Everyone in the group was excited after their long journey from Africa. Mom’s tried quieting their impatient children eager to arrive at their new homes. However, everyone was stunned when they arrived at the border. The river separating the two countries was a raging torrent after the spring rains. “Where’s the ferry?” someone asked. Another reported, “I heard the men have searched up and down the river and can’t find a bridge.” “What are we going to do?”
One leader seeking to calm the group announced, “We are going to sit down, fast and pray, and wait for God to do something.” So, day after day they prayed as they watched the flood waters continue racing past them. But the level of the water didn’t change by even one inch. It would be months before the water subsided.
This is a ‘what it could have been’ version of Israel about to cross the Jordon River. I heard an illustration this week that further exemplifies this way of thinking. A man peeked over his privacy fence to greet his neighbor, but he could barely see his friend relaxing in his lawn chair because the grass was over three feet high. He said, “Hey neighbor, I’m glad you’re enjoying the sunshine, but don’t you think you should mow your lawn?” He was totally caught off guard by the reply, “Oh! I’m just sitting here, praying, and waiting on God to mow it for me.”
Both of these stories seem ridiculous, but I know individuals who have a similar mentality about how God works. Their promised land is right before them in plain sight, but because there is an obstacle, they just park and wait. The truth is God is waiting for us—He wants us to take the first step. For believers to head toward God’s promises, when there is something blocking the path, demonstrates faith. No amount of prayer is going to accomplish what God intends for us to begin or to do.
The Biblical story of Joshua and Israel crossing into their promise land is an important lesson for us when facing hindrances in our spiritual journey. The Jordon River was flooded. The Lord spoke to Joshua . . . Command the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant. . . ‘When you reach the edge of the waters, stand in the Jordan.’ When the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the LORD . . . come to rest in the Jordan’s waters, its waters will be cut off (Josh 3:7-16).
Getting their feet wet was a complete act of faith. With the people packed and waiting, the priest advanced standing in the edge of the flood plain. It was only then God began working His miracle. Step by step as the water receded the priest advanced keeping their feet in the water until finally they were standing in the middle of the Jordon River on dry ground.
When I left my last fulltime associate pastorate ten years ago, I felt the Holy Spirit had spoken clearly to my heart that it was time to leave. I had ignored His leading once before and it wasn’t a nice experience. So this time, I turned in my resignation. Everyone asked, “Where are you going, Dr. G.? What are you going to do?” I simply replied that I didn’t know. I was just standing in the water with wet feet. As it turned out it was one of the best decisions I’d made in my ministry. Soon after, there was a nasty church split. But God opened the door for me to spend the next eight years teaching at a Bible college. As I write this Donna and I are again standing in the water with wet feet. We see our new promise land, but there are a lot of obstacles in the path. However, we know that soon we’ll be standing on dry ground entering another land of promise.
Sustaining Word for the Week:
Are you sitting and looking at your Promise Land, but parked waiting for God to remove the obstacles? Maybe, it’s time to demonstrate your faith and to get your feet wet. Then you will see the might acts of the LORD.