Crossing the Jordan

Crossing the Jordan
Today, let us consider a lesson from the Old Testament. After Moses lead God’s people out of Egypt, across the Red Sea and through the wilderness, they came at last to the brink of the promised land. They were on the border of Canaan, which God had promised to them as an inheritance long before. This was the very fulfillment of the covenant God had made with Abraham. Moses chose twelve spies, one from each of the tribes of Israel, and sent them across the Jordan to reconnoiter the land. While two of the spies brought back glowing reports, ten of them returned whining about giants and fortified cities and the like. Needless to say, the people rose up and began to complain about how God had been unfaithful to them and brought them out of Egypt only to die somewhere else. These were the very same people who observed the plagues of the exodus, saw the Red Sea parted, followed a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, and ate manna from God every day. They were, as a nation, first hand witnesses to the miraculous power of The Lord of Hosts. But they just didn’t get it, and God sentenced them to another forty years in the wilderness, until the entire older generation had died off. They died without receiving the promised land, even though they had stood at the very edge of it. How many times have we come to a Jordan River in our own lives? We stand there, looking across at how beautiful it is. We sure would like to be there, but even in spite of having God on our side, we are still too fearful to enter that promised land. We choose to remain in exile because we haven’t enough faith in God to depend on His guidance and protection. In short, we view God as too small to overcome the big things in our lives. Have you found yourself standing at that very place in your own life? Before you turn to wander back out into the desert hit your knees, get some wise council, read the bible and take a second look at whether you can trust God enough to cross over. Wilderness or promised land? That seems like it should be easy choice. Take a deep breath and step into the river.

Crossing the Jordan
Once again, we stand at the Jordan
Looking over the promised land
God says, “Isn’t beautiful, take it!
I deliver it into your hands.”
Yet, we are afraid to claim it
We haven’t the faith to match our fears
So we turn back toward the wilderness
To wander out there for a few more years
We who have spoken so boldly
What must the Lord God think of us
When He hands us manna every day
But we never learn how to trust
We wail and beg for mercy
“Lord, there are giants in the land!
Surely, there must be another way.”
But we simply don’t understand
That our God stands ready to give us
Whatever we’re willing to claim
Yet His victory is reserved for those
Who will faithfully call on His name
So when you stand at the River Jordan
And the promised land lies in view
Step into the water and march across
For your God will deliver you
By Frank Carpenter ©