Day 5 of 6 — Pioneering Faith. About 3 minutes.
That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.
Joshua 3:16
Israel stood near Jericho watching the Jordan in front of them, but the verse tells us something remarkable. The water coming down the river was stopped very far away near the city of Adam. What God was doing to make their crossing possible was happening upstream, away from where the people were standing.
Think about what that means from Israel’s perspective. When the priests began moving toward the water, they could not see what was happening miles upstream. From where they stood, the Jordan was still the Jordan. The obstacle was still in front of them. Yet God was already dealing with the problem in a place they could not see.
We often assume that if we cannot see God doing anything, nothing is happening.
We pray for someone and see no change. We ask God for direction and still do not have every answer. We obey Him in an area of life and wonder why circumstances have not immediately changed. Our view is limited to the stretch of river directly in front of us.
God sees the whole river.
That does not mean we should invent hidden miracles every time we do not understand our circumstances. Joshua knew God would act because God had specifically promised that He would. Our confidence must likewise rest in what God has actually revealed in His Word.
But the principle is encouraging. Our inability to see everything God is doing does not mean God is inactive. He may be arranging circumstances we know nothing about. He may be working in another person’s heart. He may simply be preparing us while we wait.
Your responsibility is not to see upstream.
Your responsibility is to obey the God who can.
If the only evidence you will accept of God’s faithfulness is what you can presently see, your faith will always be small. Trust Him beyond the limits of your view.
Growth principle: God’s work is not limited to what you can presently see.
Take it with you: Think of one situation where you have become discouraged because you cannot see progress. Give it back to God today and faithfully do the next thing He has given you.
Pause and pray: Lord, my view is small, but Yours is not. Forgive me for assuming that nothing is happening simply because I cannot see it. Help me trust Your wisdom and remain faithful with what You have given me to do. Amen.
From Sunday’s message: Faith That Steps Into the Water (Joshua 3-4)
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