​What Jordan Do You Need To Go Over

What Jordan Do You Need To Go Over?

8/12/2022

We' all have Jordans to cross in our lives. These are seemingly impossible challenges and the no-way-out situations we find ourselves in. You may see a Jordan in your near future-- the daunting task of being a caregiver to a terminally ill spouse or elderly parents. You may be crossing a Jordan right now--you're trying to pay off college debt or balance an out-of-control budget due to rising inflation. You may have just finished crossing a Jordan--you finally heard the end-of-chemo bell ring.

We are all going to have "Jordans" to go over in our lives at one time or another. These are the seemingly impossible challenges and the no-way-out situations we find ourselves in.

You may see a Jordan in your near future. Maybe it's the daunting task of being a caregiver to a terminally ill spouse or elderly parents. Or, you're asking yourself how you will pay college tuition for your soon-to-be high school senior.

You may be crossing a Jordan right now. Maybe you are trying to pay off college debt or balance an out-of-control budget due to rising inflation. Or, that dream job you've waited for all your life turns out not to be the dream job after all.

Or, possibly you just finished crossing a Jordan. Maybe you finally heard the end-of-chemo bell ring. Or, you've been able to purchase your forever home after months of searching.

Whatever stage of Jordan crossing we find ourselves in, the Lord's charge to Joshua, found in Joshua 1:2-9, is also His charge to us. Let's look at this passage of Scripture and see what the Lord said to Joshua and what He has for us today.

"After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' assistant, 'Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses My servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success [act wisely]. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:1-9

The Lord tells Joshua that Moses is dead and that he (Joshua) is going to lead these people over the mighty Jordan River. Do you think Joshua may have had some concerns about that?

Maybe Joshua didn't feel he could measure up to Moses or fill his sandals. Maybe he remembers how the people treated Moses and he doesn't want to be treated like that. Or, maybe, he's just never really had to depend on and trust the Lord like this before. Have you been there?

Joshua is up against a seemingly impossible challenge and a no-way-out situation!

But the Lord tells Joshua to "arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people" (1:2).

What has the Lord told you to do that seems like an impossible challenge? What no-way-out situation are you facing today?

The Lord assures Joshua that "No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life" (1:5). Why? Because Joshua has the Lord on his side.

Do you have the Lord on your side today? Are you trusting Him to lead you and guide you through the impossible challenges and no-way-out situations life throws your way? Or, are you just going to navigate those treacherous Jordan River waters alone?

Look at these two things the Lord promises Joshua:

"Just as I was with Moses, so I WILL BE WITH YOU." (1:5)
"I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU or forsake you." (1:5)

The Lord reminds Joshua to "BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS" three times in this passage (1:6, 7, 9), One of those times He tells him to "be strong and very courageous" (1:7).

And then the Lord admonishes Joshua to be "careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go" (1:7). The Lord wants Joshua to be successful and He tells him how to be—do not turn to the right hand or to the left. Look straight ahead. Follow my way. Follow Me.

And how is Joshua going to be sure he is careful to do according to all the law that Moses commanded? "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall MEDITATE ON IT DAY AND NIGHT, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success" (1:8). He going to meditate on the Word of God day and night.

Finally, the Lord gives Joshua two commands:

"DO NOT BE FRIGHTENED" (1:9)
"DO NOT BE DISMAYED" (1:9)

And a promise: "for THE LORD YOUR GOD IS WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO” (1:9).

What Jordan do you need to go over today, friend?
“I will be with you, I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous…meditate on it [God’s Word] day and night…Do not be frightened and do not be dismayed for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:5-7).

The Lord’s charge to Joshua, after the death of Moses, is also His charge to us.

The Jordan River Rules

10 God-Given Strategies for Moving Forward

In 2001, The Red Sea Rules showed up on bookshelves, telling the story of the Israelites at the Red Sea. The Lord parted the waters for them, showing us that the same God who leads us into difficulty will lead us out.

But do you know God parted the waters for His people a second time? Forty years after the Red Sea experience, God divided the swollen waters of the Jordan River and led His people into the Promised Land He had prepared for them.

Welcome to The Jordan River Rules! God intends for you to go forward. Everything so far in your life―including your Red Sea moments of crisis―is simply God’s preparation for stronger days ahead. Perhaps you’ve survived your own Red Sea experiences because of God’s help. Now it’s time to move onward toward all the promises He has given you―the Promised Land of a rewarding future. The same God who led you out will lead you on.