One Step Away from Victory…The Step of Faith

By Gene Easley

     While Saul and his men trembled in fear, Jonathan and his armor bearer took a step of faith and won the victory over the enemy.  It was totally unreasonable to think that two men could defeat an army.  But Jonathan said, “There is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few” (1 Samuel 14:6b).  When we trust in God, we do not have to have the odds on our side.  We do not need the favor of man to make things work.  If we take a step of faith and put our trust in Him, He will bring us through.  

     When David went to the battle field to carry provisions to his brothers, he saw the army of Israel cowering in fear because of one Philistine giant who appeared as no match for any of them.  But David took one step of faith, brought the enemy down, and the world has talked about it ever since.  Victory is often just one step away…a step of faith.  

     Crossing the River Jordan would be Israel’s last obstacle before entering the promised land.  The river was at flood stage, and the count has been estimated at upwards of three million people comprising the population of Israel.  Two and a half tribes of the twelve would remain on the east side of Jordan, except for the men of those tribes who were of military age.  They would be a part of Israel’s army that would conquer the land of Canaan.  The actual number that crossed over was doubtless large and probably included several hundred thousand children.  To expedite the crossing and to make it safe for the children, Israel needed a miracle.  Joshua told the people that the priests who bore the Ark of the Covenant would first enter the waters, and then the people would follow after.  Joshua said that as soon as the soles of the priests’ feet would rest in the waters of Jordan that the waters would open.  Anticipation of a miracle is not the normal way to solve a problem.  But sometimes it is the only way.  Israel did not give up just because she needed a miracle.  

     The moment the priests put their feet in the river, it became as a heap on one side, and the ground instantly dried up.  Israel, with all her women and children and all of their belongings, crossed over on a dry river bed.  Just one step of faith brought the needed miracle that day.  The priests could have said, “Stop dreaming, Joshua.  If we step out in that water, we will just get wet.  Nothing else will happen.  You must think of a more reasonable way to get across.”  But the priests had learned something after forty years in the wilderness…it is better to trust the Lord and obey His Word.  Once again, the priests' step of faith has kept people talking down through the centuries about how great our God is!  

     What is that step of faith that God is requiring of us?  Will we just remain where we are in God and never take that step, or will we move out and believe Him and see great victories in our lives?  It really is in our hands.  Just one step has changed the lives of so many people.  Let us believe God.  Don’t look back!  Don’t just sit there!  Arise and take that one step of faith and see what God will do!

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"And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people; 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...That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap..." (Joshua 3:14-16).