The Middle

“Go into the middle of the Jordan.”

Joshua led an entire nation of people through the parted waters of the Jordan River. After 40 years in the wilderness, they were finally about to enter the Promised Land.

Once everyone was safely across, the Lord told Joshua to pick 12 men, one from each tribe, and instruct them each to gather one stone in order to build a memorial for future generations to see. And where did he ask them to get this stone?

“Go into the middle of the Jordan…” (Joshua 4:5) Another version says, “Cross again.” The stones were to be gathered from the place where the priests’ feet stood carrying the Ark. In the middle of the Jordan.

If I had been one of those 12, I would want to tell Joshua, “Are you kidding me?? We just crossed a river on dry ground with walls of water on either side of us and we all finally made it and you want me to walk back in? What if the water swallows me up? What if God doesn’t keep me safe?”

But there was something about going back into the middle. That was the instruction. We talked about this at our group (The Practice of Remembering God) this past Monday morning. Sometimes going back is scary. Revisiting the “middle place” might even seem unnecessary. (Can’t I just pick up a stone right here where I’m standing??) What if you go back and it swallows you up? What if the pain swallows you up? What if you revisit something and you can’t find your way out?

Or … what if it reminds you of God as Provider and Protector? What if standing in the middle of the Jordan River *again* reminds you of the miracle that you are even standing here alive? What if it builds your faith and deepens your dependency on God?

Just wanted to encourage you that the Lord, your God, is with you, even in the going back. I pray that as you look back — on joyful memories and painful ones — you find God and you see him.