Today’s Reading: Joshua 3–4
God wanted Joshua’s attention and his focus. He wanted him to study and be familiar with God’s law and to listen obediently to God for his every move. Joshua’s success was dependent on this obedience. Joshua was commissioned by God with these very specific instructions:
• Be strong and courageous, for I am with you.
• Don’t get discouraged, for I will be with you.
• Be obedient by meditating on my word.
Early the next morning Joshua and all the Israelites left Acacia Grove and arrived at the banks of the Jordan River, where they camped before crossing. — Joshua 3:1
STEP ONE
The first step was taken. The people of Israel had been moved from the grove of Acacia trees where they had been camping since Joshua sent the spies into Jericho, and now they were at the banks of the Jordan River. Joshua sent leaders throughout the camp to instruct the people to watch for their cue to cross the river. When they saw the Levites carrying the Ark of the Covenant towards the water, they were to get up and follow them: “Since you have never traveled this way before, they will guide you.” (Joshua 3:4a)
Joshua’s faith and obedience were going to be tested moving forward. God told Joshua – you have never been this way before, SO FOLLOW ME for tomorrow I will do AMAZING things among you (3:3-5). You do not have to figure out how to cross this river on your own; I am going to lead you. What a beautiful recognition that this was a new experience for God’s people. They were entering new territory, but God would guide them. Tomorrow was going to be a special day; tomorrow the Lord was going to lead them across the Jordan River to the land He had promised them.
STEP TWO
In the morning Joshua said to the priests, “Lift up the Ark of the Covenant and lead the people across the river.” And so they started out and went ahead of the people. The Lord told Joshua, “Today I will begin to make you a great leader in the eyes of all the Israelites. They will know that I am with you, just as I was with Moses. Give this command to the priests who carry the Ark of the Covenant: ‘When you reach the banks of the Jordan River, take a few steps into the river and stop there.’” — Joshua 3:7-8
Now it was harvest season, which meant the Jordan was overflowing its banks. God gave Joshua very clear instructions, telling him to obey with strength and courage. They were to step into the rushing waters with confidence in the Lord.
This was different than last time. When Moses had led the Israelites to the banks of the Red Sea, they were told, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today” (Exodus 14:13a). Moses had stepped forward with his staff, raised his hand over the waters, and the Red Sea had parted. The people walked across dry land to reach the other side. But this time, God was requiring those in leadership to take the first step into the rushing waters. Once they obeyed, they would see the mighty strength of their God on display.
Those who were twenty years of age or younger could remember that day at the Red Sea, and others had grown up hearing the story of what their ancestors had experienced. Imagine the anticipation as they walked towards the flooded waters; consider the excitement that their God was about to do something BIG for them again.
STEP THREE
It was the harvest season, and the Jordan was overflowing its banks. But as soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the Ark touched the water at the river’s edge, the water above that point began backing up a great distance away at a town called Adam, which is near Zarethan. And the water below that point flowed on to the Dead Sea until the riverbed was dry. Then all the people crossed over near the town of Jericho. Meanwhile, the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant stood on dry ground in the middle of the riverbed as the people passed by. They waited there until the whole nation of Israel had crossed the Jordan on dry ground. – Joshua 3:15-17
It wasn’t until their feet touched the Jordan that the river parted and dry ground appeared in front of them. They chose faith and not fear, and experienced many AMAZING things just as God had promised. They took twelve stones from the middle of the riverbed and carried them to Gilgal, where they would camp for the night. Then Joshua stacked twelve more rocks where the priests were standing with the Ark of the Covenant as a memorial of the miracle their God had given them.
Then Joshua said to the Israelites, “In the future your children will ask, ‘What do these stones mean?’ Then you can tell them, ‘This is where the Israelites crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ For the Lord your God dried up the river right before your eyes, and he kept it dry until you were all across, just as he did at the Red Sea when he dried it up until we had all crossed over. He did this so all the nations of the earth might know that the Lord’s hand is powerful, and so you might fear the Lord your God forever.” — Joshua 4:21-24
The God who parted the Red Sea is still the God who pulls back the waters for us. The Lord who provided dry ground for the Israelites to cross the Jordan River is the God who provides a path for us to follow today. Let’s take time to remember all He has done for us. Let’s tell the stories to our children of how our God has been faithful, and will continue to be faithful generation after generation.