Getting our feet wet
And 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. –Joshua 3:13 (NIV)
People who have seen it tell me that the Jordan River at flood stage is an awesome sight. The mile wide, white-water torrent is a challenge to kayak; forget swimming or fording it. That image stokes my interest in the story of Joshua 3.
God could have stopped the river’s flow before any Israelite set foot onto a dry riverbed. He didn’t. God could also pave every path He has us walk. He doesn’t. Why? The command to step into the water, and the trust required to obey that command, was something Israel and her priests needed to see and experience. God already knew what He was going to do. He knew what the children of Israel were going to do. This exercise of their faith was for their benefit, not His.
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance of what we do not see. –Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
Why does the father encourage his child to jump off the side of the pool into his arms? The kid is obviously scared, apprehensive about the unknown. “What if Dad misses?” Ah, but Dad knows something the little one has yet to learn. He will indeed catch his child, who will have a blast, feel a sense of accomplishment, and make a memory. They’ll call Mom, and she’ll take a picture. Odds are Dad will sleep well that night, exhausted after his child has repeated the stunt several dozen times!
If I’m driving the family truckster somewhere we’ve never been, I’m engaged, attentive, making mental note of signs and landmarks. Next time I travel this way, it’ll be much easier. If I ride in the passenger seat? I’m not paying attention to the route; I’m checking out the scenery. Both experiences have value, but only one allows me to know better next time, or help the next guy. It’s one thing to be a spectator. It’s another to have a story to tell about what God did when I was obedient.
Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” –Mark 9:24 (NIV)
As we discussed these things in foxhole recently, one brother observed that, even when praying and obeying to the best of his ability, he often feels the need to have a contingency plan, just in case. He joked that if he had been part of the crew carrying the ark into the Jordan River, he might have stepped off the bank wearing a life vest and arm floaties! He wondered aloud if that constituted a lack of faith.
It’s noteworthy that Jesus healed the demon-possessed son of the man who uttered the words above from Mark chapter 9. Amazingly, He meets us where we are. I think that’s the idea behind “mustard-seed faith” (Matt.17:20, Luke17:6). As we exercise our faith, such as it is, it can grow. Another of the guys emphasized the importance of encouraging and looking out for one another. He said maybe there was a reason, other than logistics, why it took multiple priests to carry the ark into the river – once one started to move, they were all committed!
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. –Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)