Joshua 3
-Chapter three begins with Joshua rising early in the
morning to lead the sons of Israel out from Shittim over to the brink of the
Jordan River, where they lodged before their crossing over into the Promised
Land. At the end of three day there, the officers went through the midst of the
camp commanding the people, “When you see the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD
your God with the Levitical priests carrying it, then you shall set out from
your place and go after it.” However, there was to be a distance of about 2,000
cubits (around 3,000 feet or over half a mile) between them and the Ark. They
had not passed this way before, and Joshua was careful to have them consecrate
themselves, “…for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you (Joshua 3:1-5).”
Joshua spoke to the priests telling them to “Take up the Ark of the Covenant
and cross over ahead of the people.” They complied, and the LORD spoke to
Joshua further, “This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel,
that they may KNOW (emphasis mine) that just as I have been with Moses, I will
be with you.” God went further in relating that the Ark would need to be
carried with the priests standing still in the river. Then Joshua brought the
sons of Israel near to hear these words from the LORD, “By this you shall KNOW
that the Living God is among you, and that He will assuredly dispossess from before
you the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Hivite, the Perizzite, the Girgashite, the
Amorite, and the Jebusite.” The LORD wanted them to behold the Ark that was going
before them into the Jordan and take one man from each tribe to combine for
twelve. “It shall come about when the soles of the feet of the priests who
carry the Ark of the LORD, the LORD of all the earth, rest in the waters of the
Jordan, the waters of the Jordan will be cut off, and the waters which are
flowing down from above will stand in one heap (Joshua 3:6-13).” The Jordan was
overflowing its banks during these days of harvest, but the LORD made the
waters back up and halt a great distance away at Adam, the city beside
Zarethan, when the priest’s feet carrying the Ark were dipped into the river
for Israel’s crossing. “So the people crossed opposite Jericho” just north of
the Dead Sea area on dry ground. The priests who carried the Ark of the Covenant
of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan River while
all the nation of Israel crossed over into the Promised Land safely without
complication (Joshua 3:14-17).
-*Application* Several things proceeded the blessing of the
crossing that we need to observe here. The leadership was in tune with the LORD
to hear His Voice and obey it. Consecration, (qadash - setting apart for holiness,
devoting, to sanctify, to be hallowed), was a vital key in this monumental event.
We also will observe here the reverence
for the LORD that was paramount in giving Him His ado with honor and praise. They
also had the faith to step in and
receive what God had promised. When we are passing a way that we have never
gone before, put into practice these important steps to doing things completely
in accordance to the LORD your God. His blessing are sure to follow.
Verse to Memorize:
Joshua 3:13
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