Daily Readings - Thu Aug 17 2017
Joshua
7And the LORD said to Joshua, "Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses.8Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: 'When you reach the edge of the Jordan's waters, go and stand in the river.'"9Joshua said to the Israelites, "Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God.10This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites.11See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you.13And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the LORD -the Lord of all the earth-set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap."14So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them.15Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water's edge,16the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea ) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho.17The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.
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.