“So the people left their tents to cross the Yarden, with the cohanim carrying the ark for the covenant ahead of the people. When those carrying the ark had come to the Yarden, and the cohanim carrying the ark had waded into the water (for throughout harvest season the Yarden overflows its banks),”-Joshua 3:14-15
You know what’s interesting about the Jordan River?
Most tourists who go to Israel are absolutely underwhelmed when they go to see it.
They’re expecting some tremendous flowing body of water equal to the Amazon River or something of similar nature.
Well, here’s the thing homies.
It just ain’t that big or deep.
And depending on the month of the year, the waters are so calm a two-year old child could literally stroll across it.
But that’s only during certain months of the year.
Come early spring when the snow on Mount Hermon melts and a huge transformation occurs.
The width of the river practically doubles (maybe even triples) in size to the point where the water overflows the banks.
Once this happens, good luck trying to cross it on your own.
Heck, you’d need more than luck.
You’d need a miracle.
During this time, the waters can reach depths of over 15 feet and are flowing at a furious pace.
It would be risky for even an Olympic trained swimmer to get across.
Notice verse 15 tells us “throughout harvest season the Yarden overflows its banks”.
And in the next chapter 4, we’ll be informed that this crossing took place on the 10th day of the 1st month of the New Year.
So we know this event took place in late March or early April per our modern calendar.
Now here’s the thing.
3500 years ago, the flow of the river was even more violent than it is today.
Why?
Because of all of the literally millions of tourists who go to visit the area throughout the year.
Tons of water are pumped out of the Jordan to hydrate the otherwise parched land and take care of both the residents and guests so they can take showers, do their laundry, wash their cars and so on.
So here’s the takeaway for today.
The Lord could have chosen anytime to have the Israelites cross over the Jordan.
Yet he chose the worst possible time when the waters were at their peak flow and it’s literally impossible for any person to cross.
Just one month earlier and the Israelites could have crossed over of their own power.
And just one month later, same story.
The Israelites could have waded across on their own.
But not at the time the Lord chose.
Once the Israelites Joshua was leading arrived at the Jordan and took one look at the deep and rapidly flowing waters, they knew they were in trouble.
The Lord would have to perform a miracle to get the Israelites across and that’s exactly what He did.
The lesson here is don’t get discouraged if the obstacles in your life seem insurmountable.
The Lord may be setting things up to perform such an incredible and jaw-dropping miracle in your life, your life and the lives of those who witness it may never be the same.
Have faith!
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