Day 3: Amid the flood
Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away... while the water flowing down to the Sea... was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho (Joshua 3:15-16).
Our Father in heaven, we bow in worship before You. You are the true God... the living God, the eternal King (Jeremiah 10:10); Lord of all the earth (Joshua 3:13)
Faithful God, Those who know Your name trust in You, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek You (Psalm 9:10). Joshua, at the close of his life, reminded the Israelites, 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 (Joshua 23:14).
From the beginning You gave them Your word, I will drive out nations before you and enlarge your territory (Exodus 34:24), and true to Your word, You remained their faithful guide from the land of bondage to the land of promise. You showed them that You are the God who performs miracles; You display Your power among the peoples (Psalm 77:14).
At the start of their journey You divided the Red Sea asunder (Psalm 136;13) and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left (Exodus 14:22). And at the end of their wilderness years, before they could cross into the land of promise, You led them through the Jordan on dry ground, once again showing Your sovereignty over the recesses of the deep (Job 38:16).
Lord God, You are still the God who performs miracles—the God who leads us through the great seas, the wilderness, and the flood. The writer of Hebrews reiterated to Your church the promise You gave to Joshua and the people, I will never leave you nor forsake you (Joshua 1:5, Hebrews 13:5).
God of the impossible, teach us to walk by faith wherever You lead us. When the road is long, and the way is hard, remind us that You make a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters (Isaiah 43:16). When the waters pile high and we cannot see the path ahead, remind us that You cut a path through the torrent and the flood.
Today we give You all that overwhelms us—the downpours, the deluges, the torrents, the flood. O Lord, we thank You that You go before us—that You are present in the middle of the waters—that You hold back the mighty tide. You are our mighty fortress—our helper amid the flood of mortal ills...*
Teach us to hear Your voice above the noise of the flood, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).
*Martin Luther, ca. 1529
コメント