What to Do When You Don’t Know What to Do
We’ve all been there, haven’t we? Life is good. Plans are on track…it looks like we might even finally get ahead a bit. Then something we didn’t anticipate arises and we are brought up short. Stopped in our tracks.
What do you do when you don’t know what to do?
Joshua 3 talks about just such a situation. Joshua had become the leader of Israel after the death of Moses, the great prophet who had brought them out of Egypt and guided them through forty years of wandering in the wilderness. God had also given Joshua marvelous promises of His help in Joshua 1:1-9.
“As I was with Moses, I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.” (Joshua 1:5)
“Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
As they neared the Promised Land, Joshua sent spies into the city of Jericho to survey the situation; and Israel encamped at a spot called the Acacia Grove to await their report. When the news was positive, they moved forward to the very banks of the Jordan River to go across. And there it was. The unexpected. The unforeseen. The river was swollen to flood stage.
What to do?
The first thing we notice in Joshua 3 is what they didn’t do. They didn’t strategize a Plan B or try to make things happen anyway. They waited to hear from the Lord.
God is a God who speaks to His people and He told them what to do: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, who are Levites carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it.” (Joshua 3:3)
The Ark of the Covenant was the beautiful golden chest that was kept in the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle, the movable tent in which Israel worshipped during their journey to the Promised Land. Seen as being the Throne of God, it was the place where God’s presence was manifested, especially on the Day of Atonement; and it served as a constant reminder that He was in their midst. Whenever Israel moved, it was carefully wrapped and carried by Levites in the middle of the marching order. Now it was being taken to the front of the assembly. God’s very presence was going to lead them into the Promised Land.
I want you to especially notice the last part of the instructions in Joshua 3:4: “…then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before.”
God knew exactly where they were…exactly what they’d been through…and exactly what they needed for the next part of the journey. He knew they were literally entering uncharted territory; and He wanted them to know that He would lead them in the path they should go.
If you’re facing the unexpected today and your “normal” been upended by the unforeseen and unanticipated, let me encourage you to do as Joshua and the Israelites did.
First of all, lay aside your anxiety and your plans A-Z and just be still.
Pray. Then pray some more. James 5:13 says, “Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray.” Do nothing until you have done this.
Pay attention to God’s Word. Remember the instruction in Joshua 1:8 that came along with all those glorious promises — meditate on God’s Word and be careful to do it. Has He told you to do anything to this point? Make sure you’ve done that.
Wait until the presence of God leads you…and then follow Him.
Oh, how we want to lead ourselves into the Promised Land! But we do not know the way to go apart from Him. Make sure you are following Him. He is with you. He will not forsake you. He will take you where you need to be.
Blessings to you,
Michele
