Stand Still in the Water
The Lord said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. And as for you, command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, ‘When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’” Joshua 3:7-8
Sometimes God commands us to stand still in the water so people can pass through. Intercessory prayer is one way we do that.
Intercessory prayer is an act of leadership.
The work of intercession is like standing still in the water, bearing up the presence of the Lord and His covenant so the people can pass from fear to faith.
Faith grows when priests stand still in the water.
Faith fills hearts for the battles to come. Jericho was ahead for the Israelites, and before the priests stood still in the flood waters of the Jordan, Israel’s faith was not strong enough to face those imposing walls. Nor the ridiculous command of Joshua that would eventually bring those walls down.
Intercessory prayer leads to faith.
Intercessory prayer is confrontational and requires courage.
Sometimes, an obstacle stretches before us, threatening to sweep us away. The Jordan was at flood stage during harvest. It was no tame, gentle stream. Flooded rivers remove boundaries, sweep away monuments, carry off familiar landmarks. Flooded rivers rage and roar, rush and rip through once-tranquil landscapes.
This is the wildness into which the priests were sent to carry the very presence of God.
Go, stand still in a tempestuous, unpredictable, flooded river.
God was the only predictable element of their obedience that historic day. He had given the command; He would surely do what He said.
Intercessory prayer is anchored not by our courage but by God’s covenant.
Intercessory prayer is appointed by God.
On the banks of the Jordan, God appointed men with human weaknesses to intercede for the people. On the hill called Calvary, God appointed a perfect, sinless high priest, His Son Jesus Christ, to make a way for all of us to pass over, to grow in faith, to believe God is good and He will bring life out of death.
Jesus, our high priest, still stands at the right hand of God, interceding for us day and night.
He who is interceding for us issues an invitation.
Be Still and Know that I am God.
Place: River
Time: Now
God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Come and see what the Lord has done,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
He makes wars cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Psalm 46
The Jordan and its priests were a Figure of the True. There is another river where the Most High dwells, and when we stand still in its waters, gladness flows to the people of God, and He is exalted among the nations.
Though unseen with the eyes, this river is more real than the waters of the Jordan that foamed around the feet of the courageous and obedient priests at Joshua’s command. This river declares that God is with us; He will help us at the break of day; He is our fortress; He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; He breaks bows; He shatters spears. God cares for His people, and those who trust Him will overcome every obstacle, win every battle, and dwell with Him forever.
Come, stand still in the River with me today. Let us make way for the nations to believe in the Lord. #prayer Share on X
Lord, I will obey you and stand in the river for the nations today. Amen.
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