The Next Step

It was time to cross the Jordan into the Promised Land. The priests took up the Ark of the Covenant, the entire nation of Israel lined up behind them and they began marching to the water's edge. As they neared the raging waters of the flood swollen river, nothing changed. Each step brought them closer until they were right at the edge of the swirling current.

The priests were in the front of a line that stretched back hundreds of thousands strong, carrying the Ark of God, which could not be dropped. Once their feet hit the water's edge, they were fully committed to entering the river, a swirling, rushing body of water at flood stage that would not be parted until their feet were planted in it.  "As soon as the priests who carry the ark of the Lord--the Lord of all the earth--set foot in the Jordan, it's waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap" (Josh 3:13).

Can you imagine yourself in their sandals?  Each step brings you closer to a river that was unyielding and unchanged until you are right on the edge. The next step would be into the rushing current carrying a gold-covered Ark that they could not let go of, and they would not be able to back up. Instead, the throng behind them would force them deep into the water. As the lead priests, your next step is life-threatening, buoyed only by faith, not at all by sight.

The apostle Paul affirms, "We walk by faith and not by sight" (2 Cor 5:7) and the priests of Israel walked into the river not seeing God's power backing up the water until after their step of faith. Perhaps you are facing an uncertain opportunity or feel called to make a change that isn't at all clear in its outcome. Are you willing to lay it in God's hands to direct the next step you will take even though you cannot see the outcome?  Jus' Ask'n.