The Jordan River Rules: Week 7

We are thrilled to have you join us! Every Tuesday morning at 9:00, now until August 6, we'll gather for a Summer Book Club-Style Bible Study. As a community of like-minded followers of Jesus Christ, we'll share our journeys, support each other, and find encouragement together.

Our focus will be on studying 10 God-given strategies for moving forward, as outlined in "The Jordan River Rules." Each week, we’ll explore one rule and discuss it in the comment section. If you haven't yet grabbed the book, you can get your copy here.

Can't make it on Tuesday mornings at 9:00? No problem! You can participate anytime during the week at your convenience. Simply read the week’s chapter and the corresponding blog post, then join the discussion in the comments. Don’t forget to invite a friend to join us! We look forward to growing together in faith!

​WEEK 7: Trust God to Turn Problems Into Pathways

“And as soon as those bearing the Ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the Ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest), the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho. Now the priests bearing the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan.” Joshua 3:15-17

How do we navigate life's rivers? Let's look at a few lessons from the Jordan. Robert Morgan, in his book, The Jordan River Rules, writes of his inaugural visit to Israel in 1976. There, he beheld the Jordan River in person for the first time. He found it to be surprisingly underwhelming, resembling the modest river near his Tennessee home. The Jordan's diminished size, a mere three percent of its historical grandeur, reflected the impact of extensive irrigation. This once formidable river, described as swift and powerful, has witnessed transformations over the centuries.

Historical Depths and Divine Deliverance: An 1854 account portrays the Jordan as a substantial river, a hundred feet across at Jericho, with depths of ten to twenty feet. Notorious for its swiftness, it was an imposing obstacle. Yet, at God's command, the Israelites, led by priests bearing the Ark of the Covenant, approached this formidable river. In a miraculous display, reminiscent of the Red Sea crossing, an invisible divine dam arrested the Jordan's flow. The waters parted, solid ground emerged, and the nation traversed on dry land (Joshua 3:15-17).
 
A Sacred Spot of Miracles: Elijah and Elisha later replicated this miracle, and centuries afterward, Jesus descended into the Jordan's waters for baptism. The heavens parted, the Holy Spirit descended, anointing Him for ministry. This sacred junction witnessed divine interventions, turning problems into pathways and barriers into breakthroughs.
 
God's Specialization in the Impossible: Aren't you just so glad about that, friend!? Our God doesn't just specialize in the impossible, He specializes in the wholly impossible, converting problems into pathways. In the journey of faith, when God says, "Go forward," we can fully trust that He will provide openings through every obstacle.
 
Isaiah 43:1-2—The Unparted River: However, the Lord doesn't always part the waters, and this is important for us to remember. Isaiah 43:1-2 reassures: "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and the rivers will not overwhelm you." Just as river crossings in nature pose dangers, life's challenges demand caution. The metaphorical river may not part, but God provides a rope of grace secured to the tree of omnipotence.

Three Personal Stories of Trust Amidst Unyielding Currents—I loved reading these personal stories in this week's chapter:

1. Vianne Nichols: Facing breast cancer, she clung to Isaiah 43:2. The Scripture became her guide, and she emerged as a cancer survivor for over twenty years.
   
   
2. Jonah Meshell: Diagnosed with ADHD, he embraced Isaiah 43:2, engraving it on his karate belt. With dreams of being a Hollywood stuntman, he presses on, using his career to share Jesus.
   
   
3. Charles Towne: Remembers a perilous river crossing as he faced life's overwhelming moments, holding on to Isaiah 43:2 for strength and assurance.

I'm sure we could all add a personal story of our own to this list.

When the River Becomes a Blessing: We read this week of a compelling Ethiopian story that unfolds when a river mishap, initially perceived as a setback, led to a divine encounter. Laliso, falls into a river on his mission to Goybi village. His gold-edged Bible symbolizes the awaited truth and the Gospel of Jesus Christ is spread in this corner of the world. The river became his blessing.
 
Facing the River's Current—A Call to Perseverance: Life's rivers may not part as we anticipate or as we want them to, but God's preordained plan unfolds even if we fall into the waters. With the Holy Spirit within and the "golden leaves" of truth, we navigate the currents by faith. Trusting Jesus, regardless of the Jordan's nature, ensures His glory and the spread of the Gospel.

The Jordan River serves as more than a geographical landmark; it embodies the metaphorical rivers we encounter in life. Whether parting miraculously or demanding a swim, these rivers shape our faith journey. Let's anchor ourselves to the promises of Isaiah 43:2, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you." Let's navigate life's currents with unwavering trust in the One who can turn troubling rivers into glorious gains.

 “The same God who led them out was leading them on...God knows how to turn problems into pathways and barriers into breakthroughs. If He says, 'Go forward,' then take the next steps by faith. He intends to provide an opening through every obstacle, and His sovereign power can do exceedingly abundantly more than we can ask or imagine...Sometimes God doesn’t part the river. He allows us to fall into it. But He has a preordained plan, and if we persevere—even against the flow—He will be glorified and the Gospel will spread. The way forward is by faith…” —Robert Morgan

"The metaphorical river may not part, but God provides a rope of grace secured to the tree of omnipotence." I love that thought!! And I love the idea of turning problems into pathways and barriers into breakthroughs! It's just what I needed to read this week. ​How does the story of the Israelites crossing the Jordan River, in Joshua 3:15-17, inspire you to trust God to turn problems into pathways in your own life?

Read The Jordan River Rules: Week 8 here.

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