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Just this morning i heard from or about a number of good friends who are walking through difficult circumstances or life-altering events. One has been intubated and placed on a ventilator as his body fights the ravages of Covid-19. One is grieving the death of a parent … and still another the passing of a spouse. Another has been exploring a job change and is now dealing with the disappointment of a recent rejection. Yet, still another announced with great joy that he is embarking on an exciting new career opportunity.

And right now, we are all watching while the people of Afghanistan are experiencing a traumatic and chaotic transition that appears to have caught everyone by surprise. We pray for the many whose lives have been uprooted as they flee their homeland, as well as the many more who are bracing for the unknown as they remain in their country.

At the same time, the people of Haiti are reeling from the devastating effects of the recent earthquake – the loss of loved ones, the countless many who have been injured, and the overwhelming destruction of homes – at a time when outside assistance is limited due to the nation’s political unrest and high incidence of Covid-19.

Yes, today is a day filled with excitement for some. But, for others, it is a day filled with fear or sadness, and for too many, unbearable pain and sorrow. For many, the events of this day weren’t foreseen or expected … and for too many, the events that have unfolded have been a most unwelcome intrusion.

Though our circumstances may vary greatly, we are all dealing with the unknowns of this day … and we have no idea how it will all turn out. None of us have passed this way before. All of us are walking through this day for the first time … and none of us know what all it will bring.

We would do well – no matter what we are facing – to take a reminder from a day in the life of the people of Israel.(1) The next day was going to be a big day for them. God had told them they were going to enter into the Promised Land. You say, well at least they knew what was about to happen. That’s true, they did … but not completely.

Over fourteen thousand days had passed since their departure from Egypt, and the journey hadn’t looked anything like they had envisioned it would. And they were still journeying through the unknown … just like we are. There would be challenges ahead – those they could see – like the Jordan River and the city of Jericho – and those they had not yet seen. There would be adversaries ahead – those that would be obvious, like the Canaanites, the Hittites, and the Hivites, and those that would not be so obvious, like the Gibeonites.(2)God never told the Israelites that His promise ahead would be absent of challenges and adversaries … and He hasn’t told us that either. However, He has said that He will never leave us nor forsake us.(3) And just like that day on the banks of the Jordan River, He has promised that He will go before us and go with us.

A significant change was about to take place in the journey for the Israelites. For forty years, they had been led in their journey by a pillar of cloud or a pillar of fire. Wherever God had led His people, a pillar had gone before them. Now, as they prepared to cross the Jordan, God made no mention of a pillar. Instead, the Ark was now going to lead them – representing the covenant (His Word) between He and His people. His Word would be leading the way – heralding His promise that if He “is for us, who can be against us”(4) – and marking out the path before them. Inside the Ark would be the tablets containing the Law. On the outside was the mercy seat – representing God’s judgement and grace. Together, the Ark was a picture of God’s divine law under His judgement and grace – a perfect representation of not only His presence but also His favor. It is a picture to all of us of the embodiment of His Word and His Spirit as He leads and directs us in our steps.

When they saw the Ark move, the people were to follow it. This is an important distinction. The people were not taking the Ark with them; rather, they were following the Ark. It was not their role to establish the direction and then justify it with the presence of the Ark. Rather they were to walk fully-surrendered and under the complete direction of the Ark. Our pride often rebels against doing that. We are willing to cry out to God to ask for His wisdom as long as everything turns out the way we want it to. But the point of following the Ark was that God made the decisions! They were to trust Him and follow His Word, walking under His grace and led by His Spirit. They were to keep their eyes on the Ark.

Joshua told the people to purify themselves – to be prepared to follow the Ark. He assured them – just as we need to be assured – that the Lord would do great wonders before them and in their midst. Like them, we are walking in a way that we have never gone before. There are no other tracks to follow or markers on which to rely. The journey will be difficult … and it will require our complete faith and confidence in the One whom we are following.

Let us heed Joshua’s instructions and purify ourselves and surrender everything to our Lord. As we do, we can be confident that He will go before us. He is wholly-devoted to us. He has extended His love, His grace and His mercy – even His own Son – so that we might walk clothed in His righteousness in a personal relationship with Him. He chose us. He saved us. He goes before us. He will use the path that we are currently on – whatever it is – to ultimately bring glory to His name. Keep your eyes on Him! You have not passed this way before – but He knows exactly where this journey will lead. And by His grace, He is going before you. Trust Him to lead you through!

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This post is adapted from Possessing The Promise, chapter 6, entitled “You Have Not Passed This Way Before”. This third book in the Lessons Learned In The Wilderness series is available through Amazon in print and for your e-reader. Click HERE for more information on how you can obtain your copy.

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(1) Joshua 3:1-8

(2) Joshua 9:1-27

(3) Deuteronomy 31:6

(4) Romans 8:31

Photo by Enrique Ortega Miranda on Unsplash

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