Crossing Jordan

On Jordan's stormy banks I stand,
and cast a wishful eye
to Canaan's fair and happy land,
where my possessions lie.
Samuel Stennett, 1727-1795

The Children of Israel stood on the shores of the Jordan twice, forty years apart. The first time they ignored God’s promises, along with the report of two spies, and chose to turn away. That choice cost them the lives of their men of war.

For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: unto whom the LORD sware that he would not shew them the land, which the LORD sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey. (Joshua 5:6 KJV)

They allowed the words of ten men and their own fears to set their course:

And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. (Numbers 13:30-31 KJV)

These people had lived through the plagues against Egypt.  They had seen the miracle of Passover when their first born survived, and the Egyptians did not. They crossed the Red Sea, but when it came to crossing the Jordan to receive God’s promises, they balked. They wished they were dead.

And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness! (Numbers 14:2 KJV)

Their lack of faith in God’s plan cost them:

Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it: (Numbers 14:22-23 KJV)

As Christians, we’ve chosen to be called His children, joint heirs with Christ. He has given each of us work to be done. Have we done it? Or does God still say:

And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them? (Numbers 14:11 KJV)

Crossing Jordan does not mean moving from this world into God’s kingdom.  It means crossing from our lives into living His plans for our lives.  If we do not, we continue living in the wilderness while others do His will.

Oh, we love Him. We know He loves us, we look forward to heaven, we sing His praises in worship, but we do not cross the river based on His promises. How long will we provoke Him?