Love That Never Fails

36. Do Not Be Afraid

As a second wave of COVID-19 makes its way into various parts of the world, a second wave of fear is hitting many communities. The thought of going through another round of restrictions, being faced with the reality of possibly being exposed to the virus and suffering personally from the resulting economic fallout, generates a great amount of fear. It's fear of the unknown, fear of yet more changes and being under a prolonged cloud of uncertainty.

I wonder if the Israelites felt such fear as they realised that in order to move to the land God had promised them, there was a barrier similar to the one that Moses faced as the people were led out of Egypt —deep water! Instead of the Red Sea, this time the barrier was the Jordan River. But like history repeating itself, God had a plan to get His people safely to the other side —nothing was too difficult for Him!

"Joshua said to the Israelites, "Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God. 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. See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you. Now then, choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. 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.""
‭‭Joshua‬ ‭3:9-13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

God had performed a great miracle at the crossing of the Red Sea but would show the ancestors of those who had made that crossing, that He could do it again! Now a whole new generation would see that indeed the living God was with them!

"So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. 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, 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. 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."
‭‭Joshua‬ ‭3:14-17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Even a river in flood was not too hard for God to deal with! At this time when we can feel flooded by problems, we need to remember that our God is this same God who made a way for the Israelites to cross the Jordan safely on totally dry ground! God's presence represented by the Ark of the Covenant was a visual reminder of His love and provision for them. Isaiah made reference to this many years later:

"But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 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. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west."
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43:1-5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

God will surely be with us through any potential obstacle or barrier. He will make a way! We belong to Him so He cares deeply when He sees what we are going through. He loves us and considers us as precious! So do not be afraid if you are encountering those deep waters again —you have been called by name and God will bring you through!

Let's pray:

Heavenly Father,

It's scary to be facing more difficulties and uncertainty but I am thankful that no barrier or obstacle is too great for You! Thank You that I can look to You and trust You to bring me safety through these uncertain times.

You always made a way for Your chosen people the Israelites and now as your chosen child, I ask for Your blessing to be on me and my loved ones. Thank You that You are with me even as the same problems arise. Give me courage to step into this new situation knowing that nothing is too difficult for You! Just as You had a plan for the Israelites to cross the Jordan River safely, I trust in Your plans for me.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.