The Israelites were camped on the eastern banks of the Jordan River when God gave them the command to “consecrate themselves.”

To consecrate something is to “set it apart,” to be reserved for a special purpose. Since these words were spoken to the Israelites the night before they were to cross the Jordan River, the Israelites were to do nothing that would bring dishonor to God before crossing over. They were to surrender themselves to the Lord.

Yes, it’s true that the Lord wants our obedience and devotion. But perhaps the focus of this verse is not the fact that the Israelites were to consecrate themselves to the Lord, but rather that the Lord was going to do “amazing things” among them. And amazing things He did.

The people were about to cross the Jordan River. The river was at flood stage at this time. Nevertheless, as soon as the priests who carried the ark set foot in the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan stopped flowing. The ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan while all the people of Israel passed through on dry ground.

It’s hardly what the people of Israel would have expected. After all, when they saw the river at flood stage they expected that their crossing would be a wet one. But instead, Joshua reveals that all Israel passed by “on dry ground.” Amazing!

As you participate in this capital campaign effort, what kind of amazing things is the Lord revealing to you and your ministry? What kind of barriers (a river at flood stage) are you facing? What kind of issues seem like the odds are against you?

Whatever the challenges may be, it is because the Lord works in ways that are immeasurably more (a dried up river during flood stage) than we expect. In doing so we see Him do “amazing things.” Just ask the people of Israel whose feet were dry when they passed through the Jordan River.