Stand Still

by Christine Dawson

During harvest time, the Jordan River overflowed its banks every day, according to Joshua 3:15. But yet, when God told the people to cross the Jordan, He told them, "When you come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan." (Joshua 3:8) And yet, in the verse before, He reminded them, "Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you." This reminds me of Psalm 46:10, "Be still (or in the NASB, "Cease striving") and know that I am God."

The word "still" here in the Psalm is "raphah", which means abate, cease, consume, draw (toward evening), fail, (be) faint, be (wax) feeble, forsake, idle, leave, let alone (go down), (be) slack, stay, be still, be slothful, (be) weak (-en). My Strongs Concordance says to see another entry of the same word, which says it means, to cure, (cause to) heal, physician, repair, thoroughly, make whole.

I don't know about you, but I think that if the waters of the Jordan were overflowing its banks for days, it must mean that it had been raining quite a bit of water and the River must have been flowing quite rapidly. And when water is that high and that fast, who would want to go out and stand in it? I would probably tell God, "But that's dangerous!"

"Stand still"....he said.

Could He have been telling them that in their weakness, they can be still, knowing God is there, and see how He would "repair" the situaion? Could He be telling us that in the midst of our weaknesses, our sickness, our troubles, that if we "stay", if we take our weakness to Him, if we "be still" in His Presence, we will see how He will make us whole?

He didn't want them to fear, but instead, to trust Him and know that He was with them. He wanted them to stand still, and He would show them His power. He doesn't want us to fear, either, but to know that He is with us. He wants us to stand still, and just as He would show them the way across the Jordan, He will show us the way across our "Jordan" as well.

Article submitted Thursday, April 14, 2011 & read 220 times.

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» left by Marijo Phelps⁽¹⁸⁰⁾ (1 year 28 days ago.)

I think He is talking to His Body about being still or standing and watching Him - I have written about this so very much (maybe because it is difficult to do!) Thanks for sharing your insights!

» left by Teresa^(1,658) (1 year 28 days ago.)

Amen! So true - thank you for sharing these insights. As Marijo said, it is one of the hardest things to do! Blessings to you! T

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