“Miracle of Protection”
Ever just have one of those weeks…I mean like one of those weeks where the only words of comfort you have is “this isn’t how it’s supposed to be”. Many of us have had a week like that, some may say “that’s been my year” and other’s say “that’s been my season”, but all of us know what that feels like! So what do we do in those times? How can we find security and confidence in times like this?
- Jesus is my CONFIDENCE, STEADINESS and SECURITY!
- Many of us have read this story before time and time again…as a matter of fact it if you have been with me any more than 5 minutes you know I love this story! I love the book of Joshua because this is God telling us “I Keep My Promises” from Genesis to Revelation!
- Verses 1-5 reminds us that we can be confident in the Lord to take us into to places we’ve never gone before. Which should tell us that He’s been there before…but we’ll get to that a little later 😉! God has not stopped doing the Amazing among us…the question is if we are looking.
- Verses 6-13 remind us that we can be steady in the Lord alone. The flood stage Jordan was no match for what God was going to do for His people to keep His Promise. In the midst of the overwhelming circumstance this world throws at us it is no match for Jesus.
- Verses 14-17 reminds us that God is our security. The entire nation crossed on dry land…not mushy muddy land but dry land! God was doing a new thing
Israel is 2.5 million strong and this happens about 500 years (some argue 600 years) after God’s Promise to Abraham that many will come from him…when Abraham is childless! Here we are Moses is dead and Joshua first act as leader is to not drown the whole nation of Israel crossing over the flooded Jordan! Here is where it all comes together…
The ark of the covenant represents Christ Jesus (the wood is man made and the gold is God)…Jesus is fully God fully man! The ark goes first into the Jordan….Colossians 1:18 reminds us that Jesus is the firstborn among the dead. He’s already gone before us to shows us a place we’ve never been before (v. 4). Jesus guarantees He’s already gone before us. John 1:1 reminds us that He was in the beginning and will be to the end! Jesus is with us (v.10)! He is among us wherever we go…not only has He gone before us He is with us step by step through the flood! The ark sets up in the middle of the flooded Jordan (v17)…where Jesus is with us right in the middle! Yet, look at the names of the city the flood is cut off from…the city of Adam (v.16) and it cuts of from the “Dead Sea” (v.16). Jesus has cut off the penalty, shame and guilt of our sin when we receive Him by faith as our Savior. Nothing can overtake us. And the people walked on dry land (v.17)…Jesus reminds us that He called us out of the wandering wilderness just like Israel. The things that overtake us alone are nothing compared to Him! He never made us to cross back over the Jordan to wandering wilderness but to walk deeper into God’s Promise! He is our Protector and in Him alone we can have confidence, steadiness and security!
Take Away:
Why do you think it’s sometimes hard to accept that God miraculously intervenes with protection?
What problems and pain are you currently experiencing? What are some ways God could be working them together for your good?
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Tyler West 