Courtney Gilmore We can say we believe in God, but we only fully believe if we have the faith to prove it. If we refuse to act on our belief, the we don’t truly believe. We have either too much doubt, fear, or pride keeping us from trusting Him enough to take that first step. God requires that we act on our belief to prove that what we say isn’t just lip service. The way the Lord brought His people into the Promised Land is a perfect picture of faith, courage, and the Christian life.
God miraculously brought the Israelites out of Egypt and into the Promised Land by parting the waters that were blocking their passage, leading them across on dry ground. When He brought them out of Egypt, He parted the Red Sea by sending a strong wind overnight to blow the waters apart. They were able to see the dry ground. with the water walled up on both sides, before anyone set one foot where the water had been. It must have been terrifying to walk across, knowing that the water could overwhelm them in an instant. But at least the land was dry at the moment, so they could run across.
However, when God brought them into the Promised land, He made the priests step into the river before He blocked its flow. The Lord had told them that as they stepped into the Jordan River, the flow would be immediately blocked several miles upstream. This would create a wall of water so that they could safely cross. But the priests had to believe Him in order to obey. If they didn’t believe that He was able to perform this miracle, they would not have stepped into the water. Instead, they would have tried to swim across.
Faith Before Sight
The Jordan River was normally somewhere between 3-10 feet deep and 90-100 feet across. But at this time of the year, it was much deeper and flowing very quickly. They had just experienced heavy spring rains and the snow had been melting into the river from Mount Hermon. So, to step into the fast-flowing river, that was over their heads, while holding the holy ark, these priests must have believed that God could block the river as He said He would. Even then, it had to take incredible courage to act on their belief by stepping into a river that could have easily carried them away if the Lord was unable to fulfill His promise.
They had no evidence that it would really happen until they risked their lives in the full belief that it would. Thankfully, they had the courage to take that step. Otherwise, the Israelites never would have made it to the Promised Land. If the priests would have stood on the banks, waiting for God to blockade the river before they crossed, it never would have happened. They had to take that step of faith in order for God’s promise towards them to be fulfilled.
Believing
Scholars believe the Jordan River was blocked 18 miles upstream where it converges with the Jabbok River. There are often mudslides there, and it’s possible that’s how the flow was stopped. In 1927 a mudslide dammed up this area for over 20 hours. So, this could have been a natural occurrence, but it was not a coincidence. God is in charge of all earthly events.
No one caused this blockade, and no one sustained or worked to remove it either. God caused the waters to be cut off, by His own will, at the exact time the priests stepped into the river. Then He caused them to freely flow again when everyone had safely set foot on its banks. This was an obvious miracle that proved God’s power.
When they saw Him perform the same great miracle as He had for their fathers, they knew their Lord was willing and able to fulfill His promises. By holding back the waters at that very moment, He proved Himself to be the Adonai (Master) of all the earth, since this couldn’t be explained by any natural set of events or human means.
By the breath of God ice is given, and the broad waters are frozen fast. He loads the thick cloud with moisture; the clouds scatter His lightning. They turn around and around in His guidance and accomplish all that He commands them on the face of the habitable world. Whether for correction or for His land, or for love, He causes it to happen.
Job 37:10-13
He gives snow like wool and scatters frost like ashes. He hurls down His crystals of ice like crumbs; who can stand before His cold? He sends out His word, and melts them; He makes His wind blow and the waters flow.
Psalm 147:15-18
Acting on Our Belief
When the prison keepers asked Paul and Silas what they needed to do to be saved, they said to “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.” But this belief must be a belief that calls us to action. A belief that does not compel us to act, is no belief at all. Just saying that we believe in God is not enough.
Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe – and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?
James 2:17-20
The demons believe in God, but it doesn’t save them. Their belief causes them to fear Him, as they should. But instead of placing their faith in Him and obeying, they resist Him. If our belief causes us to resist Him or if it is so feckless that we refuse to do what He says, then it’s useless. Our obedience is the proof that we truly believe what we say we do.
Faith and Courage
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. The priests had no visible evidence of what they hoped for, but their act of faith brought about that evidence. They had to take the first step, then God did the rest. After they proved their faith in Him, He led them to safety into the glorious Promised Land.
Often, all God asks us to do is take the first step and He will do the rest. We cannot stand on the banks and say we will cross when God parts the sea. If we stand on the banks waiting for God to act, then we will never reach our heavenly Promised Land. Actually, He already took the first step on our behalf.
God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by His life.
Romans 5:8, 10
But, our first step is to believe that He is who He says He is and that He did what He said He did, and act on this belief by making Him both our Savior and Lord.
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:9
The Christian Life
Once we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, this is not the end. This is just the beginning of our journey with Him, in faith. When God brought the Israelites into the Promised Land, this was just their first step in faith. God would require many more. They were in the Promised Land, but it was not theirs yet.
If they wanted to live in the land and make it their own, they had to believe God enough to fight the nations that were already living there. This would not be one battle, either. They would be required to exercise their faith over and over again, in city after city, with one group of people and then another, for many years. Every day would be an act of faith if they wanted to establish and maintain the land for themselves.
So, just like the Israelites, we must choose to step out in faith daily, in whatever way He asks, for the rest of our lives.
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. The life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who love me and gave Himself for me.
Galatians 2:20
Links
This is an excerpt from “Prove Your Faith with Action” on Podcast and YouTube and “Faith Before Sight” as written on Substack. Read the beginning of the lesson for free, or in its entirety, along with over 25 previous lessons, for $6/month or $60/year. Once subscribed, you’ll receive one lesson each week thereafter.
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