Well, here we are! Week 3 of Backpacking Through Joshua.
Before I go any further, I feel the need to tell you that this week has been strange and very busy around these parts! I hope that some of my thoughts make sense but can't really guarantee that it will.
The Israelites are getting ready to cross the Jordan River. They have received specific instruction from God concerning this. God has told Joshua that “He is going to exalt him (Joshua) in the sight of all Israel so that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.”
And then, God does the wondrous, miraculous parting of the Jordan. He does this by “heaping” (love that word picture) the waters from the Jordan very far away. One additional resource I read said that the town (Adam) was roughly 12 miles away. This was done at the time of year (spring) when the Jordan was the highest.
In much the same way as He had with the Red Sea, God demonstrated His power, His majesty, and His leadership all for His glory. While Joshua was being set up as the leader of Israel, there was no way that this event could have been credited to him. This was, I think, so that the Israelites would see that their true leader was God.
Certainly, He was using Joshua just as He had used Moses. But, all of the “work” (the parting, the driving out of the other people in v. 10) was God's for God's glory.
God was gracious to the people of Israel in so many ways but one of the most beautiful ones to me in this passage (and in Exodus 14) was that He gave them a physical representation of His presence. In this case it was the Ark of the Covenant. In Exodus 14, it was the pillar of fire and the pillar of clouds. They were not alone. I think that maybe God knew it would be difficult for their finite minds to follow one they couldn't see.
I love that they, like us, are so precious to God that He gives us what we don't even know that we need.
I also love that God's leadership isn't dependent on my following. He will lead. But, in His grace and mercy, He melts my heart (to borrow that lovely phrase from Chapter 2) so that I want to follow Him. Do I always? No. Do I always do it “just right”? Absolutely not. But, again, God provides grace in the form of discipline, teaching, and forgiveness. How beautiful that is—and even more beautiful still is that fact that none of is me.
As for the questions this week, I honestly didn't get to those. I've had some things thrown at me this week that I'll fill you in on more later!
Right now, I'm off to enjoy some family time and some quality reading. (There are 2 books that I can't wait to tell you about but I want to finish them first!)
7 comments:
"God provides grace in the form of discipline, teaching, and forgiveness. How beautiful that is—and even more beautiful still is that fact that none of is me."
This is achingly beautiful to read and upon which to stand firm. Lovely.
BTW, lurve that you're an avid reader. Can't wait to get back on the reading horse more fully this year. Would love to have you stop by my reading blog at any time just to say hey. ;)
http://shhireading.blogspot.com
I love that you're a word picture girl like me. I was drawn to the word "heaping" in this chapter like I was attracted to "melting" in the previous one.
I'm going to have to check out your book list, too, because I think we may look for the same kind of writing in books!
Thanks for your insight, Dana!
"I love that they, like us, are so precious to God that He gives us what we don't even know that we need."
Oh, am I glad that is true! So happy you're on the trail with us, lady!
I read this post on Friday morning. Friday night Wes and I were reading 1 Chronicles. We came across 12:15 "These are the ones who crossed the Jordan in the first month when it was overflowing all its banks and they put to flight all those in the valleys, both to the east and to the west." I got so excited! I then began to tell Wes how you had talked about the Jordan being at its highest point during the spring months. Now, I know this isn't profound and has no spiritual implications at all - but I just wanted you to know that we talked about you last night. :-)
And I loved the thought of God melting your heart to be able to follow. Amazing concept. Great post!
I love that they, like us, are so precious to God that He gives us what we don't even know that we need.
I needed to read that today. Thanks!!
I'm sitting here sniffling and wiping tears as I just read your cancer story. Did you know I'm also a sarcoma survivor? Anyway, like you, I am just so grateful that God has made me who I am. Scars and all. =)
Just loving you more and more,
lisa
Post a Comment