Maybe I’m not giving it enough credit, but the barrier standing between Joshua and – the Jordan River – doesn’t seem all that imposing. The oceanic obstacle that Moses faced forty years earlier – the Red Sea – now there’s a world-class, sea-sized obstruction if there ever was one. The Red Sea was an impossibility. The Jordan, even at flood stage, was an inconvenience. Which is exactly how Joshua 3:1 presents it: Then Joshua rose early in the morning and they set out from Shittim. And they came to the Jordan, he and all the people of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over.
The Israelites, a people not unfamiliar with hand-wringing anxiety attacks, don’t appear anxious at all. No one is crying out in fear and trembling. They aren’t even complaining. They are just waiting for the next morning so they can get everyone across in broad daylight. Yet Joshua orders them to get ready because, “tomorrow, the Lord will do wonders among you.”
What gives?
I don’t want to minimize whatever struggle you are enduring right now – in fact, you may be standing on the shore of a Red Sea-sized catastrophe – but most of the time, most of the problems we face do not qualify as seismic. They are not earthquakes shaking the very foundations of our lives. They are not walls of water crashing down on top of us. They are more like dripping faucets. More like itchy shirt tags. Aggravations. Irritations. Inconveniences. That’s why I think Joshua, standing at the edge of the not-so-intimidating Jordan, is an important story.
We need God even in the minor moments. Even when we think we can handle things ourselves.
The Israelites could have made it across the Jordan just fine. They’d have gotten their robes a little wet. It would have taken longer. But they would have made it. And, if they were like I am, they would have looked back on their accomplishment with pride. Pride quickly metastasizes into arrogance. And arrogance goes before a fall.
If the only time we call on God is when we face something we cannot handle, then prayer becomes a spiritual 911 call – the number we punch only in extreme emergencies. God becomes not so much a first responder, but a last resort. An afterthought. And, to mix the metaphors, when we leave God on the bench, we miss some of His best blessings.
Not every miracle in the Bible was given by God in response to a major crisis. They all had a practical, personal purpose, but they weren’t all about raising the dead, delivering the demon possessed or healing disease. Elijah made an ax head float. How big a deal is a rusty ax head? Jesus walked on water. He could have gone around or taken a boat. The risen Christ even walked through walls when he could have used the door. What I’m suggesting is that God doesn’t need a crisis to do something spectacular in your life. If we don’t include God in the little things, there’s no telling what kind of fireworks we are going to miss!
Besides, one of these days you and I are going to come up against something we cannot handle on our own. If we have not learned to trust God in the little things, we will lack the spiritual muscle memory to trust Him when the Big One hits. Turning to God when you face your Jordan Rivers prepares you to totally rely on Him when you come to your Red Seas.
Well said, Jody! Love the last sentence in particular. May have to steal that one from you, with appropriate credit, of course :-). (“Credit for the steal”–are we talking basketball or baseball? And is it actually stealing if you give credit. Hmmm…)
Thanks for shaking up my thinking!
Jody So True, I don’t have A choice but I remember God is ALWAYS in charge, Thanks for your time ,along with Lisa for your sending this to all who are fortunate enough to receive your blogs. in His name Terry
This is a practical reminder for an essential exercise in well-being. It’s amazing how turning-it-over-to-God and learning to really trust him in our “every day lives” gives us peace, joy, and unexpected occasions in which we clearly see him in action, which results in less stress and better mental health. Then, when the going gets really tough, we know where to find him and how to trust him because we already practiced!