Surviving The Unknowns

Jun 1

“Then Joshua rose early in the morning; and he and all the sons of Israel set out from Shittim and came to the Jordan, and they lodged there before they crossed. At the end of three days the officers went through the midst of the camp.” Joshua 3:1-2

These two verses tell us something very important. After wandering in the wilderness for so long, 40 years to be exact, they finally came to the shore of the Jordan River. This was the final challenge to overcome that was keeping the Israelites out of the promised land. They had to wait. They waited for 3 long days on the edge.

That time of year the Jordan River was at flood depths and rushing down stream. So it would not be an easy crossing. Their promised land was in sight. They could throw a rock across the river and it would land in what was promised to them, but how would they get there?

This was an unknown time of waiting. Think about all the Israelite sheep, goats, donkeys, family heirlooms, prized possessions, all their things. They didn’t know if everything they had and did to get to that point was going to be for nothing. They camped and waited.

What Were They Waiting For?

They knew God called them to this point. He was with them every step of the way and He brought them here to this place. But in front of them all they could see was a rushing river of unknown depth and a bunch of other unknowns about what to do to move forward.

“It’s an easy parallel for us to make today, isn’t it? A virus is seeping across the world and has reached our shores, and we don’t know how treacherous it’s going to be. God is calling us to continue forward in love of neighbor and service to his kingdom, but all we can see are public surfaces potentially covered in germs and neighbors who may be walking vectors of disease.” -Alastair Groves

As God called the Israelites to wait, He has called us to slow down, stop, wait, and trust Him. We might not know what our flood waters coming will look like or mean, but God wants us to keep trust in Him.

He could have done some other things, but instead God didn’t.

He could have had the water parted when they arrived so all they had to do was cross.

He could have given them wisdom on how to construct a bridge to cross all the sheep and families.

He could have allowed the water to be calm enough so they could all wade across.

He could have made this part of the story pretty dramatic, but he didn’t.

God didn’t do it this way. He wanted them to wait. He wanted them to trust Him. He wanted them to know that He still had a plan and He was still thinking about His people.

God has asked his people to wait on many occasions. I think of when Noah took 100 years to build the ark before the floodwaters came. He trusted God, was obedient, but he waited a long time.

I think of Abraham and Sarah waiting for the baby. He trusted God and he provided them with Isaac.

I think of Joseph waiting during his trials in being sold to slavery and then many years in service to Egypt. As it says in Genesis 50:20, what you intended for evil, God intended for good. God was working for good in his time of waiting.

I think of the 40 years that the Israelites wandered before being brought to the promised land. So many things happen to them were God showed up during that time of waiting.

Fast forward a bit to Jesus waiting 33 years of his life to die for us. He knew what was going to happen when He came to Earth. In the Garden of Gethsemane, he prayed tears and sweat blood, as he waited during the final hours before his excruciating death. This definitely shows that he knew what was coming.

Now we are in a period of waiting, not because of the virus, but because of God’s Kingdom to come and be fully restored. During this time we are not told to stop and do nothing during our wait. We are told to go and make disciples of all nations. Matthew 28:19

Instinctively, during times like this where we have to wait, we want to be frantically getting to the place where we can find out what’s next. We want to get rid of the unknowns.

But can you see how that is working in the unknowns, behind the scenes while we wait, and he knows what’s next? Can you trust him in it?

“Pour out your anxieties to your Father in Heaven. Do not churn fruitlessly inside your own heart with worries about school closings, travel plans, economic downturns, or the potentially infected surfaces you’ve touched! When you are afraid, turn to him. Cast your anxieties on him, because he cares for you [1 Peter 5:7]. In fact, let handwashing or rubbing on hand sanitizer become a moment in which you consciously entrust yourself and the future of everyone you care about into his hands.” -Alasdair Groves

When we reach our riverbank, let’s remember that we follow a God who parts the waters. Even if we don’t see him working, or understand how he’s working, we can trust that he is (Romans 8:28).

God Is Hope

He hears us and sees us. Here are some scriptures to give hope.
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. John 16:33

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe. Proverbs 18:10

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and rescues them from all their troubles. Psalm 34:17