River of Chaos

Nov. 11

Read: Joshua 3:1-17

River of Chaos

“Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.” (v.5)

Water in the ancient world has always represented chaos and evil. The “formless and void” chaos at the beginning of creation is an example of this:

“The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” (Gen. 1:2)

Here we see that the Spirit of God “hovers over” … rules over … the chaos and destruction (the “formless void”) of the waters. I think this is why God choses to perform the miracles that he does for his people, specifically parting the Red Sea and now the River Jordan in Joshua 3. These miracles are not simply about navigating geography, rather they are about reassuring the people of God that he is indeed still in control and does in fact rule over the darkness and chaos. As stunning and awe inspiring as it would be to see the river Jordan part, what is significant is that it demonstrates the power of God Most High over everything… including evil and chaos. Joshua taps into this when he is talking to the people of God:

“And Joshua said, “Here is how you shall know that the living God is among you and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Perizzites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, and the Jebusites.” (v.10)

You see, this was to be a sign to the people that God would indeed drive out and displace the evil and chaos that stood before them. God Most High has the power to direct the flow of chaos and evil… he is the one that can interrupt its path and hold it at bay. (v.13) But I want you to notice one other thing about this miracle.

Did you notice how God did not make the Jordan river completely dry up or disappear? This is a powerful picture of how we as the people of God function in this world. God carries his people through the midst of the chaos and evil and brings them to the other side. God has not eradicated evil and chaos in this world… not yet at least. As we travel through this world, we will come face to face with the chaos and evil… in fact we will stand on the banks of that proverbial river. In fact, it is not until we bravely step into it and move forward that we will experience the miraculous provision of the Lord:

“…command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, ‘When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’…And when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap…and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water” (v.8,13,15)

Those traveling with the Lord (with the ark of the covenant) didn’t get swept away by the chaos of the river… but they did have to get their feet wet! The rest of the people of Israel walked over on dry ground. (v.17) Now I know what you are thinking… “how about someone else have to confront the chaos, take that step of faith, and then I can simply follow behind on dry ground?” You see, the thing is that in Christ - we are ALL holy and royal priests; “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood…” (1 Peter 2:9) In this day and age, where is the presence of God in this world… where is the proverbial ark of the covenant? The better question is actually WHO are the dwelling places of the Lord today? The answer is US. We are the temple of the Lord. He is present in us and with us. In the same way that the ark goes ahead of the people, we have become the place where God’s presence is uniquely in this world… He is in his people. As both priests and a type of the ark of the covenant, the Lord is calling us to be “strong, courageous, and doers of his word” and that means trusting him when we stand on the banks of a river of chaos and evil. Take that next step, trusting the Lord to part the river. Watch as the Lord carries you through to the other side. Walk in faith… one step in front of the other… and HE will see you through. This is why God loves to flex his muscle on the “water” because of the deep meanings and truths it carried for his people. Love you guys. -JDP