NOTES: WHEN YOU PASS THROUGH THE WATERS
Scripture Reading
Joshua 3:13
‘And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, that the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off…’
Isaiah 43:2
‘When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.’
Introduction
– There are times in life when we find ourselves facing what seems like an overflowing river.
– The Israelites experienced this when they arrived at the Jordan River.
– They had come through the wilderness and the Promised Land was ahead of them, but between them and their destination stood an obstacle.
– To make matters worse, the Jordan was overflowing its banks.
– Sometimes our challenges also seem to arrive when they are at ‘flood stage’.
– The problem looks bigger than expected, the circumstances appear overwhelming, and we wonder how we will ever get through.
– Yet the overflowing Jordan was not able to prevent Godss people from reaching what God had prepared for them.
– God did not necessarily remove the river before they arrived; instead, He made a way through it.
– This is an important truth for us: God does not promise that we will never face deep waters, but He promises that the waters will not have the final say.
– When we face the flood, we can look to the Lord and know that He is with us and that He will make a way.
1. SOMETIMES THE WATERS ARE AT FLOOD STAGE
– Joshua 3:15 tells us that ‘the Jordan overflows all its banks during the whole time of harvest.’
– Israel did not arrive when the river was low and easily crossed.
– They arrived when the river was overflowing.
– Humanly speaking, it was the worst possible time to cross.
– Perhaps you have experienced seasons like this.
– One challenge seems to follow another.
– The pressure increases and you wonder how much more you can handle.
– Trials, disappointments, fears, sorrow, and uncertainty can feel like waters rising around us.
– But the size of the obstacle does not determine the size of God’s ability.
– An overflowing Jordan was no more difficult for God than a shallow stream.
– What looks impossible to us remains completely possible with Him.
– Never measure God’s ability by the size of the obstacle in front of you.
2. DON’T ALLOW THE SOUND OF THE FLOOD TO FRIGHTEN YOU
– An overflowing river can be intimidating.
– You can imagine the Israelites hearing the rushing water and seeing its power.
– Sometimes the ‘noise’ of our circumstances can have the same effect on us.
– Fear tells us that the problem is too great.
– Doubt tells us that there is no way through.
– Discouragement tells us that we will never reach the other side.
– The more we focus on the flood, the greater it becomes in our minds.
– But faith shifts our attention from the waters to the God Who rules over them.
– Psalm 93:4 says: ‘The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, than the mighty waves of the sea.’
– The flood may have a loud voice, but God has the final word.
– Don’t allow what you see and hear around you to become greater than what God has promised you.
3. SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO STEP INTO THE WATER
– Joshua 3:13 says that the waters would be cut off when ‘the soles of the feet of the priests… shall rest in the waters of the Jordan.’
– The priests had to take a step of faith.
– The waters did not first disappear so that they could safely walk forward.
– They had to obey God and put their feet into the water.
– There are moments when faith requires action.
– We may want God to show us the entire solution before we move, but often He simply shows us the next step.
– Obedience opens the door for us to see what God can do.
– Perhaps there is a step you know God is asking you to take.
– Don’t allow fear to keep you standing on the riverbank.
– Take the next step and trust God with what happens next.
4. JESUS HAS ALREADY STEPPED INTO THE FLOOD FOR US
– The picture of the priests stepping into the Jordan points us to something greater.
– Jesus is our great High Priest.
– Hebrews 4:14 tells us: ‘Seeing then that we have a great High Priest… Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.’
– Jesus did not remain distant from human suffering.
– He stepped into our world and experienced sorrow, rejection, suffering, and death.
– In Gethsemane He faced overwhelming anguish.
– At Calvary He carried the weight of our sin.
– He entered death itself and rose victorious.
– Because of what Christ has done, sin and death do not have the final victory.
– When you are facing the waters, look to Jesus.
– He understands suffering, He has conquered death, and He is able to bring us safely through.
5. THE WATERS CANNOT GO BEYOND THE LIMIT GOD SETS
– When the priests entered the Jordan, the waters were stopped.
– What had looked uncontrollable suddenly came under God’s authority.
– There are circumstances that may feel completely beyond our control, but they are never beyond God’s control.
– Psalm 46:1 says: ‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.’
– God knows what you are facing.
– He knows how much you can bear.
– He knows how to protect, strengthen, and sustain you.
– The waters may rise, but they cannot remove you from His hands.
– The trial may be real, but God remains greater.
– Your circumstances do not have unlimited authority over your life; God is still Lord over the flood.
6. HE WILL BE WITH YOU IN THE WATERS
– Isaiah 43:2 says: ‘When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.’
– Notice that God does not say if you pass through the waters, but when.
– Following God does not mean that we will never experience difficulty.|
– His promise is something even greater: ‘I will be with you.’
– Sometimes we want God to remove the difficulty immediately.
– But there are times when He chooses to reveal His presence to us in the middle of it.
– You may find yourself in circumstances you would never have chosen, but you do not have to face them alone.
– His presence changes everything.
– The river may still be there, but so is God.
– The challenge may still be real, but so is His presence.
– You can face the waters because the Lord is with you.
7. YOU ARE GOING THROUGH – YOU ARE NOT STAYING THERE
– Isaiah 43:2 says: ‘When you pass THROUGH the waters…’
– The waters are something you pass through; they are not your permanent home.
– The Jordan stood between Israel and the Promised Land.
– They had to cross it, but they were not meant to live in it.
– Perhaps you are in a difficult season right now.
– Don’t allow a temporary season to define your entire future.
– There is another side.
– God still has a purpose.
– God still has a plan.
– God is still leading you forward.
– Psalm 23:4 reminds us: ‘Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me.’
– Valleys are walked through.
– Rivers are crossed.
– Storms eventually pass.
– With God, what you are going through does not have to become where you remain.
8. GOD WILL MAKE A WAY TO THE OTHER SIDE
– The Jordan was not the end of Israel’s journey.
– Their inheritance was waiting on the other side.
– What looked like an obstacle became the setting for another demonstration of God’s faithfulness.
– Sometimes the very thing we fear will stop us becomes the place where we discover God in a greater way.
– When Israel looked back at the Jordan, they could remember that God had made a way where there appeared to be no way.
– The same God is with us today.
– He can make a path through circumstances that seem impossible.
– He can sustain us through situations we thought would overwhelm us.
– He can bring us through stronger, wiser, and more dependent on Him.
– You may not yet see how you will reach the other side, but you can trust the One Who does.
Conclusion
– Perhaps you are standing before your own ‘Jordan’ today.
– The waters may be high and the sound of the flood may be intimidating.
– Don’t allow the size of the challenge to cause you to lose sight of the greatness of your God.
– He is with you in the waters.
– He remains Lord over the flood.
– Jesus has already gone before you and He understands every trial you face.
– Take the next step of faith and keep your eyes fixed on Him.
– The waters will not have the final word.
– The Lord will sustain you, guide you, and bring you through.
– You are not going under – with God, you are going through.
By Pastor Andrew W Roebert
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