"And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the Lord—the Lord of all the earth—set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap."
— Joshua 3:13 (NIV)
Summary
After 40 years in the wilderness, Israel stands at the edge of the Jordan River. The generation that left Egypt has passed, and a new generation is ready to inherit what God promised.
But there's a problem. The Jordan is at flood stage. Crossing seems impossible. Yet God's instruction is clear: the priests must step into the water first. Only then will He act.
This is the pattern of faith throughout Scripture. God often asks us to move before He moves. Not recklessly—but obediently. The priests didn't jump in blindly. They followed God's specific instruction, carrying the ark of His presence with them.
What's ahead for you? What Jordan are you facing? The lesson of Joshua 3 is that we don't need to see the full path before we step forward. We need to know the One who parts the waters.
Discussion Questions
- Why do you think God asked the priests to step into the water before He parted it? What does this tell us about how faith works?
- The Israelites had to wait three days before crossing. How do you handle seasons of waiting when you know something is coming but it hasn't arrived yet?
- Where in your life is God asking you to step forward before you see the full path?
- The 12 stones were set up as a memorial so future generations would ask, "What do these stones mean?" What memorials or markers remind you of God's faithfulness in your own life?
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