15. What do we do when we need a miracle? Remember this...

(Joshua Chapter 15)

There is something about Chapter 15 of Joshua that can go completely unnoticed. I'll be honest...there have been many, many times that I have raced past, scanned over, or blatantly ignored (thinking it couldn't possibly have any value) any part of the Bible where a list appears. Do you know what I mean? Have you been there? You are reading along and you bump into a list of this dude begat that dude who begat another name you couldn't pronounce. All of your best intentions to read your Bible turned into either shutting it and doing something else, or falling asleep due to the sheer boredom of something that seemed pointless.

Is that too harsh? Sorry...for me, it's real. When I've seen lists of names and places in the Bible I haven't always found much I can learn from them. Until recently. I wish I could tell you why. I wish it happened a whole lot earlier in life, to be honest. But for whatever reason, it didn't. But...I'll take it. I'm seeing things I've never seen, in parts of scripture I've previously ignored.

Enter Joshua 15.

At first glance, you see a list of places. And most of that list I struggle to even pronouce the names with some semblence of accuracy.

And then I noticed something.

Water.

Lots of water.

In Joshua 3 we walked through (figuratively for us, literally for the Israelites) the Jordan. We watched water pile up, and the Ocean Road concept come into full focus.

Now, in Joshua 15 we think we are looking at a simple dividing of properties. Like, a really boring meeting with a surveyor, and the local whoevers that plot land.

Except, water.

Watch this.

...the tip of the Salt Sea...
...the Brook of Egypt,...
, ending at the Sea.
: the Salt Sea...
...the mouth of the Jordan.
...the shallows of the Sea...
...the mouth of the Jordan,...
...the waters of En Shemesh....
...to the spring,...
...the waters of Nephtoah,...
...the Sea.
: the coastline of the Great Sea.
...the upper and lower pools.
...to the sea,...
,,,the Brook of Egypt.
The Great Sea...

Sixteen different references of water, all talking about one thing.

Boundaries.

Side note: Remember that the number 8 in the Bible means "New Beginnings". I get a sense that the Lord setting 16 references to water as a boundary in place is a reminder to us that new beginnings can come from what we see as firm limitations....boundaries. And not just 8....16. DOUBLE. Toss it in the "for what it's worth" category if you want to.

That, in and of itself, was interesting to me. That they kept defning boundaries not just in terms of land, and landmarks. They were doing it most often with water.

And here is what I hear in that.

Water was the very boundary that seemed to have the Israelites trapped...done in...toast. It was the one boundary that they had no ability to move past, or get through. It wasn't just a boundary, in Joshua 3 it very much looked like a death sentence. It looked like the end. It looked like there was absolutely, positively, NO WAY to get past that boundary.

Have you ever felt like there was an obstacle like that in your life?

I'd dare say there has been something for all of us, that has felt immovable.

And as scary and unsettling as that can feel, here is what I am learning.

(*39)When we recognize our boundaries, we'll stay on course.

What if we stopped seeing boundaries as the things that hold us back?

I think before we begrudge the boundary, there are a couple of things we could learn from them, so that we can experience a joy in life as we leverage them.

1. Boundaries keep us focused on doing what we can do, with what we have, where we are. Limitations aren't stopping points. They allow us to perform at our best within the safety of the borders they provide. Any more ground to cover at certain moments in life could be the very thing that at least would distract us, and at worse de-rail us.

2. Boundaries that look immovable are breeding grounds for a miracle. If everything in life is left only to us to work out, at some point our tires will blow out. There is a limit to our abilities. At some point human strength hits a wall. And it's in those moments, that God has the ability to show up and show off. He reminds us that when we are weak, He is strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

What we see as our limitations...what we see as our end?

I'm more certain now than ever before, that if we live a life as patient as Caleb's, we have the potential of experiencing water-moving miracles.

When I was writing my notes on this book, and walking the beaches, I kept experiencing thoughts like "You've never been on this road before."

It's starting to really click now.

An Ocean Road is every moment in our life that we see a boundary, and the Lord see's it as the exact moment to step in and do what only He can do. To choose the beautiful expression of His love for us...to CHOOSE to work through us. To peel back waters. To make ways where we see no ways.

(*40) Boundaries are the birthplace of miracles.

It's a huge perspective shift, and I realize it isn't always easy to see it in the moment. BUT...when we do? Man, oh man...things change.

PERSPECTIVE POINTS

(*39)When we recognize our boundaries, we'll stay on course.
(*40) Boundaries are the birthplace of miracles.

Reflection Questions:

39. When you look around at your life, what do you see as your boundaries? Have you been angry and frustrated that they exist, or thankful that God can move you beyond them in ways unimaginable to us? If you were to pick one boundary that you can commit to seeing as a blessing what would it be? Will you share it with a close friend that can hold you accountable to allow the Lord to do with it what he pleases?

40. What miracle are you waiting for? Say it out loud. Can you turn your back to the boundary and see...just like the Israelites saw their foes...hard times pressing in? What one thing can you do right now to be content in those moments? Is it easy? Let me answer that for us...no way, no how, no when. Is it a promise in scripture that if God has called us to something...much like he did with Joshua...that He can and will move on our behalf?

*BONUS: This is way easier to read in print, than put into practice. How do I know that? I'm in that moment right now. We've either been there before, are now, or will be again. Just know you aren't alone. It's an "us" thing. Find your confidants, and share your heart. It's very likely that when you do...not only will you feel blessed...but so will they when they realize they aren't alone either. We need one another. Don't go it alone. Find comfort in linking arms, standing with our backs to our specific waters edge. Then watch as God shows up, shows off, and reminds us where our strength comes from.