New territory
Series: Like you and me | Bible text: Joshua 3:1–17
Those who want to discover new lands need courage. It challenges us to take steps in faith, even though we do not know where the journey is going. We do not yet know the path we should take. But Joshua gives us advice in the Bible on what we should pay attention to when we are on the way to discover new things. Firstly, our eyes should always be on God (Ark of the Covenant), and secondly, it is important that we start new adventures with a pure heart.
Oh how great it would be if God still worked miracles today? To cross the Jordan on dry feet, that would be a great thing. To cross the Reuss or the Aare without getting wet. Or in other words, for Jonas and Judith, whom we are sending out to Central Asia today, we expect that their destination country will open up again and that they can finally leave for their NEW LAND.
After 40 years of wandering through the desert, the people of Israel stand before a great river, this time the Jordan. When the adventure of the exodus from Egypt began, the Israelites had to cross the Red Sea. Without a doubt, God had set clear signs at the beginning of this journey. He was the God who performed miracles. The people of Israel had then gone through a 40-year long ups and downs journey in the desert with highs and lows – but God proved himself again and again as the one who performed miracles. Now the people of God stood before the water again. This second time, they only knew about the first water crossing, back then at the Red Sea, from hearsay. This time there were no enemies at their backs, even the omens from the scouts from Jericho, from what Rahab told them, were all positive and promising.
And they did not yet cross the Jordan
The Promised Land lies before the people who have been travelling for 40 years. At last! Let’s cross the river, let’s go. The scouts had just returned to give a report on the situation. The people were camped at Sittim, a place just above the Jordan. The message was clear that Jericho was ready to fall into their hands, the inhabitants were afraid of the Israelites. The people camped on the banks of the Jordan for a whole three days. God’s ways always take time and God’s ways have time. Jonas and Judith, you have now also completed a mini desert journey in eastern Switzerland. You planned to be there for four months and now it has become a year. Waiting often seems like a waste of time to us, but God’s ways sometimes include these stopovers or waiting times. However, before the Israelites could cross the river, some preparations and inner adjustments had to be made.
Set compass
«As soon as you see the priests of the tribe of Levi carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, break camp and follow them. But keep a distance of a thousand metres between you and the priests, so that you do not come too close to the Ark of the Covenant. It will show you the way you should go». (Joshua 3, 2–4). The focus is on God, the gaze towards the Ark of the Covenant is central. God shows us the way you should go. The Ark of the Covenant embodies God’s presence. In it are the commandments of God. When it is said that the Ark of the Covenant should go ahead, it means nothing else than who and what determined or should determine its life. The 10 Commandments were the basis for life, one should orientate oneself according to them. The Ark of the Covenant navigates our way. Travelling without God’s presence carries considerable risks. So God ahead and we don’t let him out of our sight.
Walking unknown paths – venturing down unfamiliar paths
«You have never walked the path before. It (Ark of the Covenant) shows you the way to go, for you do not yet know it.» (from Joshua, 3, 3 and 4). If you want to experience God, you have to venture onto unknown paths. You have never been to Canaan, everything is new, you have never crossed the river, no one knows how dangerous the river is and where the rapids are. We can only experience God when we set out on unknown paths. Maybe you immediately think, what the farmer doesn’t know, he doesn’t eat! We are not doing anything new now or we have always done things this way. Why is that? Dare to try something new, no thanks, without me! If I walk on old familiar paths, then I don’t really need God, then I can master and manage everything on my own. I have everything under control, I know how to do it, I don’t need God. I only pray as a routine exercise. I work all day until evening, but I don’t need God. The work of the normal Swiss is designed in such a way that he can do almost everything himself – the factor God, help from above he only needs in exceptional circumstances – Although we know Jesus, we rarely experience that we have to try something new. What does a Swiss person do when he has to go somewhere he has never been before? He makes massive preparations like: Setting the sat nav, printing out a map, buying a travel guide, asking others, etc.…
When I embark on new paths, I don’t know if it’s going right or left, or if it’s even going any further. In the case of Burgers it’s the same, sometimes we just don’t see what’s around the next bend. God loves it when we are dependent on him, when we have to ask him, how is this going to happen now, where do we go from here? When you do pioneering work among Muslims, we have no choice to move into new territory. NEULAND. When you are on a mission, new and unknown things always await you. And it’s almost always unclear what’s in store.
Frontiers» core business is to send people to places where there is no church yet and where there is little or no staff. We talk about «Unenegaged people groups». You can’t plan well where there is nothing yet. Or quickly call a friend to pick you up at the airport. Maybe we have a dream on our hearts but we have never dared to turn our dream into reality because everything is not certain. Maybe we as a congregation have a project ahead of us, steps of faith, unknown paths. Should or can we dare to take such steps? One thing I know for sure, if we only walk paths we already know, then your journey will never cross over to Canaan. Then we stay where we are, then you can marry the 08⁄15 prototype. Start working on a plaque. Do you still have dreams? Do you still have things you wanted to do?
There is a survey among dying people who have only a few weeks to live. They were asked, if they could turn the wheel back again, what would they do differently today? 80% said that they would dare to do the things they once dreamed of, things they once wanted to do. But they never really dared. We should always live with the perspective, what remains on our deathbed? Venture down unknown paths. Where is your NEW LAND? «Abraham: Go from your father’s country and from your kindred, and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you». (Genesis 12:1). Leaving kinship and family was unheard of in the family tradition of that time. I hardly think that everyone rejoiced, finally he is leaving. Finally we have our peace again. They were not Swiss.
Keep yourself pure
«Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you». (Joshua 3:5). The hope for all says Purify yourselves, make sure you are pure, as the Lord requires of you. Do we still believe that God does miracles? God does perform miracles. He likes to do miracles when his people are pure and our relationships with each other are pure. We often ask for great things from God «Lord give revival» but we live in sin. God will not answer. You know, I am extremely challenged. Am I purified myself, or do I allow myself to commit my favourite sins? Okay, nobody sees what’s going on. Do you ever wonder why we experience so little with God?
I think we should ask ourselves this question more often. If we want people to decide for Christ at the next crusade in the lake valley, then success is only possible through the verse from Joshua 3:5. No conversions with unreconciled relationships, resentment towards the elders, bitterness against the pastor, an unreconciled relationship with X or Y. Because tomorrow God wants to do a miracle among you! Do you want that, or have you reached the point where you don’t even want to see miracles? Because miracles always bring extra difficulties.
Expect extra difficulties
«At this time the Jordan River carries so much water that it overflows its banks». (Joshua 3:15). It was the stupidest time ever to cross the Jordan. If Israel had crossed the Jordan in summer, there would have been a chance to get across the river with dry feet, but no, God brings them here as floods prevail. Charles Stutt pioneer for Africa wrote in a letter: Whenever we got into trouble, we could hardly wait to get into the next one, for we were anxious to see how God would intervene this time.
Risk wet feet
«They dipped their feet in the water». (from Joshua 3, 14 and 15). Know your Jordan! When was the last time you risked getting your feet wet? We do everything we can to avoid getting our feet wet. That is a no-go, because «avoiding risk is Swiss».
The bearers of the Ark of the Covenant and the priests had to pave the way. What does that mean exactly? In a figurative sense, I believe that we must first pray, worship, cross the Jordan with God, cross your Jordan with God. But it doesn’t happen by itself, you have to pull out a shoe full once, a «shoe of God» before his beaver army is activated to build the dam. I wish that when we grow old, we have stories to tell ourselves. Sometimes we hear older people say, do you remember the floods of yesteryear and how we fought against them?
Dear friends, miracles do not come for free! We will not experience church growth if we do not pay attention to the principles we are pointing out this morning. We need to take steps of faith! There are people in the hall this morning or at home via live stream who know that something new is coming. NEW LAND! New job, retirement home, marriage, having children, emigrating, going on mission, etc.… Make things firm with God this morning and get your feet wet. God will guide your paths.
Final thought
Discovering new territory is always exciting but is also always associated with dangers (floods). However, if we pay attention to God’s commandments and always keep our eyes on the Lord (Ark of the Covenant) and on the other hand always examine our hearts so that we are pure of heart, then you can confidently tackle new things. Yes, then you too will one day be able to tell your children and grandchildren and friends how God led you through your Jordan. Be courageous and dare to take new steps!
Possible questions for the small groups
Read the Bible text: Joshua 3:1–17
- What is the name of the new territory you are facing? (Pension, retirement home, new job, apprenticeship, study, marriage, etc.)
- When was the last time you had to take steps of faith? (Put your foot in the water first before the water gives way)
- Keeping your eyes on the Ark of the Covenant, in all of life’s important decisions it is important to keep the focus fully on God. How can you encourage each other to keep this focus?
- How can you encourage and support others who are about to take steps into an unknown land (work, family, etc.)? (Priestly service – those who held the Ark of the Covenant in the river until the people were on the other side).
