Read Joshua 3
Crossing the Jordan
1 Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over. 2 After three days the officers went throughout the camp, 3 giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. 4 Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits between you and the ark; do not go near it.”
5 Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.”
6 Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people.” So they took it up and went ahead of them.
7 And the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. 8 Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.’”
9 Joshua said to the Israelites, “Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God. 10 This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites. 11 See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you. 12 Now then, choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. 13 And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the Lord—the Lord of all the earth—set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.”
14 So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them.15 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, 16 the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. 17 The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.
Go Deeper
This chapter ends with a familiar scene: the Israelites walking across dry ground through a parted sea. It is reminiscent of Exodus 14 when God parts the Red Sea, only this time the Israelites aren’t being chased. They’re moving on towards the land that God had promised them so long ago. This has to be one of those “exhale” moments for the Israelites as they look back on all that they have lived through.
We would be missing something really important if we were only focused on the end of this chapter, though. Joshua gives the Israelites an interesting command in verse 5 when he says, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.” Consecrate isn’t a word we use often. The best explanation of it is to wholly dedicate yourself to a purpose (in this case, to God). Joshua knew that everything that was about to happen was a spiritual issue. They couldn’t flippantly walk into the Promised Land. That would be missing the point. They had to first ensure that they were wholly and completely surrendered to God.
God works in and through people all the time. It is what He has done all throughout scripture. But we can’t be off on our own, wandering through life in unrepentant sin, living self-indulgent lives and expecting God to use us to further the Kingdom in the midst of that. We have to daily put sin to death. Put our desires to death. Put our selfishness to death. We have to daily consecrate ourselves to the Lord with the hope and expectation He will do amazing things among us. Second Timothy 2:20-21 tells us that we’re like vessels or jars, ready to be used by the Master as long as we’re willing to purify and cleanse ourselves from all that is dishonorable.
Today, let’s consecrate ourselves to God.
Questions
- What parallels do you see between this story and what happens in Exodus 14?
- What does it look like to practically consecrate yourself to God today? What needs to change from yesterday to today?
- What amazing things do you see God doing around you right now? Spend time thanking God for being on the move.
Did You Know?
The Israelites were instructed to keep about 1,000 yards of distance between them and the Ark. This was so that they could a) respect the holiness of the Ark of the Covenant but also b) ensure that everyone had a clear view of it.
7 responses to “Joshua 3”
Are you an overcomer or have you been overcome? Either victor or a victim?
Deut 6:23 He brought us out…. that He might bring us in
Hebrews 3:19( 3 different translations)
19 So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.
19 So we see that because of their unbelief they were not able to enter his rest.
19 They never got there because they never listened, never believed.
The Ark of the Covenant was the “throne of God”, the place where His glory rested. The law of God was kept in the Ark. In verse 5 Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.” Wash you body and change your clothes for a new beginning with the Lord. God was going before His people to open a way. God goes before us to make our way when we step out in faith, “get our feet wet”. Will we stand on the edges and not dip our toes into the”living” water so that we get out of our wilderness? Are we moving forward in faith or backward in unbelief? This is what means to walk by faith. We have something happen that is a huge challenge and we forget that God is with us. We forget His promises to us and often we forget His past faithfulness in our lives,.
It is interesting that God uses water often to show us the way. Noah and the flood washing away the evil, starting again new. God parts the Red sea, opens the Jordan, Peter walking on water, we live in water until we are born, and when we get “born again” there is a washing of the dead and a being made new in baptism.
God thank You for such amazing testimonys of Your sovernity, glory, and help. Thank You for how You make a way when my worldly eyes see no way. God help me to keep my eyes transfixed on You, not the turbulent world that is trying to work on my unbelief. God thank You for me being a victor through You, an overcomer with You getting all glory. Thank You that my believing helps my unbelief. Thank You for guiding me through life. Thank You that I give You ALL the glory and honor for ALL!! God thank You for today. Thank You for these minutes of this day and that I look, listen (shema), hear, and obey what You want/need of me in these minutes of this day in Jesus name amen.
WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
4 “Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before.“
So many times in life, we are traveling where we have not been before. Therefore, we need to keep our eyes on and follow the ark!
This Red Sea moment was a bit different from the first one. The first time God saved them FROM something (Egyptians) this time God is saving them FOR something (The Promised Land). It was no ordinary miracle as the Jordan River was at its flood stage and the walled water left dry ground to walk through (no muddy bog). I’m pausing to celebrate the goodness and faithful provision of our God. “He’s a
Way-maker, Promise-keeper, Light in the darkness.”
Flood stage!! Of course God planned it that way.
Loving me some “like-mindedness” today…
On reading the Go Deeper section, one comment in particular caught my eye, as it reminded me of one of my favorite anchor verses:
“We can’t be off on our own, wandering through life in unrepentant sin, living self-indulgent lives and expecting God to use us to further the Kingdom.”
Then I saw that exact same verse referenced just a few sentences later! Here’s the version I keep in the Bible Memory app:
“So if anyone purifies himself from anything dishonorable, he will be a special instrument, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.” 2 Timothy 2:21 HCSB
This has come to be one of my favorite and most essential verses. It helps me stand firm when the lure of the “dishonorable” seems so strong. Any time yielding to temptation feels so small (and SO satisfying!), I’m reminded of what’s at stake:
I can enjoy a small (but false) good for a short time … or I can stand ready to take part in God’s eternal good.
Lord, I long to be purposeful and special! Keep me from and cleanse me of every contaminant that prevents me from serving you. Remind me each day to consecrate and set myself apart to your purpose.
Covenant obedience and the consequences of disobedience. Joshua learned these things from Moses, but by his own faith followed through in obedience. God fulfills His promises.
Yea it pains me because I currently have unrepented sin…