Joshua 3-4  The Israelites came to the Jordan river, overflowing its banks, uncrossable by most, and another test of their faith in the Lord their God.  God uses this experience to exalt Joshua as the new leader of Israel and to show Israel once again that He would give them the promised Land by His own Hand.

The priests were commanded to step into the waters of the Jordan, while carrying the precious ark of the covenant, and "stand still".   " And it shall come about when the soles of the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off, and the waters which are flowing down from above shall stand in one heap." ( v13)   And this is exactly what happened!

After all of Israel crossed over the Jordan, the Lord told Joshua to send back 12 men.  Each man was to pick up a large stone from the center of the river bed and carry it over.  These stones were set up at Gilgal as a reminder to the people of this miraculous act of God.   ".. when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, 'What are these stones?' then you shall inform your children, saying, 'Israel crossed this Jordan on dry ground.' For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed, just as the Lord your God had done to the Red Sea, when He dried up before us until we crossed; that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty so that you may fear the Lord your God forever." ( v21-24)

Father in heaven, You are mighty and wonderful and You are to be feared, in holy reverence and awe, forever.  We need to see Your greatness and power with our dim eyes!  We need to see the stones - the markers of Your great work and Your mighty acts- and be humbled before You and worship You with fear and trembling.  Open our eyes Lord!  We need to know You more.  Come Holy Spirit and show us the glory of God, revealed in the cross of Jesus and the empty tomb!  Salvation has been proclaimed to all who call upon the Name of the Lord!  We praise and worship You alone.  For their is no other name on earth by which we may be saved... to cross the heavenly Jordan and enter into Heaven forever!  Jesus, we come to You and praise Your holy Name.

Jesus, we ask that You will help Your people, those who are being persecuted for believing in You.  Stop the hands of those who are murdering believers and harming your children. Stop the hands of those who in this country are promoting wickedness and rebellion against You, pretending it is about freedom.  Revive us again, Lord Jesus!  May the fear of God fall on our nation and upon all nations once again.  Amen.