Title: When I Meet You
In Lee's life, we can face crises and difficulties like the mountain that we cannot overcome on our own. The world we live in is full of worries and worries. Because it is a world with difficulties everywhere. In our hymn, we said, ‘There is no place for the body to rest in peace on the path of a painful life.’
I feel the weakness of our lives when we watch the news about people who have suffered hardships due to this rainy season. I couldn't see an inch ahead, and I saw the sorrow of houses collapsing in the rain for a day or two, flooding the farmland, and swept away by the waters of my loved ones. We also hear about the saints who are experiencing unexpected difficulties within us. Every time I hear of a situation in which the family is shaken, I am concerned about how our saints who are having difficulties will overcome the obstacles in front of them.
Today's text is the scene where Israel, who left Egypt for the promised land of God, is facing the land of Canaan after 40 years of travel in the wilderness. The Israelites facing the land of Canaan were faced with a great crisis. In order to enter the Promised Land, we had to cross the Jordan River, but it was the time of harvesting Momech and the Jordan River overflowed the hills, so we could not cross the deep river. There were about 2 million Israelites, and they had to cross the Jordan River to enter the Promised Land.
There are almost hurdles to overcome to achieve great things. Better God's promised blessings We may be encountering these crises and obstacles in our lives. Perhaps there are difficulties ahead of us in order to take a step forward in our life. Historian Toynbee said that the development of history is a response to a given challenge. There can never be progress without challenges. If we overcome the difficulties given to us by faith, we will experience a new work of faith that only God can promise and give that we have not experienced in the past. That's right. The problem is not the difficulties we face, but how we react. Through today's text, we want to see and learn how Joshua and the people of Israel overcome the obstacles set before them. How did they overcome obstacles?
1. We must seek God's guidance. (Verses 1-2)
Joshua got up early in the morning and left Siddim with the Israelites to the Jordan River. I stayed there for 3 days. What did you do when you saw the overflowing Jordan River? Joshua must have been praying and waiting quietly for God's direction. When we encounter difficulties, it is very important to pray to God and wait for God's guidance.
When we are faced with difficulties, we have to wait and see what God will do, confessing that we cannot do anything on our own. We must pray to God and wait for His instructions. God will show us what He is doing. Because God loves us. Jesus always worked according to this principle. John 5:19-20. “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son cannot do anything of his own accord unless he sees what the Father is doing, for what the Father does, the Son also does. The Father loves the Son, and he shows him all that he does.” Just as God loved His Son and showed Jesus what He was doing, we hope that He will also love us and show Him what He will do. Therefore, relying on God's love, I hope that when we encounter obstacles, we pray and wait before God. Jeremiah 33:3 also promises this. “You cry out to me. I will answer you, and I will show you great and mighty things that you do not know.”
When Joshua encountered an obstacle called the Jordan River, he waited quietly in prayer before God. And my prayers were answered.
2. Joshua gave commands to Israel through his agents.
Joshua told the people of the instructions he had received from God through his disciples. What did God instruct the Israelites to do?
1) Focus on the Ark of the Covenant of God and follow it. (Verses 3-4)
Verse 2-3. “After three days, the officers went through the camp and commanded the people, saying, When you see the Levite priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, leave your place and follow them.” I had to follow this ark of the covenant. What does this mean?
The ark of the covenant contained the ten commandments engraved in stone and a jar of manna. It symbolizes the presence and power of God. The fact that they concentrated on and followed the ark of the covenant meant that they only hoped for God's guidance. It means that you depend only on God. So Joshua and the leaders said, “Follow us. Let's cross the river.” “See the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and follow it.” They focused on the ark of the covenant, a symbol of God's presence and power. They are to live a God-centered life.
See also verse 4. “But let the distance between you and them be about two thousand cubits, and do not come near them.” A cubit is a unit of measure for distance. One cubit is about 45 cm. Then the distance of 2000 cubits is about 900 m. First of all, this emphasizes the holiness of God. It is to fear God. Also, so that all people can see it. A distance of about 1 km is the distance we can distinguish with the naked eye. Therefore, the priests were carrying the Ark of the Covenant in the distance where all the 2 million Israelites had to see with their naked eyes. All the people could see that God was guiding them while paying attention to the Ark of the Covenant.
Furthermore, see the second half of verse 4. What is? It is God's promise. “Then you will know the way you should go, for you have not passed this way before.” It is the promise of the Lord. You have never been through this road before. I'm on a new path now. But I am leading your way.
Brothers and sisters, when you face difficulties, when you are in a new situation that you have never experienced before, what will you do? Are you terrified and don't know what to do? Are you in a state of despair in despair and resignation? Or do you trust the Lord, “I will always be with you, even to the end of the world”? Look to the Lord. Trust the Lord. The Lord is with you. He wants to guide you. Don't just look at the environment. Wait on the Lord. The Lord knows us. You know we're going through this for the first time. The Lord is with us even when we face the difficulties of family conflict, illness, or the death of a loved one. He will never leave or forsake us. No matter how difficult it may be, I hope that the Lord is with you and that the Lord will guide you.
2) We must sanctify ourselves. (Verse 5)
There is a second word from God to the Israelites. What is? This is verse 5. “And Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves. Tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” It is to sanctify yourself for the miraculous work of God. It is to purify your heart for the blessing of God. Holiness is confession of sin and repentance. Holiness is turning away from sin and serving the true and living God.
Brothers and sisters, before God's great work happens, God wants us to be sanctified. Every revival in the history of the Church has begun with repentance. Proverbs 1:23 asks of us. “Hear my rebuke and turn away; behold, I will pour out my Spirit on you and show you my words.” Therefore, when we encounter obstacles, we need to sanctify ourselves before God. When we repent and dedicate ourselves to God, we hope you will expect a miracle from God. I hope you will experience God's great work of overcoming obstacles.
3. You must completely obey the Word of God. (Verses 6-17)
When Joshua commanded the priests to carry the ark of the covenant and cross before the people, they carried the ark and went ahead. The people concentrated on the Ark of the Covenant and followed it. In verse 8, God says, “You shall command the priests who carried the ark of the covenant, saying, ‘When you come to the waters of the Jordan, enter the Jordan. Says. In verse 13, God says, “If the soles of the feet of the priests carrying the ark of the Lord Yahweh, the Lord of all the earth, stop treading on the Jordan River, the water of the Jordan, the water that flows from above, will be cut off and stand up.
God is telling us to dip our feet in the Jordan River and move forward. Guys, is this easy? Isn't it like just going into the river and dying? Perhaps we will stand outside the river and say, “God, first part the river. If you build a water wall and make a way, I will enter.” you would have requested. “God, show me a miracle first. Then I will move.” But God said, “First, obey my words by faith. Then you will see the fulfillment of the word.” Says.
What did Joshua and the Israelites do? They obeyed God's Word by faith. Then God's promise was fulfilled. Verses 15-17. When the feet of the priests carrying the ark of the covenant were submerged in the water, the flowing river stopped according to God's word. The flowing water was completely cut off, and dry land appeared in the middle of the Jordan River, and while the priests carrying the ark of the covenant stood firm on dry ground, the Israelites crossed the Jordan River. When the people of Israel obeyed God's word by faith, God's miracle occurred. They overcame obstacles by obedience.
They knew through experience that God was with them through this event. I have gained great confidence in being able to overcome the difficulties ahead. When we encountered obstacles, we responded with faith and received great blessings from God.
Brothers and sisters, we too may face tribulations or difficulties. You can face obstacles. In such a case, please go before God in prayer and wait for God's instructions. Focus on God and sanctify yourself. I hope you will overcome obstacles by obeying the word God has given you by faith. Through this process, I pray in the name of the Lord that all the saints will grow in greater faith.