Set Foot
READ
The Jordan River was at flood stage—a raging torrent of muddy water rushing between steep banks. Imagine standing with Joshua, looking at those churning waters with over two million people behind you waiting to cross. No bridges. No boats. No ancient engineering solutions. Just an impossible barrier between them and God's promise, and everyone's eyes on you for the solution.
Let’s take a moment to read Joshua 3:7-17:
And the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.’”
Joshua said to the Israelites, “Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God. This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites. See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you. Now then, choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the Lord—the Lord of all the earth—set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.”
So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. 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, 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. 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.
REFLECT
This wasn't just any river crossing. The Jordan at flood stage was a death trap. The current was powerful enough to sweep away entire families. The banks were too steep for safe descent. From every human perspective, this was an insurmountable obstacle. Yet Joshua had learned something profound during his years with Moses: God's presence transforms impossible situations into opportunities for trust and faith to be displayed. But here's what makes this miracle remarkable—God didn't just snap His fingers and dry up the river while they watched from a safe distance. The miracle required radical faith in action. The priests carrying the ark of God's presence had to walk directly into the flooding river. Only when their feet touched the water—not before—did God stop the flow upstream.
Think about the faith this required. These weren't just any priests—they were carrying the most sacred object in Israel, the very symbol of God's presence among His people. If they miscalculated, if this wasn't really God's plan, they would lose the ark and possibly their lives. Yet Joshua led them to step into the impossible because he had learned to trust God's character over circumstances. This teaches us something crucial about how God often works in our lives. He rarely removes obstacles before we demonstrate faith. Instead, He asks us to step toward our impossibilities, trusting that His power will be revealed in the process. Faith isn't believing God can solve our problems—it's taking the first step before we see the solution.
Joshua understood that leadership in God's kingdom isn't about having all the answers or controlling outcomes. It's about pointing people toward God's presence and trusting Him to make a way. He didn't convene a committee to brainstorm river-crossing strategies. He didn't send scouts to find a better location. He simply positioned the people to encounter God's power firsthand by following His specific instructions. The priests stood in the riverbed for hours while all two million Israelites crossed on dry ground. Can you imagine being one of those priests? Water piled up like walls on both sides, holding back by nothing but God's power, while family after family walked past you to safety. This wasn't a quick miracle—it was a sustained demonstration of God's faithfulness that no one could forget.
The twelve stones they took from the riverbed became a permanent memorial, but they were more than just historical markers. Joshua knew that future generations would face their own "Jordan Rivers"—impossible circumstances that would require faith in God's power. When his children and grandchildren felt overwhelmed by life's obstacles, they could look at those stones and remember: our God makes ways where there are no ways. This story isn't ancient history—it's a blueprint for navigating impossible situations in our own lives. When financial pressure seems overwhelming, when relationships appear beyond repair, when health challenges feel insurmountable, God is often preparing to show His power in ways that will become monuments to His faithfulness for years to come. But like the priests at Jordan, we usually have to step into our impossibilities before we see His solutions.
RESPOND
Take a moment to process what God might be leading you to do in light of what you read.
How might God be asking you to take the first step of faith before He shows you the solution?
What "memorial stones" can you collect from past experiences of God's faithfulness to encourage you in current challenges?
REST
Take a moment to rest in God’s presence and consider one thing you can take away from your time reading, then close your devotional experience by praying:
Lord, when I stand before impossible circumstances, help me remember that You specialize in making ways where there are none. Give me the courage to step forward in faith, trusting that Your presence will make the impossible possible. Help me create memorials of Your faithfulness that will encourage others. Amen.