Yes, God, your God,
dried up the Jordan’s waters for you until you had crossed, just as God, your
God, did at the Red Sea, which had dried up before us until we had crossed.
This was so that everybody on earth would recognize how strong God’s rescuing
hand is and so that you would hold God in solemn reverence always. Joshua 4:
23-24 MSG
We can tell a lot of one’s life by glancing at photographs. They
tell a story. From a baby’s first arrival into the world to high school
graduation to wedding days and beyond. The commonality in most pictures is the
subject normally wears a smile. If
someone were to go through my old photos they would probably think I was the
happiest person on the planet.
But, pictures only allow us to see what we want them to. I
can’t think of anyone that wants to capture a moment of despair. Why? Because
we don’t want to remember it. The
essence of snapshots is to freeze time so we can fondly look back at happy memories
and pass those down to our loved ones.
I scrolled through images the other day and as I looked at
each one I was instantly taken back to that exact time and place. With some of
them, I remember a disagreement that had occurred earlier in the day or tears
that were shed hours before it was taken. As time passes and I glance at them
again, it’s not the conflicts I’ll recollect but rather the people that were
with me during those times and how, with God, we overcame the obstacles.
This reminds me of the twelve stones of memorial in the book
of Joshua. Joshua begins by the Lord charging him to lead the Israelites across
the Jordan River into new land. The Lord tells him to be strong and courageous because
He would remove their enemies from the land and He would be with them. The
priests, carrying the Ark of the Lord, led the way. As soon as their feet were
placed in the Jordan, its waters were cut off and the river stood up like a
wall. All the people then crossed the river on dry land. Afterward, the Lord
told Joshua to place twelve stones at the place they crossed as a memorial to
the people of Israel to serve as a lasting sign of God’s work. Joshua said in
the future their children would ask what the stones meant and he instructed the
Israelites to tell them the story. The story of God’s might, presence and the
promises He kept. How He did it so everyone on earth would recognize the Lord’s
hand is powerful and they would hold God in solemn reverence always.
We will all go through our own Jordan Rivers at some point.
We’ll probably take a selfie before and after it but unlikely will we do it in
the middle. It’s the hard times no one else sees that builds our character and makes
us who we are. When we feel so weak we must rely on God’s strength. When we don’t
see a way out and God pulls us through. Not many smiling faced portraits then.
But Oh, when we make it to the other side! We may look a little more run down
and our knees might be a little more beaten up but the testimony we’ll give
will be worth it to tell our children. The story of a good Father who was with
us and delivered us into our promised land.
Heavenly Father,
You, who created life knows ours from birth to death. Every smiling face and hidden tear. Your word says you are always with us and fighting for us. Help us to remember that. On the days we are happy enough to take a photo, remind us that it is your delight to see us joyful. During the times we feel the weight of the world on our shoulders, wrap us into your arms and help us rest in your promise of deliverance. Thank you God that no matter how we are feeling, you are there. In Jesus' name, Amen.
