Red Sea/Jordan River

Red Sea/Jordan River

God delivers His children in various and different ways. When the Israelites were backed up against the Red Sea, Moses was told to raise his staff and the Red Sea opened up before the throng of people. Before the first person stepped foot into the sea it stood up on either side with walls of water, they entered on dry ground. So even though it took great faith and trust to step into the rocky, but dry seabed - God's work preceded their step of faith.

Exodus 14:16, 21-22 "But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea...Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided. So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left."

On the other hand, when the children of promise were blocked by the raging waters of the Jordan River at flood stage, instead of performing the miracle BEFORE they stepped out, God told them to step out FIRST.

Joshua 3:14-17 "So it was, when the people set out from their camp to cross over the Jordan, with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, and as those who bore the ark came to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests who bore the ark dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks during the whole time of harvest), that the waters which came down from upstream stood still, and rose in a heap very far away at Adam, the city that is beside Zaretan. So the waters that went down into the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, failed, and were cut off; and the people crossed over opposite Jericho. Then the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan; and all Israel crossed over on dry ground, until all the people had crossed completely over the Jordan."

AFTER their toes got wet in the waters of the Jordan River, THEN God performed His miracle and divided the River, making a way to enter Jericho.

So here's my question to you: Are you resisting change in your life, refusing to surrender fully in an area of struggle or sin because you are waiting for a Red Sea miracle when God is sending you a Jordan River miracle? Are you waiting for God to do the miracle BEFORE you obey or are you willing to step out in faith and obey BEFORE you see the fulfillment of God's promise? If so, you may be sitting on the river bank a very long time. Don't be afraid to get your feet wet. -- Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery Ministries at America's KESWICK