2 March | Teens
«And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, that the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off, the waters that come down from upstream, and they shall stand as a heap.» Joshua 3: 13
When the time came for the people of Israel to finally enter the Promised Land, they were faced with a major obstacle: the Jordan River, which was swollen beyond its banks due to the harvest season. It seemed impossible to cross it. But God had a plan! After all, He always has!
God told Joshua, the new leader of Israel, to order the priests to carry the Ark of the Covenant to the river’s edge. The Ark of the Covenant was a very important symbol for Israel, representing God’s presence with His people. And God promised that as soon as the priests’ feet touched the water, the river would stop flowing and it would split, allowing everyone to cross on dry land. Does that remind you of anything?
And that is exactly what happened! As soon as the priests carrying the Ark touched the water, the miracle happened and the Jordan River stopped flowing, the waters pooled in a great mountain at a great distance, allowing the people of Israel to cross over on dry land. In this incredible story, we learn that God can open paths where there seem to be none, especially at times when we face great challenges or obstacles in our lives. Just as God caused the Jordan River to open for the people of Israel, He can also help us overcome the difficulties we encounter. It teaches us to trust God and keep moving forward, even when things seem impossible.
Take Action
The next time you visit a river or lake, stop for a moment, and remember the history of the Jordan River. While you are at it, think of a challenge or “river” you are facing in your life. Pray to God, asking Him to open a way for you to overcome this challenge, just as He did for the people of Israel.