“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.”
Driving in a large city, every morning and evening going to and from work can get monotonous. I always pray for angels to be around my truck as I drive. Multiple times, I have crossed the street with a green light and right behind me someone runs the light and caused a wreck and I think, “wow I just passed through that intersection”. I, now, believe the providential hand of God was protecting me.” Or other times when we prayed and the hail storm went around our house. Or the tornado that was seen on radar and by the storm chasers seems to disappear before it hit our area. I cannot believe in chance any more. Not after all that God has done to protect me and my family.
All of the people in Israel have crossed the Jordan on dry ground and the priest carrying the Ark of God are still standing the middle of Jordan. Twelve men, one from each tribe of Israel, gather one stone and bring it back to the camp where they make an alter for Lord as a reminder of when they crossed the Jordan on dry ground. We should all never forget the things the Lord has done for us, small or large, we need to remember how His hand saved us, provided for us, moved us in and out of relationships all for his glory.
Once the stones were gathered, the priest began to walk out of Jordan river on dry ground. As soon as they reached the other side, verse 18 tells us, the river returned to flood stage as before. Cross the Jordan with the Lord and you do it on dry ground, cross the river without the Lord and everyone gets a survival lesson in swimming in raging flood waters.
I heard a joke one time it goes like this: A man was caught in flood and he was surrounded by water rising. He escapes to his roof where some people in a boat come to rescue him. He tells them “The Lord will rescue me.” They move on. A little time later another boat comes and begs him get in but he refuses and tells them “The Lord will rescue me.” Finally, a helicopter comes and tries to rescue him and he refuses to get in and tells them “The Lord will rescue me.” The flood waters rise and he dies and goes to heaven. The man, mad at God, asks “why did you not save me?” The Lord tells him that he sent two boats and helicopter. Sometimes following the Lord is not that complicated.
The Jordan returned to flood stage much like bad things just don’t go away. When you walk with the Lord, those bad times may seem like a valley covered in death but you will fear no evil because you know the Lord is with you (Psalm 23). The valley does not go away, the bad times don’t get diverted elsewhere simply because you follow Jesus. Much like being in God’s will in not an event. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 shows us what the will of God is for us, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances: for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
When God parts the Jordan river before your very eyes and you walk through on dry ground things are wonderful. What about the times after that when it returns to flood stage? During those times know the that will of God for all of us in Christ Jesus is to rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances. We don’t always get the rivers parted before us. We don’t always get the audible voice of God telling us what to do.
For me, I trust in the Lord for his direction and listen to Holy Spirit and pray in the Spirit continually. I may walk through some muddy situations but I will fear no evil because the devil does not own my soul. I am a citizen of Heaven and child of the most High God. The rivers may be at flood stage but somehow, someway the Lord will guide me across and when He does, I will set up an alter for me to remember how His mighty hand saved me.
Prayer: Father, things may be a complete and utter mess in my life. Some of which, I confess, is brought on by myself, others things the devil has thrown at me hoping to trip me up. I fall back on your guidance and trust that no matter what happens, you will be with me. I will keep my mind on things from above and the Word will continually be upon my mouth as I watch for you providential hand. In Jesus name, amen.
Let It Go 
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