Crossing the River
Joshua 3:7-17
Rev. Patricia D. Barth
October 30, 2005
I invite you to imagine what it must have been like to be a part of the people of Israel's journey through the wilderness. It's been a long 40 years. People have died, and babies have been born. And still the journey continues. You've been struggling through the desert, taking the long route; walking mile after mile, feeling lost.
The only thing that's kept the fear down, and made the journey bearable, has been the Ark of the Covenant, born by the priests, and Moses' faithful leadership— but now, right before entering into the Promised Land, Moses died! Joshua has been anointed leader, but his leadership skills are barely tested...
And now you're at the Jordan River. It's harvest time, and the river is swollen and impassible; overflowing its banks.
We don't have any boats!
So what are we to do? How are you going to get across? God will provide.
Joshua tells us, that when the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant step into the water, the water will stop. Pretty spectacular! Can you believe it?
The water coming from the mountains will just pile up in a single heap; and the water flowing towards the Dead Sea will stop. And the priests will stand in the dry river bed while the people of Israel cross over.
It's hard to believe in miracles. They require too much trust in God. But Joshua and the priests are all going to stand in the river, waiting, trusting that God won't let the waters rush over them and drown them.
We all cross rivers at one time or another.
Crossing the river can be dangerous. There is no going back (think Caesar and the Rubicon). Crossing the river is terrifying. We worry: will I get overwhelmed by the water? Drowned? Carried downstream? And if not, then what is on the other side?
But it is only by crossing the river that we move forward. Only when someone puts their toe into the water first do we start to move into the Promised Land. It takes courage—courage like Rosa Parks had. She refused to get up and move, to give up her seat on the bus to a white person. By doing that, she broke the law, and was arrested. Such a simple thing, to stay in your seat—but how courageous! She crossed the river and never looked back.
We all have rivers to cross that take great courage, at some point in our lives. Not everyone can change the course of history, like Rosa Parks did— but we all have to dip a toe in the water—sooner or later, we come to a time when bravery is required. For some it's a serious illness, or surgery; for others it may be political action.
Getting arrested at a demonstration...
being a Good Samaritan...
facing the death of a loved one...
coming out as gay, lesbian. bisexual or transgender person...
standing up to racism...
speaking up when you hear a racist or homophobic joke...
taking an unpopular stand...
befriending an outcast.
I know you've all crossed rivers; and there are more ahead.
Thanks be to God, we don’t cross them alone. We have each other. And we have God.
The interim time is like the journey across a river. It's my privilege to walk through the water with you--- we don't know exactly what’s on the other side, but that's OK because God goes with us.
God may not always stop the flood for us— I wish I could tell you God will always give you dry land to walk on. But we know that's not the way it works out all the time. But I can promise you this—
God walks with you every step of the way. God will lead you, and show you the best path, if you ask. God will give you the courage that you need.
And God will find you a new pastor; not someone to show you the way, not Moses or Joshua or anyone to take charge of you, but an ordinary person to journey with you, someone who will help you and walk by your side. Remember, it is God, not any leader, who goes before us into the water. God waits on the other side, saying "Come!" "This Way!" "You can do it!" "Don't worry!" "I am here."
As you leave this place, I invite you to step across the river of fabric that "pours" down from the Communion Table, and remember your river crossings of the past; and those who have traveled with you; and look forward to those yet to come.
And together,
on your journey,
may you offer
all glory and honor
to God.
Amen.
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