In Joshua 4 I notice how much patience was needed for those who were ministering as priests in carrying the ark. Not only did they first have to enter the dried river, but then wait for six hundred thousand plus men, as well as women, and children, sheep and other livestock, with their possessions, tents etc., to then cross the river. Then they had to wait while men picked up 24 larger stones, put twelve in a pile in the middle of the riverbed, and carry the other twelve to Gilgal. Only then could the priests with the ark come from the river, and as they did in that moment, the water returned to flood over its banks once again. True, the people had hurried the best they could (verse 10), but still, standing there knowing that the water was piling up somewhere (the town of Adam) I can't help but think that the priests with the ark were thinking 'how long is this going to last'. Like, "hurry up people".
It turned out that God had a purpose in this crossing, and wanted to show the people that as He was with Moses, so He was with Joshua. That He was going before them to prepare a place for them. That He was with them as His covenant people. "That all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty that you may fear the LORD your God forever." (Joshua 4:24.)
Waiting for people to respond to the call of God and to follow through on His task for them, can feel a lot like standing in the middle of the dried riverbed waiting for them to follow through on such a simple task as to walk from one side to the other, while wondering, if it takes too long that the waters are going to come rushing back before they're ready.
But then I also wonder about my own task, my walk from one side of the riverbed to the other. My part in the journey and story of the now. Of God's work in that journey, of His strength, Jesus courage when He faced the cross, when He suffered those nails, when His blood was shed, and He died. When He, being risen had crossed from the life of His flesh to the life of His glorification. And I think of those words, "though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me."
God is with us at all times. He is our shield, and our great reward. When we've passed from the old life unto new life in Him, we are coming into our inheritance as the sons of God, of all those who believe in Jesus and have received Him into their lives, He has given us the adoption as sons.
I also thank God for the patience and care of those who stood there in the middle of the Jordan waiting for us to come through, who refused to run away to safer pastures, and stood firm to minister to us so we could come to the knowledge of faith, of Christ living in us.