Faith: A Risky Business

The story of the Children of Israel crossing the Jordan river into the promised land is one of the neatest stories in the Bible having to do with Faith. The Nation of Israel was marching straight into a flooded Jordan. Without some super-natural act, the day would be a failure. ¹⁵ And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,) ¹⁶ That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho. (Joshua 2:15 and 16) This is such an awesome example of Faith.

One other example of Faith is the Battle of Jericho. God wanted Israel to march around the walls. To anyone who works with military strategy this plan would appear a bit whacky. In fact even one who doesn’t know to much about strategy would see that this is taking a BIG risk with the lives of the people.

With these examples in mind, look at other stories where people had Faith and God worked mightily. In every case without the working of God it would have been a failure, in every case it was a BIG risk. From a godless perspective these stories are fables: they have no reasonable explanation, thus they must not be true. Even as Christians it’s easy to look at people who are taking “steps” of Faith and think “they’ll learn, they really shouldn’t risk that much”. Hebrews 11:1  uses some very interesting terms that I think describe the concept we are working with here. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Definition:) Faith then is the convincing assurance and proof of something (or someone) that we expect but cannot yet see.

Faith isn’t sitting around wishing something would happen. Faith is doing what God wants of you knowing something will happen. With Faith these impossible circumstances aren’t “risks” they are reliable courses of action. With Faith the possible outcomes are as big as the God we trust to bring them. And all He asks of us is to show our Faith by doing what He has asked us to do. (“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” James 2:26)

What is your Jordan River or Wall of Jericho? Are you dreading the “Risk?” You CAN look at them and know the certainty that God will do what He has promised to do.