Throughout the Bible, God shows there are no obstacles big enough to stop Him from accomplishing His dreams for those who truly believe. In the Old Testament, Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV) says, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” What God gives is not just a future but a future with hope. Not just hope but hope with a future. God’s dream is reaffirmed in the New Testament when Christ says in John 10:10b (ESV), “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” A future and a hope in a life of abundance—this is God’s dream for everyone who believes. God knows exactly what is good for you.

God’s dream for the Israelites was the land of Canaan, called the Promised Land. It was everybody’s dream that originated from God’s promise to Abraham. God was the designer and the fulfiller of that dream. Genesis 12:5b-7a (ESV) says, “When they came to the land of Canaan, Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, ‘To your offspring I will give this land.’”

The crossing of the Jordan River, through the courageous leadership of Joshua, is a story of how God helps dreamers overcome obstacles so that His dream for them may be realized. In the Old Testament, there are two important miracles involving the parting of bodies of water, which show God’s part in liberating the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.

The first is the parting of the Red Sea to allow the Israelites to evade the pursuing Egyptian Army which was armed to the teeth. The second is the parting of the Jordan River to allow the Israelites to take actual possession of the Promised Land. The first is evading a superior enemy; the second, confronting it. Obviously, the second is far more dangerous than the first. Evading the enemy takes wits—it safeguards life; confronting the enemy takes guts—it dares death. The parting of the Red Sea started the long process of deliverance for the Israelites. It allowed them to move out of the land of bondage. The parting of the Jordan River completed the process. It led them into the land of blessing.

The two separate biblical events show us one common denominator—the formula for victory is Faith + Obedience = Miracles. God is willing to perform miracles in recognition of one’s faith and obedience.

(An excerpt from the Introduction of Crossing Your Jordan River by Joey Umali, pages 14 to 15)