There are two stories in the old testament about water parting so God’s people could walk through to the other side. The most familiar is the account of the parting of the Red Sea that allowed Moses and all the Israelites to escape the armies of Pharaoh.
The other, less remembered story, is that of Joshua and the entire nation of Israel who crossed the Jordan River on their way fight the battle at Jericho as told in Joshua chapter three and four. The interesting thing about this account is that Joshua told the people the day before to watch for God to do a miraculous thing the next day. And that next day he instructed the priests carrying the ark of the covenant to step into the water and the water would part. I imagine it would be stunning enough to watch the waters part and the river bottom dry up instantly. But to step out into the water before that happened… What faith is required for that?! I think I would have run across as fast as I can, but they took time to take twelve large stones from the middle of the river bed and carry them to their new camp where they made a stone memorial to commemorate God’s miraculous provision.
I don’t know about you but I have never witnessed such a manifest miracle. Though I believe that God could perform such a feat even today. Truly, perhaps an even greater miracle is that he loved us so much that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us! And that he could take the selfish heart of man and transform it to a heart that loves God and others.
It seems a common story, God taking ordinary people and using them in extraordinary ways, that begin with a step of faith. In what situation in your life is calling you to step out in faith? In what ways do you find it difficult to trust him completely? Perhaps you are afraid to apologize to someone. Do it anyway. Maybe you find fear and worry about the future are paralyzing you. Let it go. The idea that we control the future is an illusion. Put worry down and pick up peace instead. Maybe you feel called to step out and serve others in a new way, teaching, encouraging, visiting others. Do it if that is what God is telling you. I have never found that putting off what God tells us to be a good plan. Usually calamity results. (One day you can ask Jonah about that.)
Ask God what he desires of you. Grow your faith by stepping out in it.
