“Moses, my servant is dead; now, therefore, arise, go over ths Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them.” Joshua 1:2
Dear One:
Many years before Joshua, and the people of Israel, crossed the Jordan River, the Lord spoke to Abraham concerning a land that he should receive as an inheritance. It was a “land of promise.” This meant that God had given to Abraham certain promises concerning this land. It was to be a land where the promises of God would be realized throughout history, from the day of Abraham, to that of Christ, to the present day, and beyond. Scripture tells us that Abraham did not know where he was going in obeying God in this matter. However, that would become clear, as God promised him that He would show him, and He did. (Gen. 12:2) Why was this matter of going to this land of promise, so very important for Abraham, but also for the entire world? The answer lies in the specific promise of God associated with Abraham’s obedience: “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.” (Gen. 12:2) Later on in the life of Abraham, the Lord would amplify, or magnify, the extent of the promise, by declaring to Abraham: “And in thy seed shall ALL the nations of the earth be blessed.” (22:18) What was this blessing? It was the Lord Jesus Christ, the coming of the Savior of the world. God would provide through the obedience of Abraham, not only a promise of blessing, but the realization of present and eternal blessing by Christ’s finished work on Calvary. But why is the mentioning of Joshua and the people of Israel, crossing the Jordan River, so very significant? The answer lies in the picture of a life of slavery, and a wilderness experience, where all left behind, to enter into a new life, and experience of power and victory. At the Jordan on the day of the crossing, there was not only the separation from the “slavery” of Egypt, and also of Satan. There was the “putting off” of all that pertained to Egypt and the wilderness experience of unbelief of forty years. The slavery, guilt, and shame, were to be left behind forever with regard to the faithlessness of the people. The promise of a life of victory was before the people. Their walk with God, with Christ, and their obedient faith, would be the key to the realization of that victory. How does this picture specifically relate to the believer, the disciple of Christ?
When a person comes to Christ, like Abraham experienced, there is so much that he does not know, or realize, concerning this new land and life. Abraham did not know where he was going, and neither does the Christian. However, for Abraham and the disciple alike there is the promise of God, “…I will show you.” The moment an individual is born of the Spirit, the result of turning to Christ alone to save him from sin and death, a massive, miraculous thing occurs. God PUTS the believer INTO Christ, in living union with Him. He is sealed for time and eternity in Christ. His life henceforth is IN and BY Christ, Christ having become His life. Delivered from the kingdom and power of Satan, the believer has been set free to live for God. However, from this point onward, the believer must learn NOT to live by the same principles, and manner, as before. The keys of the kingdom, the laws of true eternal life, are to be embraced. No more can one sew new cloth on an old garment, or put new wine in old wineskins. God rides best in His chariot, and we must learn to climb up and remain in HIS chariot, His ways, if we are to know His saving strength. The Jordan River was a line of demarcation, of separation, between the old faithless life, and the new.
Dear Father, Open our eyes to see the significance and greatness of belonging to Christ, and Him belonging to us, by the Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad