Crossing or Returning

The people stand at the Jordan, the priests bear the ark, and the waters yield. God makes a way, but not for a stubborn people who wish to keep Egypt in their hearts. The psalm remembers both mercy and rebellion: the Lord saved, fed, led, and forgave; yet Israel forgot His works, lusted, murmured, envied, and turned to idols. Jeremiah shows the same wound still open. After hearing the word of the Lord, the remnant calls the prophet a liar and flees to Egypt—the very house from which God had once delivered His people.

So the choice in these readings is plain: cross with fear of God, or return with pride. One cannot praise the mighty acts of the Lord while rejoicing in the works of one’s own hands. As Irenaeus says, “And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifices to the idol, and were rejoicing in the works of their own hands.” The old sin is not only bowing to an image of metal; it is trusting what our own will can secure—our plans, our safety, our provisions—rather than obeying the command of God.

At the river, the people had to follow the ark and sanctify themselves. In the psalm, Phinehas is praised because zeal for God was joined to righteous action. Cyprian writes, “it was accounted unto him for righteousness, assuredly whosoever believes in God and lives in faith is found righteous.” Faith, then, does not run to Egypt when obedience is costly. It keeps judgment, does righteousness, confesses past rebellions, and walks where God commands, even when the river is swollen.