Cross Over Jordan

God sees the big picture.  This is quite the opposite of man, whose tendency leans towards self-focus and immediate gratification.  Our physical eyes may have "perfect" vision, yet we can be spiritually shortsighted to the point of blindness.  To enter in to all God has for us requires us to trust Him.  We must be convinced He intimately knows us, our needs, and what is best.

After God led the children of Israel out of slavery in Egypt, He intended to bring them into the land He promised to give them.  When they arrived at the doorstep of Canaan, they sent spies into the land for 40 days.  10 out of 12 brought an evil report of the land.  They acknowledged it was a good land but there were giants and massive strongholds.  In their shortsightedness they looked at the giants and their own relative physical stature and strength rather than the power of God who had done mighty wonders to miraculously deliver them from Egypt.  The people cried and wished they had never left Egypt.  Because of the unbelief of that generation, God forbade them to enter the land.  The two spies who gave a good report and urged the people to trust God who would grant them certain victory, Joshua and Caleb, were the only people from that generation who entered into the land 40 years later.

For 40 years, a year for a day, God led the people through the wilderness.  Finally, the day came when it was time to cross over the Jordan River and enter into the Promised Land.  As they made ready to cross over, the children of Ruben, Gad, and Manasseh talked amongst themselves.  The land on the east side of the Jordan was good land for cattle, and they had much cattle!  Numbers 32 speaks of how they approached Moses and asked politely to be given the land west of Jordan for their inheritance instead of passing over.  They saw goodness of the land and thought, "Man, it doesn't get much better than this!  We would be content to stay right here!"  God, in His mercy and grace, heeded their request and gave them the land.  If they did not want to enter into the land, He would not force them.  He blessed them, despite their unbelief.

Yes, unbelief.  This is the same shortsighted unbelief that can strike the hearts and minds of Christian today.  As we follow Christ, contentment in every situation is something God teaches us.  But we can grow comfortable in our surroundings and be unmotivated to take the next step of faith.  Hey, if God is blessing me on this side of the Jordan, what's the point of crossing over?  Can it get any better than this?  We have cattle and this land is good land for cattle.  Can't I just stay right here, God?  As we see in the text, sometimes God says yes.  But it is always a terrible tragedy when God's people think they know better than God.  To politely decline an inheritance in the Land of Promise because you prefer the grazing where you are - without any knowledge of what God has in store for you - is foolish!

Believers, it gets better.  When we think we have tapped out how good God is, He raises the bar exponentially.  The only way we will know and experience all God has for us is walking by faith, not by sight.  If God has an inheritance on the east side of the Jordan, do not be content to stay on the west side - even if you have cattle and it is good land for cattle.  Where God is leading you is where you should go.  Doesn't God know what cattle need?  More importantly, doesn't God know what you need?  Doesn't He know best?  Since He has purchased and redeemed us for Himself, let us go where He leads.  Should God lead you over Jordan, cross over!