Day 16 & 17
Joshua
Joshua is now being counseled to "Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
These people who have been traveling for so very long, are at the edge of the Jordan River. About to cross over into the promised land that they've heard about for so very many years. I wonder if they truly had a sense of what that means. Did they think like so many of us today, that God's blessings are nothing to be in complete reverence about because they're handed out so much and so often like candy at Halloween? Or did they, like most of us living with autism who have had to fight for each and every little thing - just stand in complete amazement of the miracle of it.
Like God did in parting the Red Sea, he caused the flood-stage waters of the Jordon to not flow so that they could cross it on dry ground.
Joshua 4:24 says, "He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God."
I just pray that I always have that sense of reverence and awe and amazement about all that God does.
How many of us have been standing at the edge of a long journey, afraid to believe. Afraid to believe that when we cross we will not be drowned. Afraid to believe in God's power. God's forgiveness. God's mercy. God's love. God's miracles. How many of us are afraid of what might happen if we do believe with all our heart, soul, and mind, and cross over, but our prayers are still not answered?
Ahhhh.
I can't say I haven't wrestled with those thoughts and questions! It is amazing just how many times God has said, "Do not be afraid..." He says it over and over and over!
And once they crossed it as long as they were obedient they defeated enemies. Just like it says in Joshua 10:13 --- "So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies."
That pretty much makes me think that no matter what, I'm crossing. I'm believing. I'm clinging to faith. I'm hanging on to Hopeism.
Just as Joshua did.
Joshua 23:14 says, "....You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed...."
Reason enough for me to start running across the Jordan!
And I think I'll leave this day....with that.
