Didn't you absolutely hate it when your teacher began class with the words, "pop quiz"? Your heart would begin pounding as you reached for your paper; your hands would feel clammy as they gripped your pen; and your stomach would start churning as thoughts of impending doom filled your mind.

You've probably heard Moses' story a hundred times - how he led the children of Israel out of Egypt, freeing them from years of oppression, only to arrive at the Red Sea with no way to cross it. A problem for man but not for God! Exodus 14:21-22 tells us that the waters of the Red Sea parted as Moses lifted up his rod, and the way was made clear and dry for their deliverance. Everyone remembers Moses' experience, but did you know that Moses' successor, Joshua, experienced the same thing, just with a different body of water?

When the time came, God chose Joshua to lead the people of Israel out of the wilderness and into the Promised Land, but there was another body of water that had to be crossed - the Jordan River. When the children of Israel came to the Jordan, it was at harvest time and the river was at flood stage. How could they cross it? God had a plan, of course! He told Joshua, "Give this command to the priests who carry the Ark of the Covenant: 'When you reach the banks of the Jordan River, take a few steps into the river and stop there." Joshua 3:8 As soon as the feet of the priests touched the waters of the Jordan River, everything happened just the way God said it would. The water heaped up on one side, the riverbed dried up, and the priests stood there until every single person had walked across to the other side. Besides His obvious purpose of getting His people to the physical place they needed to be, God also performed this miracle to encourage them toward the spiritual and emotional place they needed to be in their commitment and loyalty to their new leader, Joshua. The Lord had told Joshua, "Today I will begin to make you a great leader in the eyes of all the Israelites. They will know that I am with you, just as I was with Moses." Joshua 3:7 Through the parting of these waters, God's anointing and call on Joshua's life was confirmed, and he was elevated in the eyes of all the people that day. Two great men, two bodies of water, and one incredible God.

The next two accounts involve two prophets, whose story is found in 2 Kings 2 . Elisha had been accompanying Elijah, the prophet of the day, following him everywhere he went, soaking up every piece of wisdom he possibly could. On their final journey together, crossing the Jordan River was part of the trip; but that was no problem for Elijah. When they reached the shores of the Jordan, Elijah simply took his mantle (outer cloak garment), rolled it up, struck the waters with it, and "they divided this way and that, so that the two of them went over on dry ground." 2 Kings 2:8 Sounds familiar, doesn't it? Not long after that, Elijah was taken in a whirlwind into heaven, thus ending his earthly ministry and marking the beginning of Elisha's. On his return home, Elisha found himself standing at the banks of the Jordan River - without his mentor this time. What would he do? How would he cross it? On dry land, of course! He reached down, took Elijah's mantle, rolled it up, struck the waters with it, and "they parted this way and that, and Elisha went over." 2 Kings 2:14 Simple as that!

Four awesome leaders, each with his own call and purpose, each with his own personal experience with God, yet linked by the common thread of an uncommon occurrence.

There is one more Who parted waters, and HE did it, not with a rod, an ark, or a mantle, but with His very own life. John's baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River marked the day Jesus' earthly ministry began, and the waters stirred in more ways than one that day. Though they may not have parted physically from one river bank to the other, the waters definitely parted spiritually. As I picture the Jordan waters giving way to make room for Jesus' body, I am overwhelmed by the measure of His sacrifice. According to Jesus "No one has greater love than to lay down his own life for his friends." John 15:13 So, what did He do? He laid down His life - from His birth to His baptism to His crucifixion - He gave His all. Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; and no man comes to the Father but by Me." John 14:6 Jesus set out, not to make a way, but to be the way of deliverance for you and me, and the countdown began the moment his body was lowered into the waters of the Jordan River. What He set out to accomplish, He did - becoming our Way, our bridge, our dry land provision so that we might cross from one shore to the other, from bondage to freedom, from darkness to light, from ashes to beauty, from a heavy spirit to a garment of praise, from no hope to hope everlasting, from desolate aloneness to eternal companionship and relationship with God, Himself!

Four great men - two bodies of water - and one wonderful Savior.

Prayer for Today Thank You, Father, for Your great mercy that keeps me from getting what I deserve and Your great grace that offers me a way of deliverance. Thank You for the sacrifice of Your Son and His willingness to lay down His life for me.