Wednesday, April 12, 2023

Three days later, the Israelite officers went through the camp, giving these instructions to the people: “When you see the Levitical priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord your God, move out from your positions and follow them. Since you have never traveled this way before, they will guide you.”  (Joshua 3: 2-4, New Living Translation)

               Usually, I have a pretty good sense of direction. Some folk can barely cross the street without consulting their GPS. The one place where I can totally get turned around is in Kitchener when we visit our son and family. I need all the help I can get. Even the GPS leads me astray. (Okay, it’s a poor workman who blames his tools.) We get to their place eventually, but in a very round-about way. Susan is a very good navigator and I would be literally lost without her. But Kitchener? Yikes!

                In today’s text, Joshua, who has taken over the leadership of the wandering Hebrew tribes from Moses, has led his people to the banks of the Jordan river. They set up camp while they figure out their next steps. Across the river is the Promised Land.  They need to get across somehow. The way forward is unclear. But soon, the order goes out that on the next day, the people are to follow the priests who will be carrying the Ark of the Covenant. They will need to put their trust in God. “Today you will know that the living God is among you.” (Joshua 3: 10, NLT)

                So, they set out. They have never been this way before. It is something new.  It is indeed the road less travelled. The people must have wondered what was going on when they reached the banks of the Jordan river. How were they going to cross to the other side?  But the Ark carriers waded right in. And like the Red Sea, the waters parted revealing a new road indeed thought the waters of the Jordan, pointing a way to the other side. Who could imagine?

                The future is often a way we have not travelled before. Sometimes, we see and fear the obstacles which are in our way. How do we get across? Even then, the Promised Land, i.e. the future, is full of a adversaries, problems, conundrums and frustrations.  The Israelites were going to have to deal with the Canaanites et al. if they were to inhabit and enjoy this land. But it is also potentially full of fresh beginnings, new possibilities and great potential.

                It takes some gumption to walk through deep water. Or a better way to put it, it takes trust, faith and having confidence in God.  If we hope to wade into the future, we need to rely upon  God who has a plan for us to move forward. It may not be the easiest way forward but it is the right and best way to reach certain destinations that measure up as the experience of a Promised Land. “Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I’m not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd’s crook makes me feel secure.”  (Psalm 23: 4, The Message Bible)

                The disciple Thomas, known for his doubts, once challenged Jesus, “Master, we have no idea where you’re going. How do you expect us to know the road?” (John 15:5, TMB) Jesus’ response gave us the wonderful words, “I am the Road, also the Truth, also the Life.” (TMB)  Jesus is the living Ark of the Covenant. He leads us through even the most perplexing obstacles, even when there are crosses along the way.  He is the one who invites us, “Follow me.”

                We have just celebrated Jesus’ Resurrection. It, too, is a brand-new road, never travelled. But now, we are given a new hope, a new way, a new freedom, a new possibility which leads us forward.

                “Since this new way gives us such confidence, we can be very bold.” (2 Corinthians 3:12, NLT)

                Let us walk in the Light of God!

Dale