The children of Israel had spent 40 years in the wilderness and now they were about to enter into the Promised Land. The Jordan River was the barrier keeping them out, so they had to cross the Jordan to get there. Sometimes we need to leave the past behind and enter new territory. Usually we will encounter a barrier that keeps us from the new land, and we must break through that barrier to get to what God has for us. Here are 4 principles in "Crossing the Jordan."
1. You must believe that God has given you the land. God had promised their fathers that He would give them their own land (Josh. 1:6). Many of those people died in the wilderness and could not enter it due to unbelief (Heb. 3:19). Before you can enter any new territory, you must believe that it's God's will and that He has given it to you.
2. You must believe that the Promised Land is better than the wilderness. Why would you go into the land, unless you believed it was better than the wilderness? The 12 men that Moses had sent to spy out the land said that it was "an exceedingly good land" (Num. 14:7). Some people probably said, "I kind of like it here in the wilderness. This is what I'm used to. I like all the sand, rocks, and dirt out here. I'm not sure I want to go into a land full of green grass and fruit trees." It's easy to stay with what you're familiar with instead of doing something new. But then you miss out on the blessings God has for you.
3. You must believe that God is with you. Joshua said, "Be strong and courageous...for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go" (Josh. 1:9). To leave your comfort zone and tread into new territory, you must believe that God is with you and that you're not on your own. "God is with you" means that He is there to help and guide you through all situations, both good and bad.
4. You must take a step of faith into the Jordan. Imagine standing at the Jordan River, and you don't know how you're going to get an entire nation across it. There isn't a bridge over the river. There aren't any boats. But God told them to take a step of faith and He would open the way. As soon as the priests put their feet in the river, the Lord stopped the water and they crossed over (Josh. 3:13). Sometimes God wants us to take the step of faith first, and then He will come through.
Do you need to cross the Jordan today?
