After the death of Moses, God chose Joshua to lead the people of Israel to the Promised Land. As he was preparing to lead the people to the land Cannon, river Jordan presented a challenge to him. He camped near Jordan River for 3 days not knowing how to cross Jordan and was waiting for a message from God. As Joshua stood worried on the banks of river Jordan which stood between the chosen people and Promised Land, God spoke to him thus, “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” (Joshua 3: 7). God who helped Moses lead the people walk across the Red sea and showed that nothing was impossible for God, led Joshua and the people across the Jordan as well. God teaches Joshua through this experience that he would faces challenges like crossing Jordan but has to always remember the wonder God did as Moses led his people across Red sea.
When we are faced with trials and temptations our faith may falter and often doubt the very God who has worked many miracles in our lives. God tells us not to forget the times he led us out of all the troubles we faced. When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, “Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, from right where the priests are standing, and carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘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. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever” (Joshua 4:1-7).
Our trust is in the Lord who is mighty and strong to divide the mighty Red sea and hence we should not worry when we are on the banks of Jordan. The Lord Jesus promises us, Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you” (Mathew 17: 20). We may face troubles which are as big as a mountain but when we place all our trust in the Lord, then he will be able to make ways even through the mountains. The Lord who has safely led us through a lot of our red sea experiences will certainly lead us out of our Jordan experiences as well. So let us trust in this unending mercy of God and surrender our lives.
Fr Prince Chakkalayil CST