daily lives, this story encourages us to embrace faith when facing uncertainties. Just as the Israelites had to step into the river before it parted, we must often take the first step without knowing the outcome. This is a call to trust in God's presence and provision, even in challenging times. The moral lesson here is clear: faith is not about having all the answers but about trusting in God's plan and taking that initial step with confidence. Let us move forward with faith, assured of God's faithfulness, just as the Israelites were.