The Pursuit of Toe-Dipping Faith
The Jordan parted once their feet got wet
The first swim of the summer requires a strategy.
Are you a toe-dipper?
A slow-wader?
Or an all-out cannonballer?
Regardless, you must find a way past the initial trepidation and submerge yourself.
The same is true for faith.
Salvation is a gift of grace.
But a life of faith requires putting an obedient foot forward.
This is beautifully pictured in Joshua 3–4 when the nation of Israel crosses the Jordan River into the Promised Land of Canaan. The command of God given to Joshua required forward-moving faith:
“And when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap.” — Joshua 3:13
God’s promise was realized “as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water.” (Joshua 3:15)
Years of waiting came to an end with a step forward.
All it required was someone to have enough faith to be a toe-dipper.
Two Crossings, Two Pictures
This is a stark contrast to the more well-known crossing of the Red Sea in Exodus 14.
Together, these two narratives form a beautiful picture of the Christian life.
The Red Sea is a picture of salvation.
The Jordan is an image of sanctification.
At the Red Sea, the enemy was at Israel’s back.
At the Jordan, the enemy waited ahead.
A chapter of slavery and bondage closed when Israel crossed the Red Sea. Their Egyptian captors were crushed in the waters behind them.
A chapter of obedience to the covenant promise of God awaited the generation that crossed the Jordan — the second generation led by Joshua. Their parents had perished in the wilderness, having failed to trust God enough to take this step of faith into Canaan.
At the Red Sea, the nation was led by Moses.
At the Jordan, the Ark of the Covenant led the procession.
Both point forward to Jesus.
“Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself.” — Hebrews 3:3
Keep Climbing
The Jordan has long been used as a metaphor for crossing into the final Promised Land. Many hymns draw on the image of finally crossing the Jordan into heaven’s embrace — the long-awaited home of weary pilgrims and wayfaring strangers.
Others have seen the Jordan as a picture of our daily walk of faith:
“The crossing of Jordan does not illustrate the passing of a soul into eternity, but rather the passing of a Christian from one level of Christian life to another. It marks the end of the self-life and the beginning of the Christ-life.” — Alan Redpath, Victorious Christian Living
This mirrors the progress of faith described in 2 Peter 1:5–7:
“Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.”
Peter sets up a ladder of virtues that every believer should desire to climb as they mature in faith. Follow it like you are wading into refreshing waters.
The Eight Rungs of Peter’s Ladder (2 Peter 1:5–7):
Faith – The foundation; active trust in Christ.
Goodness (Virtue) – Moral excellence; courage to do what is right.
Knowledge – Wisdom for daily obedience. A hunger for the word.
Self-Control – Mastery over desire.
Perseverance (Steadfastness) – Endurance under pressure.
Godliness – A heart oriented toward God.
Mutual Affection (Brotherly Kindness) – Affection for fellow believers.
Love (Agape) – Christian love; the crowning virtue ultimately demonstrated by Christ on the cross.
This isn’t a checklist—it’s a calling to keep climbing.
Viewing the Christian life as “steps” could be misunderstood as works-based righteousness. But Peter isn’t describing how we earn salvation — he’s describing how saved people walk forward in obedience.
Believers should desire to climb closer in their relationship with God.
It’s a call to stop watching from the bank and get your feet wet.
“Some Christians step onto the bottom rung (faith) and stay there — content to be saved and comfortable remaining closest to the world from which they came.”— Pastor Brian Bell
Sanctification means being set apart. Believers should be distinctly different from the world, not conformed to it (Romans 12:2).
There is a higher calling than this world can offer.
You will never reach it unless you start moving and — at the very least — become a toe-dipper.
Mountain Mover — First In, Last Out
The priests were called to put their toes in the water first.
They stood in the middle of the Jordan until the entire nation of Israel hurried through.
Then they waited there even longer while Joshua sent twelve men back to gather stones for a memorial.
They were first in.
And last out.
“The priests with the ark did not stir till ordered to move. Let none be weary of waiting, while they have the tokens of God’s presence with them, even the ark of the covenant, though it be in the depths of adversity.” — Matthew Henry
We can all bear a little weight for the mission.
It does not require a priestly title.
What a joy it is to lead the way for God’s people.
What a privilege it is to bear the weight.
This week, carry a “first in, last out” mentality.
Show up early to serve.
Stay late to clean up.
Find a way to help carry the load.
Someone may see you take the next step of faith—and follow you up the ladder.
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