In our phraseology used to describe the Christian life, where we come upon trials or sometimes mundane circumstances, we might use the term "in the wilderness". This is meant to describe our current struggles. However, I wish the Christian to understand that there are far better similarities and pertinent criteria in their walk with God to "crossing the Jordan" or coming into the promised land in faith. To be "in the wilderness" is akin to developing faith in God and still relying upon him to make some miracles in our lives so that we can clearly see that he is present with us. Crossing the Jordan, however, goes beyond this and is a better term to describe our walk in faith. Those who have been baptized indeed have not only crossed the Red Sea but have crossed the Jordan; they have proven that they are no longer in need of miracles to support their faith, and are no longer looking for rewards in this life, but believe in their reward to come.
Christians consider that since they have "come out of spiritual Egypt" they must be "in the wilderness" waiting for their entry into the "promised land". Sometimes when we read scripture, such as Hebrews 4:8, which speaks of another day of salvation, we are lead to believe that the entry of Ancient Israel into the promised land was "premature". We donot see our lives, or the lives of others who have come and gone in the faith, as being "in the promised land". So, all the trials that we bear and the labor we go through, while waiting for the Kingdom of God, is described as being "in the wilderness" - that is, having crossed the Red Sea only - having come out of Egypt only. We must consider, however, that Israel, in crossing the Jordan River and conquering the native inhabitants of the Promised Land, finds for us a much better metaphor to describe our current spritual condition.
Yes, we have crossed the Jordan; we have gone forward in faith and the command to enter into the Promised Land. That's the state of the baptized in Christ Jesus. When we review both stations of life - the crossing of the Red Sea and the crossing of the Jordan, we see that one "draws us out of" the ways of this world, through Moses - which means "to draw out of" and the other, crossing the Jordan, brings us into the promised blessings through Jesus, or Joshua, which means "God saves". The terminology is important, because the faithful need to know that it is through faith that they have a relationship with God, and not only in "coming out of the ways of this world". Let us consider the parable of the rich young ruler, who came to Jesus, as recorded in the book of Matthew 19:16-22. The young man wanted to know some basic stuff - how to enter into life - and he was told to "keep the commandments", those given to Israel at Horeb. However, these commandments were only given to Israel - a covenant, guiding the young ruler onto the right way. What he needed was to go further in his relationship with God and that was to "follow Christ", which was to have faith in the one who was addressing him. Christ would give his life for this young ruler - it was pertinent that he understand that obeying the commandments only would make him an "unprofitable servant", being akin to "coming out of the world" only and staying in the wilderness. To go forward in faith and do what Christ Jesus said, in this case, to sell what he has, give portions to the poor and to follow Christ in his present ministry, was to "cross the Jordan". Crossing the Jordan symbolizes faith - taking up the promises and enduring with them while waiting for Christ Jesus to return.
The rich young ruler, and those who in this day and age "keep the commandments" only, looking for benefits in this life, are satisfied with staying in the wilderness. To cross the Jordan and to come into the Promised Land shows faith, a desire to be "perfect", as the young ruler was instructed to be. Some only want to "obey God", and yet it is not just obedience to commandments that is required to reign with Christ, but faith. We build upon our obedience with our faith; obedience to the commandments only will not get us into the promised land, but will surely keep us in the wilderness which sometimes can be both pleasant and deceitful. Let's consider the similarities:
in the wilderness and the promised land, that type of land which Joshua and the children of Israel entered and conquered, we see that there were enemies and tribes to overcome in both areas. However, there were 7 tribes in the promised land that Israel had to overcome and defeat - and only one tribe, the Amalekites in the wilderness that Israel needed to be victorious over. 7 versus 1: those who describe themselves as "being in the wilderness" have it far easier than those who have crossed the Jordan! In addition, we see that the Israelites were provided for by God in both the wilderness and in the promised land: we are told that even the "shoes" of the Israelites did not wear out in the wilderness and that the Israelites, with Joshua suffered very low casualities while defeating the inhabitants of Canaan and Philistia. However, once more we must consider that the manna - the miraculous bread from heaven - stopped once Israel crossed the Jordan and began to eat of the grain of the land. What this symbolizes is the need to work and have faith that God is working through us, and not just "around us", and in eating of the "true bread from heaven", Christ Jesus, we would thereby say, "We have tasted of the Lord and found that he is gracious." Furthermore, and here is one last analogy, whereby some consider the wilderness to be equal to the promised land, the commandments and laws given to Israel at Horeb followed Israel over the Jordan too. We are reminded that the Levites who carried the Ark of the Covenant, specifically, followed Israel over the Jordan, once all of Israel had passed over. However, two specific individuals consecrated for mediating the covenant and the sacrifices, both Moses and Aaron, were not allowed to enter into the promised land because of unbelief. In reviewing the "waters of contention" at Meribah, where Moses struck the rock and didnot speak to it, we see it was because of a lack of faith; that's right, Moses lacked faith. Faith is believing that God says what he means and means what he says. Moses was instructed to "speak to the rock"; this symbolizes our prayers to God. Because Moses had been instructed previously to "hit the rock" in another passage of scripture, he presumed it was the same course of business, though God spoke otherwise.
Yes, the wilderness does seem to be just the same as the promised land. Crossing the Jordan, to some, is the same as crossing the Red Sea. It's not. Crossing the Jordan is the path to perfection, to having faith in God's enduring love to bring you into the Kingdom of God. It's about being faithful even during suffering, during the bad times. Crossing the Red Sea is an initiation into having a relationship with God by being obedient to his commandments. Once we have crossed the Red Sea and have developed faith in the one who has brought us out of Egypt, we need to cross the Jordan too.
Historically, the wilderness, that part of of the Sinai peninsula in which Israel spent 40 years wandering, was always a part of Egypt. The Egyptians mined turquoise there as "early as the first dynasty", way before Israel showed up. Today, it is still a part of Egypt. To be "in the wilderness" is akin to being an "Egyptian". Crossing the Jordan is about going forth in faith and no longer needing miracles outside of our own hands to guide us or impress upon us - that God is with us. To "cross the Jordan" is to be faith-guided; whereas to "cross the Red Sea" is to be solely impressed with the miraculous, or "what has God done for me lately."
