Miracle Ahead!
The account of the children of Israel living in the Promised Land is one of the most emphasized events in the Bible and is probably the most defining moment in the Old Testament.
Their story actually starts in Genesis Chapter 15, when God speaks to Abraham, and Israel’s story carries through Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, and Joshua.
Genesis 15:13 (NIV)
Then the Lord said to him, “Know for certain that for four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own and that they will be enslaved and mistreated there....”
There is an estimated 200-ish-year gap between Abraham and the time when Joseph becomes second in command over all of Egypt.
In Genesis Chapter 46, we see Joseph move his family to Egypt due to a severe famine.
In Exodus Chapter 1, we see how the descendants of Jacob multiply to such an extent that the new Pharaoh fears that if Israel should so choose, they could overtake the Egyptians, and the enslavement begins.
Israel’s journey is pivotal, and the layers of lessons keep piling up. So yes, we’re going to talk about this event again.
For the sake of time, we’ll skip Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers and jump right into Deuteronomy.
Deuteronomy 1:6-8 (NIV)
The Lord our God said to us at Horeb, “You have stayed long enough at this mountain. Break camp and advance into the hill country of the Amorites; go to all the neighboring peoples in the Arabah, in the mountains, in the western foothills, in the Negev and along the coast, to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, as far as the great river, the Euphrates. See, I have given you this land. Go in and take possession of the land the Lord swore he would give to your fathers—to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—and to their descendants after them.”
I love this part, “You have stayed long enough at this mountain....”
Right out of the gate, God is putting an end to the struggle. He’s telling Israel the season of hardship is over and that it’s time to move into the Promised Land.
I know I’m not the only one who’s gone through hard seasons. I know I’m not the only one to ask God, “When?!” a thousand times. I know I’m not the only one who’s struggled with waiting for the promises of God to come to pass. So the fact that God leads with this statement, gosh, I can only imagine the breath of relief all of Israel let out! Finally, their breakthrough moment had come.
And so we see this new season kick off with Israel, and it’s so exciting! Because we’re moving from a place of lack to one of overflow. From wondering, weary, and waiting, to occupying, strength, and fulfillment. This is a huge breakthrough for Israel.
Many of us are waiting for the same moment.
But the fact is, that moment does not come without requiring our obedience and faith. And God knows this, so He gives this beautiful promise:
Deuteronomy 1:30-31 (NIV)
The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the wilderness.
Isn’t that wonderful? God is going before us. Moses expounds on this later in Deuteronomy:
Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV)
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Let’s be honest, as a human, the words are beautiful, but it can be hard to process this promise in real-time, modern-day life.
Because we know the outcome of Israel, it’s easy to pass over this promise and go, “yeah, yeah, yeah, it all worked out,” and we glaze over the insane way God constantly keeps this promise.
We’ve all got something going on in our lives that really does require God to go before us and move some mountains. Whether it’s health, relationships, finances, or wherever you’re stuck, you need to know God is still making a way. He is still going before you.
But if you’re going to move forward, your obedience and faith are required.
Understand that God likes to show off. He really does. He loves to display His glory and sovereignty, not just to impress you, but to move others.
Exodus 11:9 (NIV)
The LORD had said to Moses, “Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you—so that my wonders may be multiplied in Egypt.”
Did you catch that? “So that my wonders may be multiplied in Egypt.”
Many of us are content with a small miracle. For example, let’s say you’re financially strapped for cash. You pray a prayer of, “God, I just need $100 to pay this bill.” And while it’s true, you’re looking through such a small scope, and God sees the big picture. You ask for a $100, but God says, “Hey, let’s get them a better job.”
He sees beyond this moment, this need, and puts in motion a plan that will not only exceed your expectations but also glorify and show His sovereignty in a way that people will know your miracle could have come only from God.
So instead of a random person giving you $100, God may lead you to take an online class, apply for a different job you don’t think you’re qualified for, or boldly ask for a raise.
God’s answer to your need will probably be, well, not what you wanted to hear.
His plan won’t be simple; it’ll be incredible.
His provision won’t be basic; it’ll be beyond your wildest imagination.
His instruction won’t make sense; it’ll blow your mind.
And that brings me to Joshua Chapter 3. We see Israel in a very similar situation to the one they were in over 40 years ago with Moses. They are at the Jordan River, and they need to cross it to take Jericho. But how?
Joshua 3:13-16 (NIV)
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.” So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho.
Texas is no stranger to floods, and I’ve seen what floods can do. They can rip apart homes. Bend mighty Oaks. Make a lifetime of memories disappear in seconds. They take lives. They’re powerful, dangerous, and scary.
And this is what Israel is up against. A raging, flooding river, and Joshua gives the command to cross it.
Most of the time, obedience and faith precede the miracle.
The Levitical priests were instructed to step into the river. Not after the waters receded, but before.
The instruction wasn’t given when things were easy; it was given at the most difficult time, in the most difficult of circumstances. It seems like an impossible request. Yet God required full obedience.
Only when the priests stepped into the water did things begin to happen.
And this is where it gets really good. Let’s look at these two verses again:
Joshua 3:15-16
“Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off....”
The town of Adam is about 20 miles upstream from where Israel was located, which means the waters stopped 20 miles away. It stopped ahead of them.
The waters didn’t immediately disappear when the priest stepped into the water; the waters stopped so far ahead of Israel that they couldn’t see the miracle taking place.
In fact, it would take 3-10 hours before the remaining waters would flow downstream and leave a dry path for Israel to walk on.
Can you imagine that moment? The priests step into the water, but at that particular moment, they don’t see a fulfillment of the promise. The waters are still raging. The priests stood there for hours, believing the promise of God, even though they couldn’t see the miracle in motion.
The obedience brought the start of a miracle; their faith saw it come to pass.
God kept His promise and went before them...about 20 miles, to be exact.
Many of us are wondering where that breakthrough is. We’re desperate to know when the change will happen; when our pathway across will be made clear.
Have you been obedient? Have you stepped into the river? Are you standing in faith even when you can’t see the miracle?
You have to understand, Israel was just standing there. They didn’t have the news or an app to update them in real-time on what was happening upstream. Israel had no idea God had stopped the river. They had to wait and literally stand in faith in the flooding river, watching for God to move.
And I think it’s important to note that we will see the effects of God’s miracle moving long before we see the complete fulfillment, if we’re paying attention. Logically, Israel would have noticed a difference in the river's flow long before the final waters disappeared.
Just because the miracle doesn’t happen in the same moment you prayed, does not mean your request was denied or that your faith wasn’t enough.
We live in a world where everything is automatic; it’s instant. But God doesn’t work that way. He requires patience, faith, and obedience.
Most of the time, you have to wait. You have to stand in faith as you watch for your miracle, which has already happened upstream, to flow downstream.
Stay the course.
Isaiah 43:19 (NIV)
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
If I could encourage you with anything, it’s this: know that God has gone before you. You may not see the complete fulfillment of it right now, but He has moved on your behalf.
I would implore you to look for the signs; watch for the waters to slowly recede. Watch for the smallest changes as you stand in faith.
God has not forsaken you; He hasn’t ignored you. He hasn’t shut out your prayers; He hasn’t turned a blind eye to your tears. He is moving.
Hebrews 10:23 (NIV)
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
Wherever you’re at in your journey, stand in faith, Beloved. Your miracle is ahead.
