過河的難題
約書亞記一章10至18節
10於是，約書亞吩咐百姓的官長說：
11你們要走遍營中，吩咐百姓說：當預備食物；因為三日之內你們要過這約但河，進去得耶和華─你們神賜你們為業之地。
12約書亞對呂便人、迦得人，和瑪拿西半支派的人說：
13你們要追念耶和華的僕人摩西所吩咐你們的話說：耶和華─你們的神使你們得享平安，也必將這地賜給你們。
14你們的妻子、孩子，和牲畜都可以留在約但河東、摩西所給你們的地；但你們中間一切大能的勇士都要帶著兵器在你們的弟兄前面過去，幫助他們，
15等到耶和華使你們的弟兄像你們一樣得享平安，並且得著耶和華─你們神所賜他們為業之地，那時才可以回你們所得之地，承受為業，就是耶和華的僕人摩西在約但河東、向日出之地所給你們的。
16他們回答約書亞說：你所吩咐我們行的，我們都必行；你所差遣我們去的，我們都必去。
17我們從前在一切事上怎樣聽從摩西，現在也必照樣聽從你；惟願耶和華─你的神與你同在，像與摩西同在一樣。
18無論甚麼人違背你的命令，不聽從你所吩咐他的一切話，就必治死他。你只要剛強壯膽！
信息分享
你見過河水泛溢、漲到兩岸的情況嗎？當你站在河的這邊，急欲渡過對岸，卻見到河水泛溢，那怎麼辦呢？河水正湍急地湧流，怎能安扺彼岸呢？
當以色列民看見泛溢的約旦河，他們的內心一定知道，除非神施行神蹟幫助他們，否則，他們根本不可能過河。但與此同時，他們亦知道，他們若想得到神所賜的應許地，就一定要過河。
當約書亞透過長官對眾民說：「當預備食物，因為三日之內你們要過這約旦河」，百姓一定在思忖著怎樣過河(11節)。然而，百姓聽命服從了，因為在第三章看見他們在命令下達後與神一同前行。信心驅使他們作好準備，信心驅使他們克盡職守，然後，等待神去作人不能行的。
這幾節經文還有一點值得我們留意。約書亞提醒流便、迦得和瑪拿西支派的百姓，他們雖然得到摩西的准允，讓他們留在約旦河東定居，但他們亦承諾摩西，必與其他支派一同爭戰，征服約旦河西的地。「你們已經獲得自己的地去建立家園，」約書亞對他們說，「可是，你們不要忘記你們有責任幫助其他支派得地為業。他們曾經幫助你們，如今便輪到你們去幫助他們了。」
當我們要求別人幫助自己時，一定很容易會答應將來回報他們，但有時卻沒有兌現。然而，這幾個支派卻真的謹守承諾，後來便得到約書亞的稱讚。
遺憾的是，當他們回到約旦河東岸建立家園，安居樂業之後，他們卻逐漸離棄了神，與其他的以色列民徹底地分開。
今天許多信徒也是一樣。他們最初成為基督徒的時候，滿腔熱誠，積極地為神工作；但隨著年日的過去，他們對神的愛便漸漸冷卻，逐漸遠離神。對於這些信徒，我們必須讓他們知道：慈愛的神，永遠為他們大開赦免之門，只要他們回轉，神永遠願意接納他們。
禱告：
主啊，你是信實的主，求你保守我，使我永遠忠於你。
THE PROBLEM OF THE RIVER
Joshua 1:10-18
10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,
11 “Pass through the camp and command the people, saying, ‘Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you will cross over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you to possess.’”
12 And to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh Joshua spoke, saying,13 “Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, ‘The LORD your God is giving you rest and is giving you this land.’
14 Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall remain in the land which Moses gave you on this side of the Jordan. But you shall pass before your brethren armed, all your mighty men of valor, and help them,
15 until the LORD has given your brethren rest, as He gave you, and they also have taken possession of the land which the LORD your God is giving them. Then you shall return to the land of your possession and enjoy it, which Moses the LORD’s servant gave you on this side of the Jordan toward the sunrise.”
16 So they answered Joshua, saying, “All that you command us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.
17 Just as we heeded Moses in all things, so we will heed you. Only the LORD your God be with you, as He was with Moses.
18 Whoever rebels against your command and does not heed your words, in all that you command him, shall be put to death. Only be strong and of good courage.”
Message
Have you seen a river in flood? Have you ever tried to cross one? Have you stood on the bank and wondered how and when you could ever get to the other side?
As the people of Israel looked at that flooded Jordan River, they must have realised the hopelessness of their situation unless God did something extra special for them. At the same time, if they wanted what God had promised, they had to cross that flooded river.
They must have wondered how they would cross when Joshua said (v.11) 'Get some food ready. In three days we're going to cross the Jordan River.' But the people must have obeyed, because we will see in chapter 3 how they moved ahead with God when the command came. Faith gets ready. Faith does all that it can do and then waits for God to do what we cannot do.
There is one other point to notice in these verses. Joshua reminded the tribes of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh, that they had made a promise when Moses gave them their land on the east of Jordan. 'You have your land', said Joshua, 'now remember your responsibility toward the others. They helped you, now you must help them.
It is easy to make promises, isn't it? It is sometimes much harder to keep them. These tribes did keep their promise, however, and later Joshua praised them for doing so.
Sad to say, after they returned home to the east side of Jordan, they drifted away from God. Finally they were completely lost to Israel.
Many today are like that. They are active for God in their early years as a Christian. But later, as the years pass, their love cools and they drift away from God. Our message for them and for us all today is that the way back is always open. The road to forgiveness is never closed. It is the way of the cross. But there we find the love of God waiting for us, ready to renew us when we call on him.
A PRAYER:
Lord keep me faithful as you are faithful.