Joshua
chapters 3 and 4 detail the actual crossing over through the Jordan
River into the Promised Land. God has been preparing the nation for
forty years and yet the chapter begins, “Early
in the morning, Joshua and all the Israelites set out… and went to
the Jordan, where they camped… after three days“.
We are always in a rush, but God’s timing is not our timing. I
hate to wait and just sit idle, but sometimes we must first be still
before we can hear the “still
small voice”
(1 King 19:12) of God. While they waited at the river’s edge, they
would have noticed the river was at flood stage, once again proving
to the people that there was no way possible to safely cross over 2
million men women and children by their own efforts. So often, we
only wait on God when a situation is impossible for us. Orders are
given, “When
you see the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord and the priest move out…
follow it… then you will know which way to go… but keep a
distance of 1000 yards between you and the Ark; do not go near it“.
They are also told to “consecrate
yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things“.
Then God gave Joshua a promise; “Today
I will begin to exalt you so… the people will know that I am with
you as I was with Moses“.
Finally the people are told, “The
Ark of the Covenant will go into the Jordan ahead of you“.
Are you out in front of God struggling in the rushing water?
The
instruction continues, “As
soon as the priests who carry the Ark of the Lord set foot in the
Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in
a heap“.
Again, notice, it is not until they take the step of faith that God
works! If you are waiting for dry land before you take that step of
faith, you may be waiting a long time. So the people crossed over,
“The
priests who carried the Ark… stood firm on dry land in the middle
of the Jordan while all of Israel passed by until the whole nation
had completed the crossing on dry land“.
Joshua also chose twelve men to “Take
up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan from right where the
priests stood, and carry them over with you“.
“And
the priests came up out of the river carrying the Ark of the
Covenant. No sooner had they set their feet on dry land than the
waters of the Jordan returned to their place and ran at flood stage
as before“.
Isn’t it interesting that God miraculously allowed the nation to
cross the Red Sea under Moses in the journey OUT of captivity, then
cross the Jordan under Joshua on the way INTO the Promised Land? I
believe there is more to living a victorious Christian life than just
being forgiven from our sins (escape captivity). I believe we find
our joy and purpose when we receive God’s Holy Spirit. For some
that happens at the moment of conversion, for some at Baptism and for
others it can be years later when they finally ask. Are you missing
the joy in your spiritual life? Ask God for a fresh anointing of His
Holy Spirit in your life.
Chapter
4 tells us the purpose of the twelve large stones from the middle of
the Jordan. “Joshua
set up at Gilgal (on
the eastern border of Jericho)
the twelve stones they had taken from the Jordan“.
He told the people, “In
the future, when your descendents ask their fathers ‘what do these
stones mean?’ tell them ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground…
He did this so all the people of the earth might know that the hand
of the Lord is powerful and so you might always fear the Lord your
God“.
It is important that we teach our children about our salvation
experience as well. 2 Timothy 4:2 reminds us to “Be
prepared in season and out”
to share our faith.