The phrase, “fake ‘til you make it” might be popular when learning a new job; but it is not the way of God or to God!  God is the Creator of all and is the Designer of Perfect plans—plans to help us, not harm us.  God’s ways are perfect in every way, sing the psalmists. Here is an example;

“As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock, except our God?
It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.” Psalm 18:30-32

The prophet Jeremiah proclaims the power, wisdom, strength, unfailing love, and unending faithfulness of God who has THE plan for surviving exiles, God’s people,  taken from their promised land to reside in Babylon;

“This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 

Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 

I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. Jeremiah 29:10-14

However, before the prophets and singers, God begins his planned work in Joshua, the new leader of the Israelites.  Joshua knows God with a committed heart for God.  Joshua trusts and obeys the plan of God to now cross over the Jordan to enter the promised land.  Observe the detailed strategy to take thousands of people across the Jordan river. 

Joshua 3

Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over. ² After three days the officers went throughout the camp, ³ giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. ⁴ Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits between you and the ark; do not go near it.”

⁵ Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.”

⁶ Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people.” So they took it up and went ahead of them.

⁷ 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. ⁸ 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.’”

⁹ Joshua said to the Israelites, “Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God. ¹⁰ 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. ¹¹ See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you. ¹² Now then, choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. ¹³ 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.”

¹⁴ 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.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

There is NO ONE like our God!

God’s plan was, is and ALWAYS will be the best plan!  God provided not one; but now two “parting the waters” experience for His people to marvel at and enjoy!  They crossed the mighty and swelled Jordan river—walking on dry ground!  God guided then He provided the Way to get across—with a Plan—His Plan.  This is how God works! 

Joshua, the one who knows God personally and intimately—like Moses—did exactly what God told Him to do.  God provided His power to complete The Plan!  This is how we must trust and obey!

The Ark Detail

Stay within sight of the Holy, the Ark of the Covenant, but at a distance of about 3000 feet, the people are warned.  The Ark, carried by the priests, were commanded to go first into the water and stand there.  Could it be that if we go before God, then we are no longer is sight of His leading us?!  God leads; we follow.

As soon as the priests’ feet touched the Jordan River, God rolled the water back, allowing his people to enter Canaan on dry ground.  God’s Plan all along is to have a relationship with His created.  God will do whatever it takes to bring people to this relationship with Him.  We can rejoice that God still does miracles in our lives with a plans to rescue us as we travel on our brief journey on earth toward the promise of our forever home with Him in heaven.

The Promise of Heaven begins with God’s Ultimate Plan—Jesus!

“God demonstrated His relentless love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) But we have questions and doubts at times, don’t we?  Are we really a part of God’s family?  Are we really joint heirs with Jesus?  Will we, who do not deserve it or earn it; inherit all that God promises in heaven of no more pain, tears, judgement, hate, or sorrows of any kind, only eternal praise of a perfect God in perfect place?

God answers these questions with certainty and assurance at the cross—planned from the beginning.  When Jesus died, the heavenly vote was forever cast in our favor.  God declared for all to hear, “This child is my child. My covenant will never change.”  Great is God’s faithfulness to us.  Because of God’s compassion, love and kindness; we are redeemed. Promised land people believe this. They trust God’s hold on them more than their hold on God. They place their trust in the finished work of Christ. 

Follow those who know God until you know God in an intimate relationship, too. 

We learn from the prophets and psalmists to follow the One with the Perfect Plan. Follow God who knows all.  May our response always be to call, come, pray, seek God with all that is in us.  And God, the One who knows our hearts, will hear and see us, and help us with His Plan of rescue and redemption. God’s promises never fail!

Isaiah’s words still ring true for us today;

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;
    the flames will not set you ablaze.” Isaiah 43:2

Lord God,

How reassuring you are as you teach us who you are with how to walk in your ways through Your Word!  How blessed we are today to have many who know you and are committed to you to lead us in Your Ways.  Thank you for all who have gone on before me who led me to You. Thank you for leading me to mentor others in your ways. Thank you for saving my soul and making me whole. Thank you for your daily manna that feeds my heart, renews my mind, and fills my soul.  Thank you for being with us always!

In Jesus Name, Amen