JOSHUA 3:14–16a
“And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people; And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,) That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.”
Typically, the phrase, “getting your feet wet” refers to gaining experience in something, particularly when it is something new. There is a mental picture of someone just starting to wade into the deep waters of a new endeavor. It may be a new job, a new experience, a new place to live, or a new hobby.
The children of Israel were a new generation in the book of Joshua. They had heard many great stories of how God delivered their fathers from Egypt and how God performed many wonders and powerful signs. Now, they had this promise that God would bring them into the Promised Land, but first, they had to cross the Jordan River. In the stories they had heard in the past, they may have remembered that Moses lifted his hand and staff over the Red Sea and then the sea was split. Now, they stood before the Jordan, and it was not going to split on its own. What were they to do?
Verses 15-16 says that the river did not split until the feet of the priests dipped into the water. This brings a whole new meaning to, “Getting your feet wet.” In order for them to claim the promise of God, they had to take a step of faith. They were not going to wait around for the river to subside or for it to split, they had to step out in faith. Can you imagine the feeling of the priest who took that first step into the rushing water? Can you picture his foot dipping into the river, and as it does, the river splits in two?
As we Advance, we are endeavoring to become more generous than we have ever been to accomplish the mission God has for us. The temptation often is to wait until things get a little more smooth, stable, and steady before we start giving. Maybe you are waiting on God to provide the means to give before you give. What if, instead of you waiting on God, God is waiting on you to take that first step of faith? The Jordan River did not split until that first step was taken, and you may not see how God is going to work things out until you get your feet wet.
Remember last week’s sermon, “The promises of God are not just pillows we rest on, but are prods that push us forward into action.” Could it be that we are missing out on God’s powerful work in our life and in our church because we are waiting for something to happen instead of stepping out? What next step of faith can you take this week? Is your obedience being hindered because you don’t see a way? Take a note from the Israelites in Joshua and get your feet wet first.