“By this you will know that the living God is among you.” — Joshua 3:10

The morning had come. Rachel stood with thousands of other Israelites at the edge of the Jordan River, watching the water rush by like a wild animal. The river was full and dangerous from the spring rains. “How are we going to cross this?” she whispered to her husband. “The water is so deep and fast!” Her husband pointed ahead. “Look! The priests are walking toward the water carrying God’s special golden box!”

Rachel held her breath as she watched the priests step closer and closer to the rushing water. Everyone was quiet, waiting to see what would happen. Then something absolutely amazing occurred. The moment the priests’ feet touched the edge of the water, the rushing river stopped! The water piled up high like a wall far upstream, and the riverbed in front of them became completely dry!

“It’s a miracle!” Rachel gasped. “A real miracle!”

An old man next to her started crying with joy. “This is just like when God stopped the Red Sea for our parents! Our God is alive! He can do anything!”

A young boy tugged on his mother’s robe. “Mama, why did the water stop?” His mother knelt down and pointed to the dry riverbed. “Because our God is not like the fake gods that other people worship. Their gods are just statues made of wood and stone. They can’t move, they can’t hear, and they can’t help anybody.”

“But our God is alive!” his father added. “He created the rivers, so He can stop them. He made the earth, so He can shake it. Nothing is too hard for our living God!”

As the people began walking across the dry riverbed, Rachel looked up at the walls of water being held back on both sides. She had never seen anything so wonderful and scary at the same time. “Our God does impossible things!” she shouted with joy. “He really does miracles!”

A teenager walking beside her said, “My grandmother always told me stories about God parting the Red Sea, but I wondered if they were really true. Now I know they are! If God can stop this rushing river just by having the priests touch it, He really can do anything!”

The whole crowd was buzzing with excitement and amazement as they walked safely across what had been a dangerous river just minutes before.

Rachel realized this wasn’t just about crossing a river. This was about learning that their God was the real, living God who could do absolutely anything. No problem was too big for Him. No situation was too impossible.

Did You Know? The Hebrew word for the miracle God did is “niphla’ot” which means “wonders” or “amazing impossible things”! This same word is used to describe the miracles God did in Egypt and when He guided Israel through the desert. It means things that are so amazing that only the real, living God can do them – not fake gods made by people!

🔥 Personal Reflection:

• What’s the difference between the living God and fake gods that people sometimes worship?
• Can you think of a time when God did something in your life that seemed impossible?
• Why is it important to remember that nothing is too hard for God?

🙏 Prayer: Dear living God, thank You for being real and alive, not like fake gods that can’t help anyone. Thank You for doing amazing miracles like stopping the Jordan River to help Your people. When I face problems that seem too big to fix, help me remember that nothing is impossible for You. You are the same God who stopped the river, and You can help me with anything I’m going through. Help me trust You to do wonderful things in my life too. In Jesus’ name, Amen.