Through the Bible - Joshua 3-4, Luke 2:1-21
Good morning,
Today's Old Testament reading (above) is in Joshua 3 and 4. It is a powerful passage and message about the time when the Israelites finally crossed the Jordan and entered the promised land. The nation had gone through a lot over those 40 years of following God. Now, He would lead them across the river at flood stage to miraculously bring them to their longed for destination.
Pastor Bob spoke about this passage a few weeks ago in his sermon, pointing out, and emphasizing, that God was at work "upstream", holding back the waters, at the exact time that the Levites, carrying the ark stepped out into the waters.
Today's verses come from the end of chapter 4. The Israelites had been instructed to gather stones from the river to set up as a monument that they would remember what God had done for them.
Josh 4:23 for the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed over, 24 that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever." NKJV
When putting together our testimonies, we should remember and recall those spiritual markers in our lives and tell what God has done, that others may know the "hand of the Lord" in your life.
Four years ago this week, my son Jason was going in for a biopsy on the inoperable brain tumor that he has. We had no idea what the prognosis would be. It was another time of testing for our family, especially for Jason.
The tumor brought about a change in the course of his life. Looking back, we can see that God was working "upstream". The tumor and treatment brought him home to live with us for several months. At that time he met his future wife. God lead them to New York City where Jason is graduating from Union Seminary in May.
He just found out yesterday that he has been accepted into a doctoral program with a scholarship and stipend.
Jason still may have some other options but at least one door has opened. Another marker is being placed, but it wouldn't have come about if it hadn't been for the previous testing of faith.
I'd ask you to pray for Jason and upcoming decisions and also to praise God for what He has done for Jason.
Why not take some time today to look back on some of your "spiritual markers"? What has God done for you? How has the testing of your faith strengthened you?
In Christ,
Mike
Josh 4:8-5:1
8 And the children of Israel did so, just as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones from the midst of the Jordan, as the Lord had spoken to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them to the place where they lodged, and laid them down there. 9 Then Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests who bore the ark of the covenant stood; and they are there to this day.
10 So the priests who bore the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan until everything was finished that the Lord had commanded Joshua to speak to the people, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua; and the people hurried and crossed over. 11 Then it came to pass, when all the people had completely crossed over, that the ark of the Lord and the priests crossed over in the presence of the people. 12 And the men of Reuben, the men of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh crossed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses had spoken to them. 13 About forty thousand prepared for war crossed over before the Lord for battle, to the plains of Jericho. 14 On that day the Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they had feared Moses, all the days of his life.
15 Then the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying, 16 "Command the priests who bear the ark of the Testimony to come up from the Jordan." 17 Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, "Come up from the Jordan." 18 And it came to pass, when the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord had come from the midst of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet touched the dry land, that the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and overflowed all its banks as before.
19 Now the people came up from the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they camped in Gilgal on the east border of Jericho. 20 And those twelve stones which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up in Gilgal. 21 Then he spoke to the children of Israel, saying:"When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, 'What are these stones?' 22 then you shall let your children know, saying,'Israel crossed over this Jordan on dry land'; 23 for the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed over, 24 that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever."
NKJV
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