Reading: Joshua 3:7-17
Joshua 3:9-10 – “Come and listen to what the Lord your God says. Today you will know that the living God is among you.”
Our reading today begins with God assuring Joshua that God is with him, just as God was with Moses. Because of this promise, Joshua will be a “great leader” too. This assurance is quickly followed by some testing. God instructs Joshua to instruct the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant to step into the Jordan River. It is at flood stage. These instructions test both Joshua and the priests. Will Joshua issue this difficult instruction? Will the priests trust that God is with Joshua? What “rivers” might God be asking you to step into or to cross in order to witness to your faith in God?
Joshua calls all the Israelites together, just as Moses had done many times. Joshua says to them, “Come and listen to what the Lord your God says. Today you will know that the living God is among you.” God will be present. God will make a way: clearing their enemies, parting the waters, guiding the people of God forward into a land of abundance. Each tribe is to choose a man to represent their tribe: a leader. As the story continues, after all have crossed over, these men will take a stone from the place that the priests stood in the middle of the river. These stones will be piled up to be a memorial to God’s power and presence. This memorial will be a tangible reminder of this God moment.
When I moved to the church I’m now serving, two good friends gave me a small jade plant. On the pot they wrote, “Bloom where you’re planted!” New things are hard. It was the middle of COVID. Their encouragement helped me to trust into God’s power and presence. That small plant now fills a large rectangular planter. It is a sign of God’s faithfulness. It is a sign of trust. As you step into your “river,” trust that God goes with you. And look for a sign or symbol to take with you as a reminder of God’s power and presence.
Prayer: Lord God, inspire us today to come and listen, to trust and to see that you are good. Open our eyes and hearts to the guidance of your Holy Spirit. Give us the trust to step where you are leading and are already present in power. Amen.
