Crossing Jordan

My dearest readers, I want to share something so powerful, and I believe, pertinent to both current and future challenges that we all face/ will face.

Sorry for the sombre tone! But I promise you, it’s coupled with lots of hope and will equip you too.  

My studies and meditations on the book of Joshua have highlighted something really poignant about that River Jordan Crossing. The priests were carrying the ark of the covenant, which contained what we would now call  ‘the word of God’. We know the story well -  Joshua commissioned with the task of leading the Israelites to land promised to them. But promises from God are not always a walk in the park - they needed to cross Jordan first. We know that the waters were supernaturally parted for them. But I want to focus on the challenges that they may have faced. They were following Joshua’s instructions as given by God, but there was real water - ‘ troubles’ swirling at their feet declaring “death, failure, defeat”. 

Psalm 23:4 calls these threats a “shadow”. At this point, I was led to hold my hand up and watch its shadow on the wall in my bedroom. The message was, that the shadow was not real - my hand was. Now I am not belittling anyone’s troubles. They are definitely there and very real. The point is, when we carry God’s word into those troubles with us,  they are stripped of their power over us. Yes, we still hurt and feel pain. But that hurt and pain cannot cause us to fall apart. In fact, let me show you another “shadow”. One that is quite the opposite. 

Ps 91:1 says “He that dwells in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the SHADOW of the Almighty. Have you noticed the stark difference between the two “shadows”? In ps 23, The psalmist creates the image of  the shadow’s  transience. “Walking through” denotes, something that is not permanent. However, God’s ‘shadow’ in Psalm 91 uses words such as “dwells” and “abide”. God’s protection is permanent. It’s real. It has substance. It never leaves unless we remove ourselves from it.

The effects of troubles  “swirling” around our feet are very real - But I want you to focus on God’s  “shadow” of divine protection over your mind, over your loved ones and over your situation. Use those priests carrying the word of God as your model. Lay hold of these psalms and believe them in your heart. Meditate on them until they become more real than the turmoil.

Whatever happens, my friend, you will come through.

Please do comment and share!

Peacebrown.