READING: Joshua 3-6
“The people passed over in haste.”
Joshua 4:10
Finally, after decades of delay caused by their disobedience, the people were crossing into the Promised Land. Like He had done with the Red Sea previously, God rolled back the waters of the Jordan River so His people could cross on dry ground. Across the people went, and across they went in a hurry: “The people passed over in haste” (Josh. 4:10).
We don’t know why they moved in such a hurry. Maybe they were simply so intent on following God’s command that they focused on the task and obeyed; in fact, the wording of haste may be a commentary on their obedience – the movement of many people across the riverbed went smoothly because they obeyed God. More practically, perhaps they simply wanted to make certain that all could get across that day. It might also be that the writer was helping us see in contrast the patience of the priests, who stood in the midst of the Jordan until all had been completed as God commanded.
Or – and this is where I land – perhaps they moved in haste simply because they hustled in faith, not knowing when the waters would return. The waters would likely be rolled back for a limited time, and this would not a time to be slow in obedience. Today would be the day to move, pressing forward without looking back. A generation that knew the penalty of disobedience instead hastened into the Promised Land this time.
ACTION STEPS:
- Don’t delay in being obedient to God today. Trust Him, and move forward.
- Remember the penalty for yesterday’s sin, and make better choices today.
PRAYER: “God, I follow You in faith. Help me not to be slow in obedience.”
