Have you read the stories of the Bible and thought they were just stories or that they happened so long ago they have become like so many other stories; not relevant to our lives today? Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.” Joshua 3:5. And He did. “This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanite’s, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites. See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you. Now then, choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the Lord – the Lord of all the earth – set foot in the Jordan, its water flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.” V. 10-13.

Imagine experiencing this. Imagine experiencing hearing about it if you are one of the nations waiting for the inevitable to happen. No one had walked this path before. It was unknown until they stepped in faith and trusted the Lord of all the earth. Rahab trusted the Lord of all the earth…anyone of the people living in Canaan could have turned to the God they see is doing things no other god could do. An unknown path to be sure, but one backed up with what their eyes can see.

What about our path? Each one of us is on a path in this life. Each one of us is impacted by the experiences we have lived, the lives we have known, the traditions handed down in each generation. We know that path; we live that every day; we see the results of that path…walking by the sight of our lives and all that is around us in this world.

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:18-19.

As I was praying this morning, I realized that we take God’s hand to walk on the path with Him, not realizing that we don’t know the way. We want to walk the path that is familiar and where does that path lead? To what is familiar.

The Lord of all the earth knows a better way. His path leads to love of God above all things and love for one another. How can that be? We see the hate that destroys. We live the consequences of that hate. Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing. For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary. Hebrews 10:14-18.

That path is in our future but with God’s help we can begin to see that hope for all of us who are willing. Can you imagine looking to God’s eyes of deep love for us and turning away from that love? When we finally realize our deep, deep need for His love, how can we turn away? How can we keep walking on the path of hate? See…the Lord is doing amazing things and He is is preparing our hearts to receive Him. What could be more wonderful than that path?