Daily Readings - Thu Aug 17 2017
First Reading - Joshua 3.7-10a, 11, 13-17
Joshua
7And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.8And 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.9And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, Come hither, and hear the words of the LORD your God.10And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites.11Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan.13And 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.14And 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;15And 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,)16That 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.17And 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.
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.