Crossing Over | Joshua 4:1-9

Right now, you might be in a place where you’re standing in worry, fear and doubt. Those are very common emotions when you’re waiting on something. But today, I want to invite you to cross the bridge, cross over to trust, faith and peace. Leave fear and doubt and worry in the dust. How do we do it? How do we get to trust faith and peace? We remember God’s faithfulness to us in the past, and there’s one more important thing we praise the whole way. We’re going to step into the book of Joshua now and learn more about this.

Show Notes:

• Danny Gokey Song: Haven’t Seen It Yet
• Who Is Jesus? Let us introduce you!
• Have a prayer request? Leave it here.
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Transcription:

Once I crossed this canopy walkway deep in the forest of Ghana in Africa, and it was a terrifying experience. It was like about a thousand feet above the floor of the forest and you could hear animals making noises below, and the walkway you had was only maybe two feet across. My friend Shannon and I were absolutely terrified until we started praising the Lord. We sang a song called Shout to the Lord, and we went from fear to total peace. I’ll never be able to explain it as long as I live. And as terrifying as it was, it’s actually not as daunting as the bridge I’m going to invite you to cross with me today. Trust me, you and I are going to praise Jesus from one side to the other. We can do this, but first, let’s catch up with our friends, the Israelites who have just crossed the Jordan River on dry land. Yeah, our God does it again. There were so many things that happened from the moment God released his people from slavery in Egypt and brought them to the promised land. Crossing the Jordan was one step closer to the Lord, keeping his promise to them that he would take them to this land that was flowing with milk and honey. The Israelites waited for 40 years to make it to the Promised Land, and I know you’re waiting right now. I want you to know that the same God who opened the Jordan River is making a way in your life. Okay? He’s working even at this moment. So, join me now in Joshua chapter four. We’re going to begin in verse one, and I want to make one note before we begin the ark of the Lord. The Ark of the Covenant is something you’re going to hear about, and if you’ve never heard that before, except for in reference to Raiders of the Lost Ark, just know that it was essentially a sacred vessel that carried several holy items. A jar of manna, the bread that the Lord provided daily for the Israelites when they were in the wilderness, and the rod of Aaron, Moses’ brother. This rod was something God used to make miracles, and it butted and bloomed with flowers and almonds, and finally in the Ark of the Lord were the 10 Commandments, the physical copies! So, this was a very sacred vessel, and I just wanted to give you that context before we begin our story today. Okay, let’s sit on the riverbank with Joshua and God’s people today, shall we? Joshua chapter four, beginning in verse one.

When all the people had crossed the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, 2 “Now choose twelve men, one from each tribe. 3 Tell them, ‘Take twelve stones from the very place where the priests are standing in the middle of the Jordan. Carry them out and pile them up at the place where you will camp tonight.’” 4 So Joshua called together the twelve men he had chosen—one from each of the tribes of Israel. 5 He told them, “Go into the middle of the Jordan,

Remember now, the river is rolled back. It’s dry ground.

in front of the Ark of the Lord your God. Each of you must pick up one stone and carry it out on your shoulder—twelve stones in all, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel. 6 We will use these stones to build a memorial. In the future your children will ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 7 Then you can tell them, ‘They remind us that the Jordan River stopped flowing when the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant went across.’ These stones will stand as a memorial among the people of Israel forever.” 8 So the men did as Joshua had commanded them. They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan River, one for each tribe, just as the Lord had told Joshua. They carried them to the place where they camped for the night and constructed the memorial there. 9 Joshua also set up another pile of twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan, at the place where the priests who carried the Ark of the Covenant were standing. And they are there to this day.

Okay, that just fills my heart with awe and wonder because I am so excited, I’m going to be going to the holy land just before Easter next year, and to think I’m going to stand in the Jordan River, Lord willing, and be baptized and know that there are memorial stones in the middle of the river that Joshua set them there and they’re still there.

Okay. I want to encourage you in the middle of the situation that has got your heart all in a frenzy. You’re worried about something, you’re waiting for something to happen. You’re like, Lord, where are you? In the middle of all of these emotions that are just rushing all around you, like the waters of a river. I want you to stand for a moment on dry land, the dry land of everything you believe and everything you know about Jesus. Close your eyes if you’re not driving or if you’re in a safe place to do that where you won’t look weird, and just remember who Jesus is. It’s why Joshua was instructed and the people instructed to create a memorial, an altar to the Lord. In this moment, they were saying God was faithful to us and always they could look back on that and remember his faithfulness. This is what you and I are called to do in the waiting. We have to remember the times that God has been faithful. I’m remembering the bridge in Africa today when I was scared to death and there was no turning back on this canopy walkway, and when somebody dropped a water bottle, I thought I was going to fall down and that some animal was going to eat me. And in those moments, God showed up with all the peace he promises in his word, and he’s going to show up for you.

So, here’s the bridge that I’m inviting you to cross today. Right now, you might be in a place where you’re standing in worry, fear and doubt. Those are very common emotions when you’re waiting on something. But today, I want to invite you to cross the bridge, cross over to trust, faith and peace. Leave fear and doubt and worry in the dust. How do we do it? How do we get to trust faith and peace? We remember God’s faithfulness to us in the past, and there’s one more important thing we praise the whole way. I want to invite you to Google a song by Danny Gokey. It’s called Haven’t Seen It Yet (link in Show Notes above). The whole theme of our week, that thing you’re waiting for and hoping for, and praying for, you just haven’t seen it yet. I invite you to sing through before the door opens, praise him in the hallway. I’m right there with you. We’re together in the hall lifting up the praises of our great and gracious God. Until next time, you are really loved.

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