In life, we all face moments where we must take steps of faith without knowing the final outcome. Whether you're currently in such a season or have experienced one in the past, the story of the ancient Israelites crossing the Jordan River offers powerful insights for our own faith journeys.
What does it mean to take steps of faith?
The Israelites had waited 40 years to enter the Promised Land. Now, under Joshua's leadership, the final countdown had begun. Excitement and fear filled the camp as they wondered: Would they finally be able to rest, put down roots, and create a home? Would their wandering end?
Joshua had received clear instructions from God. The priests would go first, carrying the Ark of the Covenant—a sacred box containing the Ten Commandments and manna from heaven, symbolizing God's law and provision. These priests would step into the flooded Jordan River, and the waters would miraculously part, creating a dry path for the entire nation to cross.
But imagine being there, not knowing the outcome. Would you have had the courage to step forward? Would you have trusted that the waters would truly stand up "like a wall" as promised?
How do I prepare for a faith journey?
The first crucial step in any faith journey is preparation. The Israelites didn't just rush into the river; they prepared themselves spiritually and physically:
- They purified themselves - washing their clothes and bodies, abstaining from certain activities, and fasting.
- They prepared internally - through prayer and worship.
- They waited - perhaps the hardest part of preparation.
Waiting isn't just something we endure until we get what we want. As John Ortberg wisely notes, "Waiting is not just something we have to do until we get what we want, but waiting is a part of the process of becoming what God wants us to be."
The journey matters just as much as the destination. During times of waiting, God often does His most transformative work in our lives, teaching us lessons about ourselves and the situations we're stepping into that couldn't have happened any other way.
Why must faith step first before seeing results?
The priests were required to walk into the rushing water before it parted. This teaches us a profound truth: faith often requires action before we see results.
Think about Petty Officer Scott Ruskin, who during catastrophic flooding in Texas, dove into dangerous floodwaters to rescue stranded campers. When asked why he did it, he simply said, "This is what I'm supposed to do. Leaders go first."
In our faith journeys, God often asks us to step out before we see the path clearly. It's only after we take that first step of faith that the waters part. God says, "Step first and see what I'll do." If what we're pursuing aligns with sharing God's good news and reaching people who are far from Him, He is fully committed to making a way.
How does God's presence guide us through impossible situations?
The biblical account tells us that "as soon as the feet of the priests touched the water at the river's edge, the water above that point began backing up a great distance away." God's power wasn't just evident at the crossing site but extended miles away to a town called Adam.
This detail is significant not just as a demonstration of God's power over nature, but as a symbolic foreshadowing. Just as sin entered the world through Adam (in Genesis), the Israelites were leaving the wilderness and beginning new life through the "new Adam" (Jesus), moving toward the Promised Land.
This reminds us that God is up to something bigger than our immediate circumstances. He's not abandoning His creation or His people. Like the Israelites, we are on a journey from "Egypt to the Promised Land"—from death to resurrection. God did the impossible then, and He continues to do so today.
How can my faith journey impact others?
The priests didn't just step into the water; they remained standing in the middle of the riverbed until everyone had crossed safely. Their courage and faith extended beyond their personal journey to benefit the entire community.
Our faith is both personal and communal. As Tyler Stanton writes, "Faithful presence is what changes lives. We step into the flood and others find dry ground because we held our place."
Sometimes, the crossing requires even greater sacrifice. The Israelites eventually lost their way years later in the Promised Land—they were broken people, just like us. But God continued to pursue them, ultimately sending Jesus to be the "ark of the covenant" for us once and for all, so we could cross to our Father God and experience abundant life.
Life Application
As you reflect on your own faith journey, consider these questions:
-
Where is God asking you to step first? Where is He inviting you to get your feet wet, believing Him for the future?
-
What do you need to leave on the other side of the river? Perhaps it's pain, grudges, unforgiveness, apathy, or resentment that's weighing you down and preventing you from crossing over.
-
Who is God asking you to invite along for the journey? Who needs you to take their hand and stand with them as they face their own rushing waters?
We don't know how our stories will end, and we cannot control the currents in which we find ourselves. But we can trust the One who leads us forward, stepping out in faith even when the waters seem too deep and the other side too far away.
This week, identify one area where God is calling you to take a step of faith. Commit to preparing yourself through prayer and waiting on His timing. Then, when He says "go," be ready to step into the water, trusting that He will make a way where there seems to be no way.