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Dip Your Foot in the Water - Part 1

by Jerry Ousley  
8/23/2013 / Christian Living

We've talked about faith and for the next few articles we want to spend some more time on this important and valuable subject. I can recall four incidents from the Bible in which water played an important part in the faith of certain individuals.

The first incident involved a man by the name of Naaman. He was actually a general in the Syrian army and these people were bitter enemies of Israel. However, Naaman contracted the deadly disease of leprosy. He was told about the prophet Elisha who lived in Israel. Naaman, along with several members of his army, made the trip to visit Elisha. Because of Naaman's important position he thought that Elisha would meet him and give him the royal treatment. Instead, Elisha never even came out of his house but simply told his servant to tell Naaman to go and dip seven times in the River Jordan and he would be cleansed. This insulted the general and he turned to leave in anger. But one of his men suggested that it wouldn't hurt to try, so he did. After doing what Elisha had instructed him to do his leprosy was immediately cleansed. Man, he almost blew it!

The second involved a blind man who had come to Jesus for healing. Now think about this situation; Jesus could have simply said the words and the man's sight would have been restored. Instead, Jesus spit on the ground, took the mud and smeared it all over the man's blind eyes. He then told the blind man to go and wash in the pool of Siloam and he would receive his sight. Most people would have been greatly insulted. First to have mud made from spit rubbed in their eyes, and then to have to find this pool, which wasn't an easy thing to do for a blind man. But when he obeyed, he was healed and received his sight.

In the third incident a man had spent years sitting by a pool. It wasn't any ordinary pool but one that was "troubled" or stirred by an angel of God. Many people spent much time sitting by this pool because no one knew when the stirring would take place next. Only the first person entering the water after the stirring would be healed. In this man's case, he had no one to help him into the water and Jesus intervened for him. But all those other people had to have enough faith that if they were the first to jump in the pool that they would be healed. I wonder how many other lame people made that plunge hoping to be first and had to have help getting out when they weren't?

The last incident I want to remind you of is that of Joshua and the people of Israel. When they were about to enter the Promised Land, the overflowing Jordan river had to be crossed. It was very deep because it was during the flood season. God had instructed Joshua to have the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant, to first step into the water. Now think about it wouldn't it seem like a ludicrous thing to do to step into an overflowing, rushing river? But when they did the water was stopped several miles upstream and the entire nation of Israel crossed over on dry land.

The point is that faith, though it is simply believing, also may require us to act on what is unknown. Sometimes it means that we have to swallow our pride as in the cases of Naaman and the blind man. Sometimes it means that we have to act on things that might cause others to call us crazy. I can't tell you what to do. Only faith in what the Lord is telling you will result in your answer.

When we are obedient to the Bible and to what the Holy Spirit is telling us in our hearts our faith will be honored. One word of caution: What you are feeling inside must scripturally agree with the Bible. For instance God won't be telling you to commit sin to prove your belief. Our obedience to the Lord will require an act of faith. But when we obey Him, we open ourselves up to a whole new world a spiritual world one that will increase our faith.

Jerry D. Ousley is the author of "Soul Challenge", "Soul Journey", "Ordeal", "The Spirit Bread Daily Devotional" and his first novel "The Shoe Tree." Newer books include "Finality" and "Dividing God's Church." Visit our website at spiritbread.com to download these and more completely free of charge

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