Crossing the Jordan River Daily
Scripture Passage: Deuteronomy 9:1-5 (NASB)
“Hear, O Israel! You are crossing over the Jordan today to go in to dispossess nations greater and mightier than you, great cities fortified to heaven, 2 a people great and tall, the sons of the Anakim, whom you know and of whom you have heard it said, ‘Who can stand before the sons of Anak?’ 3 Know therefore today that it is the Lord your God who is crossing over before you as a consuming fire. He will destroy them and He will subdue them before you, so that you may drive them out and destroy them quickly, just as the Lord has spoken to you.
4 “Do not say in your heart when the Lord your God has driven them out before you, ‘Because of my righteousness the Lord has brought me in to possess this land,’ but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is dispossessing them before you. 5 It is not for your righteousness or for the uprightness of your heart that you are going to possess their land, but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord your God is driving them out before you, in order to confirm the oath which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
SUMMARY
Moses tells the Israelites that they are crossing over the Jordan to go in and dispossess nations that are more powerful than them. Moses tells them that the Lord their God will go before them and destroy those nations. Moses also reminds the Israelites that they are dispossessing the other nations not because of their righteousness but because of the wickedness of these nations and because God keeps the oath He swore in the past to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
MEDITATION & REFLECTION
Moses gives three important messages to the Israelites.
The first is to HEAR the instruction to cross over the Jordan to dispossess the nations greater and mightier than them (v. 1).
The past few months have been one of the stormiest seasons of my life, as I’m sure it has been for many. I often felt defeated and depleted both physically and spiritually by all of the news and the messages of hopelessness that the world (media) was bringing. But in this verse God tells me to hear and hold onto His message, not of despair but of hope. His message is that I am to CROSS over the Jordan today. There are daily “Jordan Rivers” that I have to cross—dealing with chronic pain because of my arthritis, attempting to homeschool my son while trying to do my work at home, cleaning and cooking though I am thankful that my husband tries to help out as much as he can, and dealing with anxiety during this prolonged quarantined life while not knowing what our future is going to be like as the “new norm.” Some days, the river feels deep and wide, and some days, the river feels narrower. But no matter what river I must cross, God tells me that I WILL cross the “Jordan.” This gives me assurance, hope and new strength to face and conquer my daily struggles.
Second, Moses exhorts me to KNOW that the Lord God Himself will cross over before me. He will destroy the great and mighty nations and will subdue them before me (v. 3). What a promise! God doesn’t just promise me the victory, but He tells that He will go before me as a consuming fire. He’s the one who will destroy and subdue them. I don’t even need to fight them. I just need to “cross over,” by fully trusting His words and doing what I am called to do, at home or at work, with a grateful heart. The worries and stress that have overcome me, because of my lack of trust in the Lord during the pandemic, have affected my mood, my health and the way that I have treated my family. I am reminded again that I just need to stand still and trust His faithfulness.
Third, Moses tells me to REMEMBER that all was done not through my righteousness or because I am upright, but solely by God’s grace. Every blessing, victory and accomplishment of the past and present and in the future is given to me, not through my own work but by His grace and faithfulness.
APPLICATION
I want to cross the Jordan River daily by meditating and being more attentive to His words. I become so easily distracted and discouraged by the messages from the media and people in general. This leads to chaotic spiritual turmoil. I want to stand firm by hearing, knowing and remembering God’s words and promises. I want to spend more consistent quiet time early in the morning, and limit my exposure to news and the social media.
PRAYER
Lord, thank You for encouraging and uplifting my spirit with such a hopeful yet powerful message of Your love and faithfulness. Fill me with Your Spirit, that I may overcome my doubts and fears and not be swayed by my emotions. Forgive me for my lack of trust and for becoming so easily distracted by the messages of the world. Help me to be more attentive to Your words so I may hear and recognize Your pleading, tender voice telling me to cross the Jordan today. I don’t need to be afraid, for You are the one who is fighting for me. Help me to stay humble before You and remember that all was done according to Your perfect love, amazing grace and mercy. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
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