Cross The River

Before this moment you just read about, where the Israelites crossed the Jordan, there was a man named Moses. He went to Pharaoh and demanded the Israelites be released from slavery. Pharaoh resisted; there was a struggle. But in the end, the Israelites followed Moses out of Egypt, intending to find God’s promised land for them. They then spent decades wandering around the wilderness until God raised up Caleb to provide a different report of Canaan. The only other spy who agreed with Caleb’s account was Joshua. He would go on to lead the Israelites into the promised land.

Joshua brought the people of God to the River Jordan, a massive, intimidating river. On the other side was the promised land, Canaan. At that moment, Israel was stuck in between. And they were tired. They’d been told about this promised land for so long, that it is as if a lot of them stopped believing that it was even possible.

When Joshua and Israel came to the River Jordan, Joshua was given a revelation to take the Ark of the Covenant, which housed the glory of God, and put it upon the shoulders of priests and walk it into the waters. Joshua knew that if they did this, the impossible would become possible. So they took the presence of God into the waters of impossibility. And the waters receded.

Friend, you’ve tried it every other way. But I dare you to take God's presence into your situation. I dare you to invite his presence into your marriage, into your addiction, right before you get ready to do that habit that you hate.

God’s presence used to be confined to the Ark of the Covenant, but today His presence is in us through His Spirit because of what Jesus did for us. Jesus takes us across our own River Jordans and into the true promised land. He sets us free forever.

At first, the Jordan was a river of impossibility for Joshua and Israel. But after they crossed over to the other side, Joshua had them put a stone there to remember what happened. The stone would remind future generations of what happened at the Jordan. The story of God’s power and faithfulness would be told.

It’s time to identify your River Jordan–that final boss in the game of life—and bring Jesus on board so that you can cross the river to renewal.

Question: What do you believe is your River Jordan— the thing in your life that seems insurmountable? The struggle, habit, sin, or mistake you feel you can never overcome or get through or grow beyond?