A NEW WAY

A NEW WAY!

Josh 3:4-5

4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.

5 And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the Lord  will do wonders among you.

           Another New Year has been given to us and, mostly, we are glad to be rid of the old one. The year gone by is well represented by tired and bearded grandfather leaning on his staff. He hardly resembles his former self as an infant in a diaper and top hat. He seems ready to hand his duties to the young upstart. Grandpa knows what the youngster can’t imagine. This will be a new way!

           The children of Israel had wandered in the wilderness for forty years but now Joshua tells them the wandering is over and they will no longer retrace their steps in the sand. He says “ye have not passed this way heretofore.” He gives his people some wise instruction which is also good for us.

           Follow God at an appropriate distance! The ark of the covenant, which represented the presence of God, would go before them. They were to keep it in sight. They were not to go ahead of it or lag so far behind as to lose sight of it. In 2017, let us remember to follow God’s leadership even when we don’t understand it. The way will have some similarities to the old way but we have not passed this way heretofore. There will be surprises both good and bad.

           Sanctify yourselves! "Sanctify yourselves" meant that everybody bathed and changed their clothes. In our modern world we're accustomed to comfortable bathing facilities; but these were unknown to most of the people in Bible times. The imagery of washing one's body and changing clothes symbolized making a new beginning with the Lord. Since sin is pictured as defilement (Ps 51:2,7), God has to cleanse us before we can truly follow Him. (Warren W. Wiersbe)

           God will do wonders! He would open the waters of the Jordan so that they could cross over and claim the land that God had promised to them. Every worthwhile venture has obstacles but God is master of them all. 

  

2 Chron 20:20

Believe in the Lord  your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.

1 Kings 8:56

56 Blessed be the Lord, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.

Dear Lord of today and tomorrow, we walk into the unknown trusting all the while. Thank you for your clear direction and faithful promises. AMEN