"... for you have not passed this way before." (Josh. 3:4)Approximately seven hundred years earlier, God had given a promise to Abraham that his descendants would be given a great land. It had been a long journey. These that now stood staring accross the swelling Jordan River into the Promised Land faced a great deal of uncertainty. The officers of Israel went throughout the camp and as they went they issued a statement that was full of promise but that also surely filled the people's hearts and minds with some fear and apprehension. They simply said, "...for you have not passed this way before."
I was drawn to these words in my reading of Octavius Winslow's "Morning Thoughts" for Jan. 1. He said, "How solemn is the reflection that, with a new cycle of time for each travelor to Zion, commences a new and untrodden path! New events in his history will transpire, new scenes in the panorama of life will unfold, new phases of character will develop, new temptations will assail, new duties will devolve, new trials will be experienced, new sorrows felt, new friendships will be formed, and new mercies will be bestowed. As the pilgrim journeying through the wilderness to his eternal home stands upon the threshold of this untried period of his existence, how truly may it be said, when pondering the unknown and uncertain future, "You have not passed this way before."
The path that God had prepared for the nation of Israel was full of promise but also would require much faith and strength. There was a wonderful new land to possess, but there was an enemy to conquer. There were blessings untold to gain but there were battles to be waged. Before taking the first step down that untrodden path, God commanded that the ark of the covenant be carried by the priests way ahead of the people so that they could fix their gaze upon it. This was a reminder that the way they had not passed before was a way that had been prepared by God and that His presence and power and grace would be with them every step of the way. God was their gracious, powerful, sovereign, loving God. They could face the untrodden path with anticipation that their covenant God had perfectly prepared the way ahead for their blessing and His glory.
"Heavenly Father, help me to face my untrodden path with faith fixed on the certainty that it has been prepared by you. Thank you for each new step, for what you will do for me, for what you will teach me. Give me grace to fix my gaze on you and to walk each day in the light of your being my covenant God."
2 comments:
I love having the illustrations of the Israelites to learn from. It really is a blessing in a lot of ways to be a believer now, in the time of the new covenant. It's also just interesting comparing how physical and tangible a lot of the old testament religion was and how the new covenant is so much more spiritual and internal. They looked forward to the actual promised land, we look forward to heaven and our future with God (on earth and in heaven). They set their eyes on the covenant, we set ours on the things above. They offered sacrifices, Jesus is our great sacrifice. They had many human high priests throughout their time, we have one perfect one. I'm just always intrigued by the parallels between the old and new ways. They provide us with great illustrations of instruction and encouragement.
Yes, all the new things that He will bring to us this year! Hosea 10:12- Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love,and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD,until he comes and showers righteousness on you.
Break up the unplowed ground! It is TIME to seek Him!
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