Joshua 3
Joshua 3
"When the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carried
the ark of the covenant ahead of the people. Now the Jordan overflows
its banks throughout the harvest season. But as soon as the priests
carrying the ark reached the Jordan, their feet touched the water at
its edge and the water flowing downstream stood still, rising up in a
mass that extended as far as Adam, a city next to Zarethan. The water
flowing downstream into the sea of the Arabah (The Dead Sea) was
completely cut off, and the people crossed opposite Jericho. Joshua
3: 14-16
So much of a battle is psychological. The US military hase a whole
"Psyche Op" division devoted to psychological warfare. The purpose of
a "psyche op" is to employ various methods of persuasion, including
media propaganda, to sway public opinion. This allows the operatives
to control the population, circumventing a country or organization's
leadership. Third parties have toppled national regimes, hardly
firing a shot, using only psychology.
The Lord knows how to motivate and de-motivate people. After all, He
created mankind's psyche. Joshua 3 is the story of God delivering His
people, raising their morale by means of the miraculous in response to
faith, and completely destabilizing the enemy's resolve.
After installing Joshua and commanding him to be strong and very
courageous, the Lord directs him to start leading. Joshua begins with
motivating those close to him, and then commands them to prepare
others. Anticipation begins to spread throughout the community of
Israel.
To communicate that God was leading, Joshua had the priests march-out
first. Generally, the Jordan is a quiet stream, but during the
harvest season, its banks overflow to a raging river.
The worst time for a step of faith is the best time for a miracle!
God encouraged Joshua. Joshua's faithfulness encouraged the priests.
God responded to their faithfulness by miraculously parting the
waters, which encouraged the other tribes…so the psyche of Israel
began spiraling upward.
Meanwhile, this was happening within full view of Jericho…completely
demoralizing the enemy.
Success is not just about "positive thinking". It is about 1) Having
an object of faith that is trustworthy: God, experienced through the
lens of His Bible, and 2) Faithfully stepping-out.
L'shana tovah.
Steve Wiggins
