Summer At Sea: Week 5 Day 6

Joshua 5:1

Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the coast heard how the Lord had dried up the Jordan before the Israelites until they had crossed over, their hearts melted in fear and they no longer had the courage to face the Israelites.

Fun fact: the root word for crossover is used 24 times in our reading for this week. In Hebrew, the word Ivri (עברי) is derived directly from this root, representing one who crosses over or is from the “other side.”

The crossing of the Jordan symbolizes many things for us and for the Israelites. For the Israelites it symbolized them coming from wilderness to the land of milk and honey, from wandering to rest, from mana to the fruit of the land, from desert, defeat, and disobedience, to life and freedom. An event they physically had to participate in that only occurred because the Lord kept His promise and made a way for His people when there was no other way.

For us, this story symbolizes that we were born into sin and death, but given new life, and victory over death. We are born in sin, without Christ we will die and spend eternity separated from Him. To cross over into life we have to believe that His promises are true. We have to step out in faith into the raging waters; we have to believe in His life, death on the cross, and resurrection. We have to ask for forgiveness of sins and then accept the free gift of eternal life; then we have to obediently follow God into this new life He has given us. 

Have you crossed over from death to life? Maybe you have crossed over from death to life, but there are other areas in your life that you need to make a change. Ask God to show you the way, and to give you the courage and the strength to cross over.