We’re at the beginning of Joshua and thinking about Strength! Courage! as we go into the world on mission. Chapters 3 and 4 give us the order of operations.

Joshua instructed the priests, “Take up the Chest of the Covenant and step out before the people….When the soles of the feet of the priests carrying the Chest of GOD, Master of all the earth, touch the Jordan’s water, the flow of water will be stopped—the water coming from upstream will pile up in a heap.”

And that’s what happened. The people left their tents to cross the Jordan, led by the priests carrying the Chest of the Covenant. When the priests got to the Jordan and their feet touched the water at the edge (the Jordan overflows its banks throughout the harvest), the flow of water stopped. It piled up in a heap—a long way off—at Adam, which is near Zarethan. The river went dry all the way down to the Arabah Sea (the Salt Sea). And the people crossed, facing Jericho. And there they stood; those priests carrying the Chest of the Covenant stood firmly planted on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan while all Israel crossed on dry ground. Finally the whole nation was across the Jordan, and not one wet foot. (Joshua 3.6, 13 – 17, MSG)

Did you see it? Step into the Jordan River and then the flow of water will stop. Not, “Wait until the flow stops and then step in.”

It’s a common mantra for successful salespeople making cold calls:

The fear goes away when you make the call. You don’t wait for the fear to go away before you make the call.

We see the same principle when Jesus healed the ten lepers:

When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. (Luke 17.14, ESV)

“As they went…”

Strength! Courage! You are going to lead this people to inherit the land that I promised to give their ancestors. (Joshua 1.6, MSG)