So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.
Joshua 3:14-17
Joshua 3:14-17
...to proclaim good news to the poor
...to bind up the brokenhearted,
...to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
...to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
...to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
...to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
...the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
...a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
- Isaiah 61:1-3
Weeping may tarry for the night
but joy comes with the morning
- Psalm 30:5
You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,
To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever.
- Psalm 30:11-12
...to bind up the brokenhearted,
...to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
...to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
...to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
...to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
...the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
...a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
- Isaiah 61:1-3
Weeping may tarry for the night
but joy comes with the morning
- Psalm 30:5
You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,
To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever.
- Psalm 30:11-12
I have been going over this Joshua event the past days. It is harvest season and the river is at flood stage.
It is not a friendly, innocent-looking, "postcard pretty" picture.
This body of water is a real barrier between the Israelites and their promised land.
The book of Joshua makes this story look so easy. The priests step into the raging waters with the ark of the covenant, the waters part, and all the people cross over on dry land.
It is a mighty story of faith and obedience.
But it is one thing to be reading these words in the warmth and comfort of my bedroom, and it is another thing to be one of those Israelites waiting to see if the waters will indeed part, just as the Lord had said.
I get goose pimples just thinking about it.
There is something about raging waters that daunts me. I know climbing mountains is not exactly the easier option, but I'll choose a mountain anytime over crossing a mighty roaring river... on foot.
It must surely have taken a great amount of faith for the priests to be the first to step into the waters. I imagine that Joshua must have been at the very front, leading the people, then standing on the other side, waiting until every single one of them had crossed over.
What an awesome display of God's majestic power!
It was Joshua's defining moment... the first test of his leadership, and he passed it with shining colors.
God had ordained it to be the day of Joshua's being exalted in the sight of all, that they may know that just as God was with Moses, so He would be with Joshua.
The story never ceases to amaze me each time I read it.
And I know that in these last days, God is restoring the visible signs and the wonders...the tangible display of His power - that all the world may know... and believe.
And I do want to be an active participant in what He is doing...
When God seemed to instruct me to study the book of Joshua at the start of this year, my heart leaped. Yes, it was a new season... and as the first day of the new year was dawning, I knew there was a new assignment.
But now, thinking about the implications of crossing over a mighty river, I realize that the task ahead is indeed a God-sized one.
A few question go through my mind: Is my faith is enough? Will it sustain me for what is required?
I know I need spiritual food to feed and strengthen my faith for the journey ahead.
That is why I am immersing myself in the book of Joshua, and I must read this account over and over again, meditate on it, take hold of the promises - to build faith into my heart.
Friday was our last day at the Elijah House Level Two School of Prayer Ministry.
Time went by so quickly. Before I knew it, another two weeks had passed. And now the school is over; another chapter of my life has come to an end.
My schoolmates - Kaloi, Edna, Gwen, Trudi, and Tanya... the school facilitators - Ed, Becky and Char... as well as the teachers of the video school from Spokane... they were my fellow travelers on the Acacia Grove part of my journey.
God used them in this season to deposit something in my spirit.
The past two weeks, it seemed like I was on a fast track learning mode... absorbing everything, soaking up water like a huge sponge. I knew God was pointing His finger at many things, giving me opportunity to look inside the garden of my heart...
Take a look at what is there, overgrown bushes that need pruning... pull out the weeds that have taken over... seek out the dried out spots in need of fresh water... neglected spots ...
But it will take time to sort everything out. I am a thinker by nature. And thinkers are not born multi-taskers. I want to think things out... doing that slows me down in many ways, but that is how I am wired.
So I was truly grateful that the school did not come to a grinding, screeching, abrupt halt.
After lunch on Friday, we had a time for soaking prayer... an opportunity to welcome the Lord to speak personally to each one of us... and to let the new things sink in.
The lights were dimmed, and as beautiful worship music softly played in the background, Ed read the first few verses of Isaiah 61.
To proclaim good news... to bind up the brokenhearted ...to proclaim freedom and release ...to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor ...the day of vengeance of our God ...to comfort, to provide for those who grieve ...a crown of beauty instead of ashes ...the oil of joy instead of mourning ...a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair...
What a healing effect those words of Scripture had on me!
We sat there, inviting the presence of the Lord to come, as our facilitators went around praying gently for each one of us.
It was such a meaningful time of receiving words of blessing and affirmation.
As Virmi gently placed her hand on my back, listening to what the Lord wanted to say to me, I felt the presence of the Lord surrounding me. "God is blessing you with joy," she said. "For a season something had stopped your joy, now God wants you to know He is releasing it to you in a new way... a new measure of joy... a new hope... a new season..."
Virmi doesn't know much about me, so her words actually took me by surprise. At first I didn't know my joy had been stopped, but as soon as she released those words, my heart opened up and embraced the blessing... like a dried up garden soaking up fresh, healing waters.
After a few minutes of allowing the Lord to minister to me in the dried up places of my heart, Ed came near and also prayed for me. "God is delighted by the goodness of your heart, Lidj... so much goodness... and He's pouring in more. More of His goodness... more of His love... more of Him. He's turning your deserts into gardens, Lidj."
As I listened to the words that the Father was speaking through Ed, tears welled up in my eyes. How appropriate this blessing was. It was such an affirmation that God sees through me. Of course I knew He does... but to hear it spoken through another person...
Char came and spoke more words of blessing to my spirit, more words of confirmation were released: "God is bringing you into a new season... and He's building strength into your spirit... a fresh hope... a new calling..."
Well, the words could have very well been for somebody else, but at the moment I was hearing them, I knew God was saying something very special to me.
Yesterday my friend Trudi prayed for me. She said that as she was about to pray, she saw a picture of a river where the waters had parted, and I was crossing over to the other side. She felt God saying that it was safe for me to cross because He was in front of me, leading the way. Trudi didn't say much. She narrated to me what she saw, and then simply said, Father, confirm in her heart what you are doing.
Indeed, it is a new day dawning. The clouds of darkness are being pushed back by the light bursting through.
Thank You, dear Father, for the fresh infusion of new joy to strengthen me for the journey ahead.
When I think I’m going under, part the waters, Lord.
When I feel the waves around me, calm the sea.
When I cry for help, O hear me, Lord, and hold out Your hand.
Touch my life, still the raging storm in me.
Knowing You love me through the burden I must bear,
Hearing Your footsteps lets me know I’m in Your care,
And in the night of my life You bring the promise of day,
Here is my hand, show me the way.
Knowing You love me helps me face another day.
Hearing Your footsteps drives the clouds and fear away;
And in the tears of my life I see the sorrow You bore,
Here is my pain, heal it once more.
(from the song Part the Waters written by Charles F. Brown)
Part the Waters
