Faith — Victory Over Impossibility

Early the next morning Joshua and all the Israelites left Acacia Grovea, where they camped while they sent two spies.   They arrived at the banks of the Jordan River, where they camped before crossing.   For three days, Joshua with the Israelites stayed to prepare their entrance to the Promised Land, which was the other side of the Jordan River.   All of them were really excited.  They could not believe they arrived at the Promised Land.  Only were a few steps to take the cross the Jordan River.  Then they would actually be in the Promised Land while standing with their own feet on the Land, which had been promised for many generations before.   They also knew what had happened to their parent generation.  They did not believe the promise of God and complained to God, when they heard their ten spies’ report about the strong people, the fortified cities and the giants.   Especially, they heard about the legendry giants, whom nobody could defeat.  Rationally speaking, it was impossible to take the Promised Land due to the people already in the Land.  In fact, it was almost literally suicidal to go into the Promised Land.   In fear, the people of Israel carefully listened to the report of the ten spies, although the rest two spies out of the twelve voiced up their belief in the God’s promised despite of the visible impossibility.   God, then, pulled back them into the wilderness for the next thirty nine years till the unbelieving and rebellious generation completely perished in the wilderness.   Yes, the people of Israel at the bank of the Jordan River saw their parents, uncles and aunts perished in the wilderness with their own eyes.   They saw the consequences of unbelief.  For three days, all talked about what had happened, and what they would do – faithfully following God and truly believing the God’s promise under any circumstances.    

Three days later Joshua saw the entire Israelites were ready before God.  He mobilized the Israelite officers to go through the camp, giving these instructions to the people: “When you see the Levitical priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD your God, move out from your positions and follow them.  Since you have never traveled this way before, they will guide you. Stay about a half mile behind them, keeping a clear distance between you and the Ark. Make sure you don’t come any closer.”   Joshua learned for the last forty years what was the most important:  faith in God and having a complete trust in Him while believing the promise of God without any doubts.   Joshua knew who the true leader was, which was not Joshua, himself, but God.   Joshua humbled himself before God with the entire Israelites.   He put God in front by making the Levitical priests to carry the Ark of the Covenant of the God, who faithfully followed.  In his heart, he could see the presence of God in front of the formation of the Israelites although they had not made the formation yet.   Joshua always dreamed about God who led the Israelites into the Promised Land.    Yes, nobody but God was at the front.   The mighty hand of God was leading the people of Israel, and the Israelites followed like sheep of a good and faithful shepherd.   

In the morning Joshua said to the priests, “Lift up the Ark of the Covenant and lead the people across the river.”  Following Joshua’s command, the priests started out and went ahead of the people.  Then the people followed.    It was the harvest season, and the Jordan was overflowing its banks.  The river was deep and the water was fast.   Anything dropped into the river would be immediately swept away with the strong flow of the river.   Even so, nobody questioned about the command given by Joshua.  Like Joshua, they also firmly believed the God’s promised without any doubts.   The priests were leading the entire Israelites with the Ark of the Covenant of God, and the entire Israelites were following them toward the Jordan River overflowing because it was the harvest season.   Please try to picture in your mind what the scene would be really like.    The Israelites were blindly walking toward the overflowing river.   To anybody with a rational mind, it must have had been completely absurd.  For a third person, they were essentially suicidal.   They were literally walk into (i.e., jumping into) the overflowing river.   Soon they would be swept away by the dangerously fast moving water body of the river.  Even so, no single complaint was heard, which was a stark contrast with what their parent generation did to God.    The new generation of Israelites knew who God was, and absolutely believed God.   Their faith was bigger than what they saw, touched and heard, which was what God wanted.   And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.  (Hebrews 11:6)   Yes, their faith was strong, which pleased God.

Joshua did not test whether the flow of water would really stop or not.   However, he had an absolute trust in the God’s word.   As the God’s leader, he encouraged the entire Israelites to follow the God’s word.   Yes, what God told Joshua was irrationally absurd.   Joshua faithfully followed God regardless this uncertain future as Abraham, the forefather of our faith, did.  It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going.  (Hebrews 11:8)   Abraham believed and he left his home land without knowledge of the future except faith in God and His promise.   This faith made him as the father of our faith.