Jordan Miracles
“Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you” (Joshua 3:5)
The Jordan River flows from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea. When you step foot into the Jordan, you are wading in extra special waters where God performed some of his greatest miracles.
Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan, and afterwards, the Spirit of the Lord fell upon him, and God’s voice was heard audibly, saying, “This is my Son whom I love, with him I am well pleased.”
The commander of the King of Aram’s army, Naaman, was healed of leprosy in the Jordan River, after he dipped his body in the waters seven times.
However, today, we focus on a critical juncture in the Israelites’ quest to enter the Promised Land, with the Jordan River the only obstacle between the wilderness, and the land of milk and honey.
The LORD said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.’”
Joshua then told the Israelites that as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the LORD step foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and “stand in a heap.”
Wait a second!
God didn’t tell Joshua he would stop the flow of the Jordan. He just said to have the priests stand in it.
But Joshua read between the lines, because God promised he’d exalt him like he did Moses, and what did God do for Moses?
He parted the Red Sea.
And if he was going to exalt Joshua, like Moses, parting the Jordan River would be a small task compared to the Red Sea.
So Joshua’s assumed the best, and believed in God’s ability, remembering his great and awesome works from before. In fact, before God even gave Joshua this word, Joshua anticipated a miracle, telling the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you” (Joshua 3:5).
Joshua had confidence in God. He never underestimated his amazing abilities. He promised the Israelites a new home, and a river would not stop them from reaching their destination.
In our own lives, we also should have confidence in God and recall his hand in our lives. What he did before, he can do again. After all, he loves repeat performances!
So when the priests entered the Jordan River as instructed, it was no surprise when the water upstream stopped flowing, and the water flowing down to the Dead Sea was completely cut off. 40,000 crossed the Jordan that day, on dry land.
But here’s the other important fact about this miracle often missed in Joshua 4:18-19: “And the priests came up out of the river carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD. No sooner had they set their feet on the dry ground than the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and ran at flood stage as before.”
Wow! Not only did God cut off the flow of the Jordan River so the Israelites could cross, he did it at “flood stage.” I have to believe there were some in the group of 40,000 who might have experienced trepidation at the thought of crossing the Jordan’s floodwaters. It was bad enough at normal levels.
But dear friends, even when the floodwaters appear like they are going to overtake us, God knows how to part the waters, and gets us through it. It is just like God to take what seems impossible to us, allow it to be more impossible, then, performs the miracle. It gives him more glory, and we stand in awe.
What obstacle stands between you and victory? Is there something God promised you, but seems slow in coming?
Pray, and trust God to part the waters. Remind him that he did it before, and thank him for doing it again.
When all 40,000 of the Israelites crossed the Jordan, Joshua told the people he was leading to build a memorial with twelve stones, representing the tribes of Israel, to serve as reminder of what God did that day. He told them when their children ask them, “What do these stones mean? Tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord.” It was to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.
When God parts the floodwaters of our lives, and performs a miracle, it’s our obligation to share it with our children, and anyone who has ears to hear, because people need to hear that God is still in the miracle business.
What miracle do you need today? Before he will part the waters, we have to believe in advance that he can do it. Do you believe? Then get ready, for the Lord wants to do amazing things among you! (LBW)