受邀到教會的講員以「踏進河裡」為例，講述信靠上帝的智慧。他說到有一位牧師因為信靠上帝，不顧當地新的法律禁令，選擇在講道中傳講聖經真理。後來這位牧師被判犯了仇恨罪，入監服刑30天。但他的案子獲得上訴，法院裁定他有權對聖經做出個人的解釋，並敦促別人遵從。

在舊約時代，那些抬著約櫃的祭司們也必須做出選擇，是要踏進約旦河裡，還是要停留在河岸上。以色列人逃出埃及之後，在曠野漂流四十年之久。如今他們站在約旦河畔，那時正是河水泛濫期，水漲極高。然而，當他們的腳一踏進河裡，上帝就讓河水退去，聖經說：「他們到了約旦河，腳一入水，那從上往下流的水，便……停住。」（約書亞記3章15-16節）

當我們把自己的生命交給上帝，祂會賜給我們向前邁進的勇氣，去傳講聖經真理或踏入未知的領域。那位牧師受審的時候，法庭內的每一個人都因他的供詞聽到了福音。而在約書亞記，以色列人安然過河，進入應許之地，讓世世代代的人得知上帝的大能（17節，4章24節）。

我們只需憑信心跨出第一步，剩下的都在上帝手裡。

The guest speaker spoke on the wisdom of trusting God and “stepping into the river.” He told of a pastor who trusted God and chose to speak the truths of the Bible in a sermon despite the new law of his land. He was convicted of hate crimes and spent thirty days in jail. But his case was appealed, and the court ruled he had the right to give a personal interpretation of the Bible and to urge others to follow.

The priests carrying the ark of the covenant had to make a choice too—either step into the water or stay on the shore. After escaping Egypt, the Israelites wandered in the desert for forty years. Now they stood on the banks of the Jordan River, which was at flood stage and dangerously high. But they took that step, and God caused the waters to recede: “As soon as . . . their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing” (Joshua 3:15-16).

When we trust God with our lives, He gives us the courage to move forward, whether choosing to speak the truths of the Bible or to take a step into unknown territory. During the pastor’s trial, the court heard the gospel through listening to his sermon. And, in Joshua, the Israelites crossed safely into the promised land and shared about the power of God with future generations (v. 17; 4:24).

If we step out in faith, God will see to the rest.