Scripture text for Thursday, February 4, 2010: Joshua 3:1-4:24
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Biblical miracles are more tangible when I imagine myself inside the story. So to grasp the magnitude of this one, I picture myself being among a mass of families as numerous as the stars in the sky, all standing on the banks of a swift and swollen river. Except for Caleb and Joshua, we children of Hebrew slaves were all born free in the vast and dreadful desert, having cut our teeth on manna and still wearing sandals that will not wear out. We’ve seen the Lord in pillars of clouds and fire, and marveled at Moses’ radiant face. We know far more about being thirsty for water than having too much of it, and nearly nothing about conquering the inhabited cities of Canaan.
Then suddenly, at Joshua’s command, the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant step into the Jordan. We see the waters stop flowing and then quickly drain from the rocky riverbed, allowing the priests to move to its center. We all cross over on dry ground in awe of the faithful Levites, who contain an entire river by upholding the golden ark, the home of the Ten Commandments given by God.
Were I really there, would I have understood the lesson, that upholding God’s word in obedience allows Him to move supernaturally on earth? Perhaps not fully, but hopefully I will remember this miracle the next time God calls me to discount my natural instincts and obey him in radical faith.
Devotion prepared by Linda Monahan