Rivers to Cross 待渡之河
Dexu Xia
I am with you as I was with Moses. Joshua 3:7
Today's Scripture Joshua 3:7-17
Today's Insights God personally led Israel out of Egypt, through the sea, across the wilderness, and through the Jordan River (Joshua 3:13-17) into the promised land. These miracles are explainable only by God’s presence among them. At Mount Sinai, Moses had confessed, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?” (Exodus 33:15-16). God’s presence is vital for us today too and the primary source of our witness to an onlooking world. No matter what situations we face, He’ll go with us and make a way for us.
Today's Devotion When Chris McCandless wandered off the grid and into the Alaskan wilderness, he expected to return. But he crossed the Teklanika in April, well before summer ice-melt would swell that river into an impassable torrent. Months later, out of food, McCandless couldn’t get back. His tragic death is memorialized in book and film.
The people of ancient Israel faced a crucial river crossing in order to enter the promised land. However, “the Jordan [was] at flood stage” (Joshua 3:15), a challenge that would grow their faith. God told Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses” (v. 7).
Joshua told the people, “The ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you” (v. 11). Taking the ark, the priests stepped into the Jordan, and “the water from upstream stopped flowing” (vv. 15-16). The entire nation stepped across on a dry riverbed (v. 17).
From time to time we’ll face “river crossings”—impossible situations that can grow our faith if we’ll turn to the one who makes the way across. The greatest of these crossings is from this life into the next. No matter what it is, the God who was with Moses, Joshua, and the Israelites also makes a way for us.
Reflect & Pray
What “river crossing” do you face today? How have you seen God show His power on your behalf in the past?
Thank You, dear Jesus, that You make the way across any river I face, including the final one. By Tim Gustafson
“我怎样与摩西同在，也必照样与你同在。”约书亚记3:7 今日经文：《约书亚记》3章7-17 节
今日洞见：上帝亲自带领以色列人出埃及，穿过红海，横越旷野，并渡过约旦河（约书亚记3:13-17），最终进入应许之地。这些神迹唯有以上帝与他们同在这一事实，方能得到合理解释。在西奈山时，摩西曾向上帝祈求说：“你若不亲自与我们同去，就不要把我们从这里领上去。人怎能知道你喜悦我和你的百姓呢？岂不是因你与我们同去吗？这样，我和你的百姓才得以与地上的万民有所分别。”（出埃及记33:15-16）。如今，上帝的同在对我们而言依然至关重要，更是我们向这世上旁观者作见证的首要源泉。无论我们面临何种境遇，祂都必与我们同在，并为我们开辟道路。
今日灵修 当克里斯·麦坎德利斯离开现代文明的喧嚣，独自深入阿拉斯加的荒野腹地时，他原打算要回来的。他远在四月便渡过了特克拉尼卡河，那时冰雪尚未消融、河水尚未暴涨。然而，在数月后的夏季，粮尽援绝的他却无法渡河返回，因为那时的特克拉尼卡河已化作不可逾越的激流。他那悲剧性的结局，如今已被载入书卷，搬上了银幕，供后人追忆。
古时的以色列民为了进入应许之地，同样面临一次至关重要的渡河挑战。当时“约旦河水涨过两岸”（约书亚记3:15），这无疑是一项严峻的考验，却也正是磨砺并坚固他们信心的契机。上帝对约书亚说：“从今日起，我要在以色列众人眼前尊荣你，使他们知道：我怎样与摩西同在，也必照样与你同在。”（7节）约书亚随即向百姓宣告：“普天之主耶和华的约柜，必在你们前面渡过约旦河。”（11节）于是，祭司们抬着约柜踏入约旦河中，“河上游的水便立住，仿佛堆起”（15-16节）。最终，以色列全民皆踏着干涸的河床，安然渡过了约旦河（17节）。
我们不时会面临各种“渡河”的时刻，即那些看似无解的困境；然而，只要我们转向寻求那位能为我们开辟渡河之路的主，这些困境便能助长我们的信心。在所有这些“渡河”经历中，最宏大的一次莫过于从今生迈向永生。无论面临何种境况，那位曾与摩西、约书亚及以色列民同在的神，同样也会为我们开辟出一条出路。
反思与祷告 今天，你正面临着怎样的“渡河”挑战？在过往的经历中，你曾如何见证神为你彰显祂的大能？ 亲爱的主耶稣，感谢祢为我开辟渡过一切江河的道路，包括那最终的渡口。作者：提姆·古斯塔夫森