is with you wherever you go.
(Joshua 1:9, HCSB)
The Old Testament book of Joshua is a fascinating story. God led the Hebrew people from four decades of wandering around in the desert, to begin the process of receiving wonderful blessings in the land of Canaan.
There were two immediate obstacles. One, they would have to cross the Jordan River, but there were no bridges and it was at flood stage. Two, the fortified city of Jericho stood just a short distance away on the other side of the river. Both would have to be overcome if they were going any further.
God told them to move forward to take possession of the land. It seemed impossible. Even in our time, we sense that God may be telling us to move forward to claim blessings He has already given to us.
But the obstacles are too big, too threatening.
If you have not already, one day you will find yourself in the position of not knowing where to turn, or what to do. Perhaps it is happening to you right now. We might even say that you are up against your own personal Jericho. God says to go forward, and you would like very much to do just that. But just in front of you appears to be an unconquerable stronghold. The situation looks impossible.
What does your “Jericho” look like? If could be a monumental challenge which is much, much bigger than you are. It just sits there, looming, mocking, challenging, and you feel defeated every time you look at it or even think about it. It could be a temptation of some sort. It could be a recurring problem with depression, or a health crisis in your life or in the life of someone you love. Your Jericho may take the form of a broken relationship, money problems, or difficulty in being accepted by other people. It could be any number of challenges in your life.
And we all have them.
The Bible is filled with examples of people who faced challenges and trials of some sort, but who emerged victoriously on the other side. Paul named a few of those difficulties in Romans 8: trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger and sword. He asked if any of those could separate us from the love of Christ. Then he wrote, “No, in all these things we are more than victorious through Him who loved us.”
Sometimes God sends us through the wilderness and through the river, and tells us to do what appears to be impossible. His purpose is to teach us to follow Him faithfully, without wavering. In the process, we not only emerge triumphant, but we also learn to depend on Him and on Him alone.
--Rocky Henriques, www.uticabc.com