Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left (Exod 14:21-22).

This was what happened when the people of Israel were reborn by going through water. The "strong east wind" was the Holy Spirit—the power of new creation. It was the spirit of God who was hovering over the waters, the deep, and his power was released when God said, "Let there be light." The same Holy Spirit was with the people of Israel, and he guided them as they traveled in the wilderness, which was a proof that they were heirs of God. And it was this spirit who led those of the second generation into the Promised Land.

Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water's edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. ... So the people crossed over opposite Jericho (Joshua 3:15-16).

These people were also reborn by going through water, and became heirs of God. The Holy Spirit was a seal and a deposit guaranteeing their inheritance. This role of God's spirit is well illustrated in the story of Elijah and Elisha. Elisha succeeded Elijah by receiving the same spirit that Elijah had. Interestingly, they too crossed the Jordan with the water divided.

When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?" "Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit," Elisha replied (2 Kgs 2:9).

"A double portion" meant the inheritance that a firstborn son received from his father. So, Elisha inherited the spirit that rested on Elijah by seeing him taken up to heaven. Note how Elisha shouted that time: "My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel." These chariots and horsemen had followed him since then. All this was to reestablish the nation of Israel that completely failed to keep their covenant with God. It meant to be a renewal of the covenant. So, as Joshua did, Elisha crossed the Jordan from east to west, and reentered the Promised Land with the water also divided. The spirit he received was the only hope guaranteeing the succession of the inheritance promised to the people of Israel who had failed to be God's heirs by breaking the covenant as Naomi was for the field of Elimelech. In fact, this spirit was never taken away from Israel, even during the time of the Babylonian captivity. God spoke through Haggai to the people who had returned to Jerusalem, saying:

This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear (Hag 2:5).

The same spirit remains among those who have become God's heirs in Christ today. As Joshua received the spirit that Moses had and as Elisha received the spirit that Elijah had, Jesus' disciples received the Holy Spirit that Jesus had so that they would go and lay hold of God's kingdom.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight (Acts 1:8-9).

We, as believers in Christ and heirs of God, have an important role in this church age when the rest of the people in the world, even the chosen ones of Israel are failing to be such.