“Joshua commanded the officers.., ‘Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, “Prepare your provisions, for within three days you are to pass over this Jordan to go in to take possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving you…”’”
“And Joshua sent two men secretly as spies, saying, ‘Go, view the land, especially Jericho…'”
“Then Joshua rose early in the morning and they set out [and] came to the Jordan,.. and lodged there… At the end of three days the officers went through the camp and commanded the people, ‘As soon as you see the ark of the covenant… being carried by the priests, then set out from your place and follow it…’ Then Joshua said to the people, ‘Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.’ And Joshua said to the priests, ‘Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on before the people…’
“And Joshua said to the people, ‘Come and listen to the words of the Lord your God… Here is how you shall know that the living God is among you and that he will without fail drive [the nations] out from before… Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is passing over before you into the Jordan…’
“So when the people set out to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before [them], and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest), the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away,.. were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho. Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan.” Joshua 1:10-11; 2:1; 3:1-3,5-6,9-11,14-16a,17
For any great task the Lord assigns, there is preparation to be made. There are practical instructions that must be communicated, people or provisions to be organized, and passions and shadows of the heart to be consecrated. In order to ready ourselves, we must seek the Lord and surrender to His revealed way. As a God of order, He will faithfully supply our needs and direct our steps according to His perfect will. (Proverbs 3:5-6; Romans 12:2; 1 Corinthians 14:33a)
Passing over from my place of competence to God’s place of promise takes courage and faith. I must be right before Him, and trust His ‘parting’ of every current of opposition, resistance, and fear. I must proceed in His strength alone, secure in His pledge, focused on His destination. (Deuteronomy 34:1-4,9; Joshua 1:1b-3)
To what new land, actual or figurative, is God calling me? What need I leave behind in order to cross from self-preservation to divine provision, from trusting in my deserts or abilities to claiming Christ’s sufficiency won for me on the cross? Only then can I take possession of the spiritual bounty that is mine in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3)
Father, guide my daily preparation with You, that I may fully enter Your promises and gladly participate in Your kingdom work, so all will know You are among me.
As the rain and snow 