In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon Him; and a voice came from the heavens: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.” - Mark 1:9-11
Hello Beloved. Isn’t it good to be in God’s house this morning? What a tremendous blessing and privilege it is to gather each week for worship. May the LORD our God be exalted and His Name be praised! Today we will discuss chapters 3 & 4 of Joshua. We will read about Israel’s crossing of the Jordan River. But before we begin, let’s set the stage by looking back at last week’s message.
Before leading the children of Israel into Canaan, Joshua sent 2 spies ahead to the city of Jericho to assess its strengths and weaknesses. While they were there, the pair's presence was discovered and the king gave orders to seize them. A local prostitute named Rahab hid them on the roof of her house so that they wouldn’t be found. Though she was a Canaanite, Rahab expressed faith in Jehovah - the God of Israel - and rejected the pagan gods of her people. In exchange for her kindness, the spies promised to spare her family whenever the Israelites attacked Jericho. Rahab tied a scarlet cord on her window as a sign of protection and the spies returned safely to their camp beyond the Jordan...
I. THE WATERS ARE CUT OFF (Joshua 3:1-11, 13-17)
Early the next morning, after the spies had returned, Joshua and the Israelites set out from Shittim and came to the edge of the Jordan River. They spent the night there. Joshua sent word through the camp for the people to consecrate themselves in anticipation of their crossing into the Promised Land. He instructed them to follow the Ark of the Covenant at a distance of about 3,000 feet. The priests would go ahead of the people into the river, carrying the Ark. Joshua commanded the priests to stand in the middle of the Jordan, and stated that the waters of the river would be cut off while the people crossed. This miracle would serve as a declaration of God’s presence and power among His children and an assurance of their upcoming victory over the Canaanites.
When the time came to cross, the priests led the way carrying the Ark of the Covenant just as they had been instructed. It was early spring, around the time of the barley harvest, and the Jordan River was full and overflowing its banks. This would only serve to amplify the miraculous power of God Almighty. As soon as the priests’ feet touched the water, the flow of the Jordan River was cut off. The waters stood in a heap upriver at the city of Adam, near Zarethan. The priests made their way to the middle of the riverbed and stood there until all of the Hebrew children crossed over on dry ground. This crossing took place just opposite of Jericho.
The manifest presence, power, and glory of God dwelt in and upon the Ark of the Covenant. It was a holy vessel that no one was allowed to touch. It went before the people into the Jordan River, just as it would go before them into battle. When the people followed the Ark, they were following God’s direction. As such, the LORD miraculously enabled them to overcome obstacles in their path. In the same way, we as Christians are called to follow Jesus. We must be careful not to get ahead of Him. Rather, we should obey His commands, do His will, and follow His lead. As we do so, our mighty LORD will clear our paths and make a way for us.
II. THE MEMORIAL STONES ARE TAKEN (Joshua 3:12; 4:1-10, 12-13)
The entire nation crossed the Jordan River into Canaan, including some 40,000 warriors from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Mannasseh who had pledged to assist their brothers in the coming conquest. After everyone had reached the other side, in keeping with God’s command, Joshua sent 12 men back into the river - one from each of the 12 tribes. He instructed each of them to pick up a large stone from the riverbed near the place where the priests were standing. They were to carry these stones on their shoulders to the camp where they’d stop for the night. Once there, these stones would be set up as a memorial for generations to come of the day when God cut off the waters of the Jordan before the Ark of the Covenant and Israel crossed over on dry ground.
According to some interpreters, Joshua also set up a memorial of 12 stones in the middle of the Jordan’s riverbed to mark the exact spot where the priests stood. If so, this second memorial would have been covered by the waters once they returned to their normal course. It seems rather strange to me that someone would erect a memorial that no one could see or visit. Nevertheless, ambiguity in the translation of the original Hebrew text leaves this possibility open.
The number of memorials that were set up isn’t important, but the purpose of the memorial(s) is. God wanted His people to remember this day. He wanted the future generations of Israel to commemorate this miraculous event in their history. It is essential for the people of God to learn about and remember the past. Scripture urges us to do so again and again. As we reflect on our history we are reminded of God’s faithfulness, love, and strength. It should be a source of motivation and encouragement. Furthermore, it warns us about the dangers and missteps of those who’ve gone before us so that we might not repeat the same mistakes.
III. THE PEOPLE MOVE TO GILGAL (Joshua 4:11, 14-24)
Once all the people finished crossing the river and the memorial stones were taken from its midst, the priests who had been standing in the middle of the Jordan carrying the Ark of the Covenant exited as well. As soon as they stepped out of the river onto the opposite side, the waters of the Jordan were released and flowed normally again, spilling over the banks as they had before. The priests resumed their position in front of the procession and led them a short distance away from the river.
Joshua and the children of Israel stopped and set up camp at Gilgal, just east of Jericho. It was the 10th day of Nissan, the first month of the Hebrew year (which roughly equates to April on our modern calendars). Joshua took the 12 stones that had been taken from the Jordan and set them up as a memorial of the day’s events. He dedicated the monument and compared the crossing of the Jordan River to the crossing of the Red Sea some 40 years earlier. Both occurrences declared the mighty power of God Almighty and beckoned the people to know and fear Him. On that day, the LORD exalted Joshua and the children of God began to revere him just as they had revered Moses.
CONCLUSION
Many theologians view the imagery of crossing the Jordan River as a picture of the physical death of a believer. As Christians, we are citizens of the kingdom of God. This world is not our home. The Bible refers to us as strangers and pilgrims living in a foreign land. Whenever we die, however, we will metaphorically pass over the Jordan into our Promised Land, the heavenly inheritance that God has reserved for His children. There we will spend eternity with our Savior and King, Jesus Christ.
In closing, Israel’s crossing of the Jordan River was and is a hallmark event in Jewish history. It marked the end of the exodus and the beginning of the conquest. It was the start of a new chapter in Israel’s remarkable story. As we reflect on this miracle today, we are reminded that God can see His people through any obstacle or circumstance. He is able. Praise Him! May His glorious Name be magnified in all the earth!
Hello Beloved. Isn’t it good to be in God’s house this morning? What a tremendous blessing and privilege it is to gather each week for worship. May the LORD our God be exalted and His Name be praised! Today we will discuss chapters 3 & 4 of Joshua. We will read about Israel’s crossing of the Jordan River. But before we begin, let’s set the stage by looking back at last week’s message.
Before leading the children of Israel into Canaan, Joshua sent 2 spies ahead to the city of Jericho to assess its strengths and weaknesses. While they were there, the pair's presence was discovered and the king gave orders to seize them. A local prostitute named Rahab hid them on the roof of her house so that they wouldn’t be found. Though she was a Canaanite, Rahab expressed faith in Jehovah - the God of Israel - and rejected the pagan gods of her people. In exchange for her kindness, the spies promised to spare her family whenever the Israelites attacked Jericho. Rahab tied a scarlet cord on her window as a sign of protection and the spies returned safely to their camp beyond the Jordan...
I. THE WATERS ARE CUT OFF (Joshua 3:1-11, 13-17)
Early the next morning, after the spies had returned, Joshua and the Israelites set out from Shittim and came to the edge of the Jordan River. They spent the night there. Joshua sent word through the camp for the people to consecrate themselves in anticipation of their crossing into the Promised Land. He instructed them to follow the Ark of the Covenant at a distance of about 3,000 feet. The priests would go ahead of the people into the river, carrying the Ark. Joshua commanded the priests to stand in the middle of the Jordan, and stated that the waters of the river would be cut off while the people crossed. This miracle would serve as a declaration of God’s presence and power among His children and an assurance of their upcoming victory over the Canaanites.
When the time came to cross, the priests led the way carrying the Ark of the Covenant just as they had been instructed. It was early spring, around the time of the barley harvest, and the Jordan River was full and overflowing its banks. This would only serve to amplify the miraculous power of God Almighty. As soon as the priests’ feet touched the water, the flow of the Jordan River was cut off. The waters stood in a heap upriver at the city of Adam, near Zarethan. The priests made their way to the middle of the riverbed and stood there until all of the Hebrew children crossed over on dry ground. This crossing took place just opposite of Jericho.
The manifest presence, power, and glory of God dwelt in and upon the Ark of the Covenant. It was a holy vessel that no one was allowed to touch. It went before the people into the Jordan River, just as it would go before them into battle. When the people followed the Ark, they were following God’s direction. As such, the LORD miraculously enabled them to overcome obstacles in their path. In the same way, we as Christians are called to follow Jesus. We must be careful not to get ahead of Him. Rather, we should obey His commands, do His will, and follow His lead. As we do so, our mighty LORD will clear our paths and make a way for us.
II. THE MEMORIAL STONES ARE TAKEN (Joshua 3:12; 4:1-10, 12-13)
The entire nation crossed the Jordan River into Canaan, including some 40,000 warriors from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Mannasseh who had pledged to assist their brothers in the coming conquest. After everyone had reached the other side, in keeping with God’s command, Joshua sent 12 men back into the river - one from each of the 12 tribes. He instructed each of them to pick up a large stone from the riverbed near the place where the priests were standing. They were to carry these stones on their shoulders to the camp where they’d stop for the night. Once there, these stones would be set up as a memorial for generations to come of the day when God cut off the waters of the Jordan before the Ark of the Covenant and Israel crossed over on dry ground.
According to some interpreters, Joshua also set up a memorial of 12 stones in the middle of the Jordan’s riverbed to mark the exact spot where the priests stood. If so, this second memorial would have been covered by the waters once they returned to their normal course. It seems rather strange to me that someone would erect a memorial that no one could see or visit. Nevertheless, ambiguity in the translation of the original Hebrew text leaves this possibility open.
The number of memorials that were set up isn’t important, but the purpose of the memorial(s) is. God wanted His people to remember this day. He wanted the future generations of Israel to commemorate this miraculous event in their history. It is essential for the people of God to learn about and remember the past. Scripture urges us to do so again and again. As we reflect on our history we are reminded of God’s faithfulness, love, and strength. It should be a source of motivation and encouragement. Furthermore, it warns us about the dangers and missteps of those who’ve gone before us so that we might not repeat the same mistakes.
III. THE PEOPLE MOVE TO GILGAL (Joshua 4:11, 14-24)
Once all the people finished crossing the river and the memorial stones were taken from its midst, the priests who had been standing in the middle of the Jordan carrying the Ark of the Covenant exited as well. As soon as they stepped out of the river onto the opposite side, the waters of the Jordan were released and flowed normally again, spilling over the banks as they had before. The priests resumed their position in front of the procession and led them a short distance away from the river.
Joshua and the children of Israel stopped and set up camp at Gilgal, just east of Jericho. It was the 10th day of Nissan, the first month of the Hebrew year (which roughly equates to April on our modern calendars). Joshua took the 12 stones that had been taken from the Jordan and set them up as a memorial of the day’s events. He dedicated the monument and compared the crossing of the Jordan River to the crossing of the Red Sea some 40 years earlier. Both occurrences declared the mighty power of God Almighty and beckoned the people to know and fear Him. On that day, the LORD exalted Joshua and the children of God began to revere him just as they had revered Moses.
CONCLUSION
Many theologians view the imagery of crossing the Jordan River as a picture of the physical death of a believer. As Christians, we are citizens of the kingdom of God. This world is not our home. The Bible refers to us as strangers and pilgrims living in a foreign land. Whenever we die, however, we will metaphorically pass over the Jordan into our Promised Land, the heavenly inheritance that God has reserved for His children. There we will spend eternity with our Savior and King, Jesus Christ.
In closing, Israel’s crossing of the Jordan River was and is a hallmark event in Jewish history. It marked the end of the exodus and the beginning of the conquest. It was the start of a new chapter in Israel’s remarkable story. As we reflect on this miracle today, we are reminded that God can see His people through any obstacle or circumstance. He is able. Praise Him! May His glorious Name be magnified in all the earth!