Crossing the Jordan

[Angelina]

Crossing the Jordan
In the OT, after 400 years of slavery, Israel left Egypt under the guiding hand of Moses for a new land flowing with milk and honey. These chosen people were led by the God of their forefathers. God, who remembered his promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and this journey marked the beginning of a covenant that became a shadow of the restoration that God had prepared for all mankind [Galatians 3:13-14], that reality being Jesus Christ our Savior [Matthew 1:18-23], the High Priest of a new covenant [Hebrews 2:14-18]. Even this new covenant [Hebrews 9:11-15] was marked with a promise.

John 7
37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

The Holy Spirit and eternal life.

Ephesians 1:12-14
13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

John 3:14-16
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Crossing the Jordan is likened to the Israelites in the wilderness. It's a time of testing and trusting God even when there is no evidence to prove that the decision to come out of Egypt (slavery/the world) was the right one. Some of the people in the wilderness complained that it was better to be slaves in Egypt rather than perish in the wilderness, but the whole congregation that came out of Egypt perished because of their disobedience and unbelief. Their children who were born in the wilderness and were under a certain age group, however, did cross over the Jordan, along with Joshua and Caleb, who led them.

Every believer goes through the “wilderness experience” at least one time in their life. I have personally found it to be the most rewarding place to grow and mature, although it does not seem that way at the time. It puts feet on your belief and enables you to persevere through to the end. The wilderness is not a pleasant place to be, but it does not last, and it really does boost your faith in God.

Crossing the Jordan is not an easy journey for any new believer in Christ who may endeavor to embark upon it spiritually. It is a time of personal struggle, of letting go of Egypt (the world) and the things associated with it. [Numbers 14:1-3] and having to put our trust in God rather than ourselves. A time when we need to believe without seeing any evidence, by faith. God knows our every need and provides even before we ask him. [Numbers 13:31-33], [Galatians 3:5-9], [Numbers 21:4-6], [Philippians 4:19].

God was faithful to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and we are the evidence and part of that promise; the rest is still to come.

One day we will enter the promised land, the Kingdom of Heaven, and be gathered together with those who not only crossed the Jordan but also took possession of their inheritance as those who are faithful in Jesus Christ our redeemer ~ to the very end. Glory!

Angelina

written in 06 May 2011

 

[for_his_glory]

So many even today are wondering around the desert only knowing God by a name, but no trust or belief in any of His promises. What should have only taken 11 days, which I didn't know, turned into 40 years wondering in the desert. Check out this website.

11 Day Trip Takes 40 Years

Today’s reading comes from Deuteronomy 1-3. Here’s what I journaled – Scripture – Deuteronomy 1:2-3 – Normally it takes only eleven days to travel from Mount Sinai to…

readingandunderstandinggodsstory.wordpress.com

 

[Hidden In Him]

Every believer goes through the “wilderness experience” at least one time in their life. I have personally found it to be the most rewarding place to grow and mature, although it does not seem that way at the time. It puts feet on your belief and enables you to persevere through to the end. The wilderness is not a pleasant place to be, but it does not last, and it really does boost your faith in God.

So many even today are wondering around the desert only knowing God by a name, but no trust or belief in any of His promises. What should have only taken 11 days, which I didn't know, turned into 40 years wondering in the desert. Check out this website.

I've often wondered if the 40 years was not part of a deliberate lesson on the Lord's part to teach even the end-time church how walking out the spiritual war and finally conquering the land will take a crucifixion of the flesh. They COULD have gotten there in 11 days (sorry FHG, I haven't read your link yet), but it would take forty years to get the desires of the flesh largely driven out of them, and it equates to the 40 day fast that Christ did which I personally think stands as the ultimate example of how to deal with it. But they desires the leaks and the cucumbers and other foods of Egypt, they desired the luxuries. And their flesh long for the idolatrous worship of the golden calf as well, when it says, "They sat down to eat and rose up to play."

And yet they had no power in the flesh. They were afraid of the giants in the land, and would get militarily defeated in their own power until they depended upon God's supernatural power. It took forty years to beat the flesh out of them and train them in how to depend upon Him alone before they finally entered in and began taking the land that was promised to them. That's the lesson I think is taught be the 40 years in the wilderness.

 

[for_his_glory]

I've often wondered if the 40 years was not part of a deliberate lesson on the Lord's part to teach even the end-time church how walking out the spiritual war and finally conquering the land will take a crucifixion of the flesh. They COULD have gotten there in 11 days (sorry FHG, I haven't read your link yet), but it would take forty years to get the desires of the flesh largely driven out of them, and it equates to the 40 day fast that Christ did which I personally think stands as the ultimate example of how to deal with it. But they desires the leaks and the cucumbers and other foods of Egypt, they desired the luxuries. And their flesh long for the idolatrous worship of the golden calf as well, when it says, "They sat down to eat and rose up to play."

And yet they had no power in the flesh. They were afraid of the giants in the land, and would get militarily defeated in their own power until they depended upon God's supernatural power. It took forty years to beat the flesh out of them and train them in how to depend upon Him alone before they finally entered in and began taking the land that was promised to them. That's the lesson I think is taught be the 40 years in the wilderness.

It does teach an important lesson as they/we fell away from God with all the grumbling and unbelief when things do not go our way, but all we need is to be obedient and trust in God who always gives us a better way.

 

[Angelina]

So many even today are wondering around the desert only knowing God by a name, but no trust or belief in any of His promises.

Ephesians 1:12-14
13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

Belief is very much a key element of the salvation message. The Holy Spirit will then come and dwell in those who believe the message of salvation.