Everyone in the community was excited after the prolonged journey from Africa. Mom’s tried quieting their restless children eager to arrive at their new homes. However, everyone was dumbfounded when they arrived at the border. The river separating them from their destination had turned into a raging torrent after the spring rains. “I’ve never seen so much water!” “Where’s the rafts?” someone asked. Another reported, “I heard several leaders have searched up and down the river and can’t find a bridge.” “What are we going to do?” “I guess we can set up camp, call for a fast, pray, and wait for God to do something.” If this had been Israel’s solution for crossing the Jordan River, they would have watched the flood waters continue racing past them for months without diminishing even an inch.
I heard an illustration that further exemplifies this way of thinking. A man peeked over his privacy fence to greet his new neighbor, but because the grass was over three feet high, he could barely see him relaxing in his lawn chair. He yelled out, “Hey neighbor, do you need to borrow my lawn mower so you can cut your grass?” He was totally surprised by the reply, “No, but thanks! I’m a Christian. By faith I’m sitting here, praying, waiting, and believing God will mow it for me.”
Both stories seem ridiculous, but I know individuals with a similar mentality about how God works. Their Promised Land sits right before them in plain sight, but because some obstacles blocked the way, 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 something is blocking the path, shows faith. No amount of prayer will accomplish what God intends for us to begin or to do.
The Biblical story of Joshua and Israel crossing into their Promised Land teaches an important lesson for us when facing hindrances in our spiritual journey. The Jordan 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 floodplain. Then God worked 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 Jordan River on dry ground.
Over the years, this has become somewhat of a motto for our Christian journey: get your feet wet. Donna and I have both left several ministries through the years when we felt the Holy Spirit had spoken clearly to our hearts that it was time to leave—even with no place to go. We ignored His leading once and it wasn’t a good experience. At the end of my last full-time pastorate it became clear the Holy Spirit was saying, “It’s time to move on.” Flying back from Ghana somewhere over the Atlantic, I wrote my resignation. Everyone asked, “Where are you going, Dr. G.? What are you going to do?” I simply replied I didn’t know. I was standing in the water with wet feet. It became one of the best decisions I’d made in my ministry. Soon after, a nasty church split occurred. But God opened the door for me to spend the years after that teaching at several Bible colleges.
Eight years ago, we were again standing in the water with wet feet. We relocated to our current home, a small farm, animals, peaceful, no traffic, etc. All we had ever wanted, and we believed it was our final home. God guided Israel by a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Whenever the cloud was lifted from over the tent, afterward the sons of Israel would then set out; and in the place where the cloud settled down, there the sons of Israel would camp (Num 9:17). Two months ago, our cloud, the Holy Spirit, lifted. “This can’t be, this is our retirement home, and all we ever dreamed of having”, we argued. We finally surrendered and put our home on the market. Where are we going? We don’t have a clue. Our daughter wants us closer to her, but absolutely nothing is on the market. I feel like the water is up to my ears. My faith has never been stretched like this.
Yet, we remember all the times God has led us to something new that was better than the last. We have walked through the dark valleys more than once and always came through to greener pastures and calmer waters. This is our story but what about you.
Sustaining Word for the Week: Are you sitting and looking at your Promised Land, but parked waiting for God to remove the obstacles? Maybe, it’s time to demonstrate your faith and get your feet wet. Then you will see the mighty acts of the Lord.