I had a great time in Gospel Doctrine today (a class offered to adults during the second hour of church). We have a great new teacher, who happens to be one of my greatest friends. She does a wonderful job guiding our discussions. I just love coming to her class.
Anyway, just wanted to share a thought or two I gained from attending today. We were studying the book of Joshua in the Old Testament. Most people will already know this story, but to give some background…. Joshua is basically the next prophet to follow after the great and mighty Moses (almost everyone knows the story of Moses and the wonderful miracles he performed). Needless to say, Joshua was stepping into some pretty big shoes but, whom the Lord calls he qualifies and it was no different for Joshua.
In this one specific part of the story that caught my attention, Joshua tells the Israelites that they have to cross the river Jordan. A very substantial river…..like the kind I’d imagine you’d look at and say “Yeeeah, um Josh, we’re gonna need a boat or something here.”
But as the story goes in verses 15 and 16 of chapter 3 (King James version) it says
“And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,)
That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.” On dry ground I might add.
….Ummm, sound familiar? Maybe something about a red sea parting? And dry ground? To me, this was basically a demonstration of the Lord that the mantle had been passed. Joshua was now the prophet, directly connected to God and doing His work. No one, not even the rushing waters of Jordan were gonna stop him now!
But the special part in this story that I want to point out is that the people entered the water, BEFORE they knew what for sure was going to happen. What an amazing amount of faith that must have taken. Joshua comes and tells them how this is all going to happen and they believe him and in the Lord because they stepped into the water BEFORE the miracle had begun.
We went on discuss how hard it is for us in our own lives to show such displays of faith. How many of us want to see the end from the beginning? So many times the way our faith increases is by walking as far as the light will shine and then taking a few blind steps into the darkness.
I had such a wonderful time discussing this in class, I didn’t want it to end! So, I would like to hear some stories from you of when you have strived to follow God’s promptings based on faith alone. A time when you couldn’t see the end from the beginning but you followed the Spirit and did it anyway and were blessed. These are always some of the best stories, especially if you may have looked a little crazy doing it. J
6 comments:
I love that story! And I love your words. The part about leaving the light and taking a few steps into the dark, to see what happens next... It brought tears to my eyes. For me, a moment of faith happened when Mark was hired by Helena. I had made is abundantly clear that I did not want to leave the Flathead Valley, but when Mark called me to tell me that he had been offered the job, and I heard the joy and excitement in his voice, I literally felt my self take that first step into the "dark" (I was pushed actually).
We packed up our house, moved across the state, started new careers, bought a new house.... and got pregnant is six months! Life was so crazy and scary.... I remember praying to God to help me know what steps to take next. How I could be a good wife and a good mother. I missed my mom, and what I still thought of as my home in Kalispell so much! But everytime Mark came in and talked about his job and the joy I saw in his face, it was like the answer to my prayers. Yes it was new, and hard, and diffrent.... but I took the step... and began to try to LIVE here in Helena. Then we met you. And that was another answer to a prayer. God gave us you and Matt and the Renshaws... and you all are truly blessings in our lives.
Ya know that story takes on new meaning to me now cause my dad and I were just discussing last night about people we knew who grew up in the same house their whole lives or that same town and how hard it would be for them to leave.
We moved around so much as a kid, I can't think of just one house or town that I'd like to go back to and see to reminisce. It's a little sad to say that but it did make it easier for me when I married a military man who bounced us all over the place for the first few years of our marriage.
I'm proud of you for taking that leap of faith. It surely must have taken a whole lot of courage.
We discussed this in class this last Sunday! Sadly I had never learned about Joshua... Frankly I can't understand the OT... so when I read your experience and what you shared it got me all teary eyed cause I enjoyed reading it and understanding it! thanks so much for sharing! I wonder if there is a blog where someone talks about each lesson each Sunday that people can read!? Thanks again for sharing and I love how the people touched the water before the water parted... neat...
wish I had time for a better comment, great insights, reminds me of Peter getting out of the boat--we can totally walk on water, or thru water, or what ever we need to do with FAITH!!! I love knowing that and working for it! I love U, 2! hey, we want to come play on the last day of school...shall we play at the park and get howie's pizza & root beer? I have to come back Friday night, but a few hours of play will be awesome. my kids get out at 11:45, how bout yours? i'll call you soon!
Amie, I just have to add my story here, though it is nowhere near finished. i don't know the end from the begining right now and it scares me daily. I have jumped into situations I thought were best for me. Like renting an apartment on my own, facing the world alone for the first time. It was one of those things I did sorta blind. This week I made a huge decision to move back in to my parents house. I know it my seem like an easy decision but it kills. I do know that I have the faith through this trial that I will succeed and this was an answer to my prayers. I am still sruggling with the personal aspects of our almost ended marraige that I can hardly breathe some days, and I miss my kids the second they leave my sight. I know if I don't do what the lord requires all those blessings wont be mine anymore. I am slowly losing them, but I know why I am here and I am going to press on no matter what is on the other side.
Dan was deployed. And I had a decision to make. Move or nto to move. And where to move. Friends were in Lehi. But the spirit continued to tell me to move up to Hill Air Force Base. Boy did I fight this feeling. I even fasted for a few Sundays in a row. Read my scriptures like crazy searching for an answer. Then one night I started writing in my journal. And it was not me writing it was the spirit. I knew my answer.
That move ended up being the best decision. I was grateful that I listened to the spirit. I was pretty stubborn though since it was not the answer I wanted or I "thought" was right. So my best prayers are the ones that say if it be thy will not mine. That's the hard part. ;)
Thank you so much for this post. I truly needed to hear this tonight.
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