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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Thursday, 29 May 2025:
Joshua 3:1–6 – “Then Joshua rose early in the morning… and they came to the Jordan.”
The Israelites have come to the edge of the Jordan River, poised to enter the Promised Land. But the river is at flood stage (v. 15). From a human standpoint, the timing seems impossible. Yet this is often how God works—He brings us to impassable places so we can witness His power. Joshua tells the people to consecrate themselves, for “tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.” God doesn’t ask us to figure out how He will work—He calls us to prepare our hearts and step forward in faith. Consecration means setting ourselves apart, removing distractions, and focusing wholly on Him. Before great movements of God, there must be personal preparation.
Remember, It was the Sovereign God who brought the Israelites to seemingly impassible waters so He would be glorified and they would experience His power at work and be built up in faith. This wasn’t merely bad timing, bad luck, bad karma, or God’s punishment. This was the Father at work lovingly teaching. So, how do you interpret and react to ‘unfortunate’ events in your life? Do you get disheartened, or do you remain strong and courageous because you know your Sovereign God is at hand? Remember, the God who counts every hair on your head (Matthew 10:30; Luke 12:7) and collects your every tear (Psalm 56:8), the Father who gave His Son for you and promises you all good things (Romans 8:32) knows exactly what you are experiencing and is right there with you.
You will likely not understand exactly why God is allowing your circumstances to occur, but generally speaking, He is doing five things at once: 1) revealing Himself to you in a greater way, 2) revealing you to yourself so you can see where you still need to grow in Christlike character, 3) revealing Himself to others through His interaction with you (glorifying Himself), 4) using you as an instrument of His grace into the lives of others, and 5) preparing you for greater works ahead. How you receive your assignment, the task at hand, will impact not only your level of courage and joy, but also your spiritual growth, along with your witness before others. Don’t just endure your experience, joyfully and gratefully embrace it and make the most of it with you eyes open to what God might be doing through it. You might miss the blessing if you aren’t looking for it.
- Exodus 14:13–16 – “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD…. Lift up your staff… and divide it.”
- 2 Corinthians 12:9 – “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Joshua 3:7 — “Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.”
God affirms Joshua as Israel’s leader just as He had affirmed Moses. The miracle about to unfold is not just for progress, but for confirmation—God is with Joshua. The priests are told to step into the water carrying the ark of the covenant. The ark represents God’s presence, going before the people. And the waters will not part until their feet touch the edge. This is a pattern of faith: God goes first, but He asks us to take the first step. The miracle happens at the moment of obedience. Faith is not waiting for the waters to part; it’s moving forward while they still rage.
- Hebrews 11:29 – “By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land.”
- Psalm 114:3,7 – “The sea looked and fled…. Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord.”
God validates His leaders by working miraculously through their lives. Worthy leaders know the way, show the way, and go the way. Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) If a leader is not following Christ, the leader can only lead others astray ultimately.
Joshua 3:15, 16 — “…and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest), the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away.”
The moment the priests’ feet touched the water, the flood stopped. God made a dry path through the river, and all Israel crossed over. This miracle echoes the Red Sea crossing but also signals something new. The wilderness is behind them; the promised life lies ahead. God doesn’t repeat Himself exactly—He builds upon what came before. As mentioned before, with new blessings will come new challenges, new requirements. What doesn’t change is God’s faithfulness and the demand to remain faithful. Situations change, God doesn’t, and your love, joy, peace, and gratitude doesn’t have to if you keep your eyes affixed to Jesus. In Christ, on the Rock, you can remain steadfast and immovable in your peace. However, you will need to be transformed by the renewing of your mind to get there – you need to repent of your old pattern of self-centered, worldly thinking and start seeing everything from the perspective of the Sovereign Goodness of your Ever-Present God.
- Isaiah 26:3 — You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
- Romans 12:2 — Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
- 1 Corinthians 15:58 — Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
- Isaiah 43:19 – “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?”
- Matthew 19:26 – “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
The priests stood firm in the middle of the river until all the people had passed. This is a picture of intercessory leadership—standing in the gap so others can walk into God’s promises. God is not only powerful; He is personal, present, and faithful to every generation.
God expects you to step out in faith, then He will respond miraculously to your faith. God will use your fiery-furnace, lion’s-den, Red-sea, Jordan-river experiences to reveal Himself to you and to others in a way that leaves no reasonable doubt that it was Him at work. When God works miraculously in your life in ways beyond your control to see you through seemingly impossible circumstances, or when God produces miraculous changes in your life, freeing you from what has always previously imprisoned you, the invisible reality of God is made visible as the evidence of our faith and testimony.
Unbelievers will always try to find ‘natural’ explanations for God’s supernatural acts. For example, countless theories have been promulgated on how the Israelites crossed the Red Sea, how Manna was produced to feed millions in the desert, how power came from the Ark of the Covenant, how Jesus rose from the dead, etc. They will also attempt to explain away how God is miraculously working in your life to transform you into Christlikeness. However, the truth of God has always been self-evident. How has it been revealed in your life? Reflect on all that God has done in your life and have confidence knowing that the same God who worked miraculously throughout the Bible and throughout history will continue to work miraculously in your life when you surrender it to Him.
Crossing the Jordan represents a transition from wandering to inheritance, from survival to calling. It marks the moment when faith becomes action. For the believer, it can symbolize baptism, stepping into a new life in Christ. Today, boldly step into your new life in Christ and stand in the gap so others with less confidence than you might cross over. His timing, His power, and His presence lead the way. Our job is to consecrate ourselves, trust His Word, and step out when He says go.
- Proverbs 3:5–6 – “Trust in the LORD with all your heart… and he will make straight your paths.”
- John 14:1 – “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.”
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 29 May 2025: “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.” (Joshua 3:5) What river stands in front of you today? Is it a difficult conversation, a season of uncertainty, a leap of faith? Prepare your heart before you act. Remove distractions. Seek God’s presence. Then take the next faithful step. Don’t wait for the water to part—move forward with your feet in faith. Write down a Jordan you’re facing and what obedience looks like. Pray: Lord, I don’t want to stay on the riverbank any longer. I want to walk in Your promises. Help me consecrate myself, listen to Your voice, and step out in faith. Thank You for going before me. Amen.
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 