Slices
Prepare
Jesus asked Bartimaeus, the blind man, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ (Mark 10:51). Ponder that question as you come to God. How will you answer?
Bible passage
Crossing the Jordan
3 Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over. 2 After three days the officers went throughout the camp, 3 giving orders to the people: ‘When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. 4 Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits between you and the ark; do not go near it.’
5 Joshua told the people, ‘Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.’
6 Joshua said to the priests, ‘Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people.’ So they took it up and went ahead of them.
7 And the Lord said to Joshua, ‘Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so that they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. 8 Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: “When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.”’
9 Joshua said to the Israelites, ‘Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God. 10 This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites. 11 See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you. 12 Now then, choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. 13 And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the Lord – the Lord of all the earth – set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.’
14 So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. 15 Now the Jordan is in flood all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, 16 the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. 17 The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.
Explore
After many years of wandering in the wilderness, and centuries since the promises were first given to Abraham, the people of Israel are about to enter the Promised Land. First, however, they must cross the Jordan, a serious obstacle since it was in flood (v 15) and the people were many.
Consecration is the act of setting oneself apart to God for a particular purpose. It involves getting our hearts right before him and choosing again to do his will. Such heart preparation is often the prelude to a new movement of God in our lives. Joshua calls the people to prepare themselves to enter the land by offering themselves afresh to God (v 5).
The ark symbolised the presence of God. Although other nations may have regarded it as some kind of talisman, to Israel it was as if God himself went before them. It gave them confidence. As the priests enter the waters of the Jordan, a miracle happens: the waters part and the people cross over on dry ground (vs 16,17), just as in the crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21,22). It is God’s doing.
Respond
Do you long to see God at work in and through your life? The key is to surrender yourself to him so he can use you for his glory. Take time to yield every part of your life to him.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Exodus 17,18; Acts 24
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray for the Board of SU England and Wales as they meet today. Among other items on the agenda will be the annual review of the Safeguarding Policy and a review of the draft budget for the next financial year. Pray for direction and faith as they look to the future.
Connecting You
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