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INTO THE PROMISED LAND (JOSHUA 3:14-17)

REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is “into the promised land” We shall reflect on the fact that so long as the glory of the Lord is with us, He will lead us into our promised land. The Promised Land signifies the fulfilment of God’s covenant promise in our lives and also the doing of His will towards our favour, peace and joy.

Beloved in the Lord, Israel had finally gotten close to the promised land but there was a life-threatening obstacle, however, the Lord performed another pivotal miracle of drying the river Jordan under their feet so that they could cross to the promised land unharmed. “So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. 15 Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, 16 the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea ) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. 17 The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground” (Joshua 3:14-17) It is instructive to note that the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord symbolized the glory or the presence of God in the midst of the Israelites. When the glory of God is with us we shall experience His protection as confirmed by David when he wrote “The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalms 23:1-4)

Today, Jesus represents the Ark of the New Covenant, therefore when we have Jesus in our lives, we shall experience the glory or presence of God in our lives and we shall safely enter into the promised land of Heaven. We are currently in the process of crossing the Jordan. The Jordan represents our existential challenges and spiritual impediments, but with Jesus our High Priest and the Ark of the New Covenant in our midst we shall surely cross into the promised land on dry ground. Jesus assured us, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26) Indeed, through Jesus, we have access to the Holy Spirit who sustains us to cross into the promised land. It is for this reason Paul wrote “The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:26-28) Our confidence and trust are in the Lord therefore let us not fear the flood and turbulent waters of our lives, with Christ, we shall surely enter into the promised land of healing, employment, happy marriage and success.

In summary, we have discovered that so long as the glory of the Lord is with us, He will lead us into our promised land. Shalom.

PRAYER

Thank you, Lord, for Your ever-sufficient glory and presence in our lives. May the Holy Spirit strengthen us to trust and obey You even as we continue to be led by Your mighty and protective hands in the promised land. Amen.