Make Way for the Ark
Josh 3:1 And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over.
Early in the morning they move to the River Jordan and they waited there.
Josh 3:2 And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host;
After three days, the waited and then the word came. It was only three days between the death of Jesus and the good word that he is risen. A lot can happen in three days.
Josh 3:3 And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it.
Make way for the ark of the covenant. The ark contained the ten commandments, manna and Aaron's rod that budded. More important then these symbols was the living presence of God that was with the ark. Was God in the ark? Some comment that God is not in a box, but at this time, God chose to be in their presence by way of the ark. Make way, follow the ark, follow God.
Josh 3:4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.
The ark is holy. No unclean person may approach the presence of God. The priests will carry the ark using poles in the staves. The mighty men of valor were commanded to not get to close, but to follow. For the ark will lead the way. You have never gone this way before, but follow God's presence and he will guide you. This applies to us today, we follow God's presence, he leads the way. Only now, we are commanded to come close to God, but first we must be cleansed of our sin by the blood of Jesus. Come to Jesus and you are welcome to come close to God.
Heb 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Heb 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
Heb 10:21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
Josh 3:5 And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.
Josh 3:6 And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people.
Sanctify yourselves, make yourselves clean in washing and in your heart, for the LORD is passing through the people and he will do wonders among you. Make way for the ark. We also are to sanctify ourselves in the world. For we are the ark of God. He dwells within our vessels. We are to be a holy people in a sinful world. The world should see God in us and be drawn to Jesus. There is no greater wonder than a life being cleansed and made new creations by accepting the love gift of God, his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Next Step
Josh 3:7 And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.
God was going to do a great thing through Joshua. Forty years he was servant to Moses, he was faithful. God uses faithful servants; His glory will be shown. People may magnify the servant of God, but the servant magnifies the LORD.
The LORD is magnified
Psa 34:3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
Luke 1:46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
Luke 1:47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
Luke 1:48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
Luke 1:49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
Josh 3:8 And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan.
Come to the River and stand still. Come to the Living waters of God's Spirit. Stand still, wait, until you are told the next step.
Josh 3:9 And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, Come hither, and hear the words of the LORD your God.
Josh 3:10 And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites.
Josh 3:11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the LORD of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan.
The ark goes before you, the LORD goes before you, leading you into battle. The promise land is there for you. The victory is yours. The River Jordan is a picture of crossing over, in the natural to God's promise Land. In the Spiritual? The Jordan is passing away, through death and being escorted to the new land by angels to the spiritual place where God dwells.
Josh 3:12 Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man. Twelve princes, just the number Moses chose to go spy out the land forty years before. Twelve men of faith. One from each tribe. Twelve disciples would follow Jesus to victory in the Spirit. Now twelve men were chosen to be obedient in what the LORD commands.
Josh 3:13 And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap.
The LORD told them this great miracle before it happened. Sometimes the LORD reveals his great works before they happen. At other times he just gives us the next step. A lot can happen when we step forward for the LORD. Here the waters would part, as did the Red Sea before Moses. But the first step in the Jordan would be required. We must not be afraid to make the first step of faith. For all us, this would be the waters of repentance and then salvation in Jesus, the washing away of our sins. These are the first steps to the promise land.
Crossing the Jordan
Josh 3:14 And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people;
Josh 3:15 And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,)
Josh 3:16 That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.
The first step in the Jordan was required. When the priests stepped into the River, it parted and raised up in a heap. This was not a time of drought, but as mentioned, the Jordan was overflowing it's banks. It was the high water time of the River Jordan. The waters from the supply side were heaped up. The Red sea at the crossing of Moses, was heaped up on both sides.
Exo 14:21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
Exo 14:22 And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
Josh 3:17 And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.
The remainder of the river ran dry, even unto the salt sea. The people crossed over on dry ground. The key is that the ark went with them, God's presence was with the obedient priests, while the warriors followed keeping a distance between them and the ark. We are all soldiers fighting the enemy of our souls. Will we follow afar off or will we be brought near by the blood of Jesus? If we are found in Jesus, we are called the priests of the LORD.
1 Pet 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
We are not to be kept away from God's presence, yielding to priests who enter his presence for us. This is not God's new covenant. We enter into the holy presence of God through the veil of the flesh of Jesus, torn for us.
Heb 10:18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
Heb 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Heb 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
Heb 10:21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
By his blood we are cleansed and made worthy to worship and praise the Lord. As we draw near, sanctified by his word and prayer, we are ushered into His presence by His Spirit. We study His word and pray in His Spirit. We are to praise him, not criticize others, we are called to be priests of his light and truth. We shall praise him, for he is worthy of all our praise!
Memorial Stones
Josh 4:1 And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over Jordan, that the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying,
All the people? All the soldiers for battle? Or all that would be going across the Jordan to live? Now was the time to go over. No waiting for the waters to recede, no bridges required, no animals struggling to swim across the river. The River was standing in a heap on one side and for miles the multitude could cross the Jordan on dry ground. What an opportunity.
Josh 4:2 Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man,
Josh 4:3 And command ye them, saying, Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the priests' feet stood firm, twelve stones, and ye shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place, where ye shall lodge this night.
These were not little pebbles but rocks that were to endure. Twelve rocks, representing the twelve tribes of Israel that crossed over the Jordan by God's miracle way. The rocks were also symbolic of the twelve apostles, the building stones of the foundation which was Christ Jesus. Peter was the first apostle to be called a rock, but he was not the foundation; Jesus is the foundation. Jesus is the miraculous way provided to enter the promise land of heaven.
Josh 4:4 Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man:
Josh 4:5 And Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of Jordan, and take you up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel:
The stone was to be large, born upon the shoulder. In one sense the stones also represented the law, that first came on stone. The law placed a burden upon men that they could not bare. Jesus spoke of this to the lawyers who added many laws to God's laws.
Luke 11:46 And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.
Jesus took our burdens upon himself.
Isa 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Josh 4:6 That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones?
Josh 4:7 Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever.
Memorial stones, to commemorate God's great miracle. Do we have memorials in our life of God's deliverance? How do you remember these? What memorial have you to leave for your children, so that they would remember this wonder of God? We all remember our salvation. We were forgiven of sins and our burdens removed. They are removed, aren't they? If not put them down at the foot of the cross. The cross is a memorial symbol for those who were redeemed.
Josh 4:8 And the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, as the LORD spake unto Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them unto the place where they lodged, and laid them down there.
Josh 4:9 And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there unto this day.
Where was the memorial? In the midst of the Jordan. As the waters made a roaring sound as they came against this memorial, it was as of God's voice of rushing waters. Listen and look, what is this we see? It is a memorial. At this place the priests stood with the ark of God's presence, while Israel crossed over into their promised land. On Christ the Solid rock we stand.
1 Pet 2:3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
1 Pet 2:4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
1 Pet 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
We are living memorial stones of God.
Memorials and Memories
Josh 4:8 And the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, as the LORD spake unto Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them unto the place where they lodged, and laid them down there.
Josh 4:9 And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there unto this day.
There were two memorials set up. Joshua himself placed twelve stones in the Jordan River and the twelve men brought the heavy stones to make a heap at their campsite.
As the people were resting on the Promise land on the other side of the Jordan, no doubt there were reflections about the past. Do we sometimes dwell in the past, saying what if? Moses had spoken to them before he passed away about their Journey.
Deu 7:7 The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:
Deu 7:8 But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
It was God's grace from the beginning, as it is today.
Deu 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
Deu 7:10 And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face.
Deu 7:11 Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day, to do them.
The law resulted in direct blessings or curses depending on their love and obedience, or their disrespect and disobedience.
Deu 8:1 All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers.
Deu 8:2 And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.
Forty years of testing. Can your faith be tested? God is faithful, so we must be faithful too.
Deu 8:3 And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.
Deu 8:4 Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years.
The LORD miraculously provided their needs for food and clothing. The manna never stopped, as his word is forever and to be trusted. Their clothing and sandals lasted for forty years. Is this prosperity teaching? Prosperity is in trusting the Lord.
Deu 8:5 Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee.
Deu 8:6 Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him.
As children are corrected by a loving father, so the LORD corrects his people. We are to learn faith and obedience. Faith without works is dead.
Deu 8:7 For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills;
Deu 8:8 A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey;
Deu 8:9 A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass.
Deu 8:10 When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.
Do not be seeking things, but acknowledge God in all things.
Deu 8:11 Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day:
We remember his words and obey Him.
Respect for the Leader
Josh 4:10 For the priests which bare the ark stood in the midst of Jordan, until every thing was finished that the LORD commanded Joshua to speak unto the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua: and the people hasted and passed over.
The priests and the ark stood in the middle of the River bed until all were passed over. The presence of God within the ark was the power. Would you stand in a river with water standing in a heap on one side? Not on our own power would we; but in God's presence we could. His presence makes all things possible.
Josh 4:11 And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over, that the ark of the LORD passed over, and the priests, in the presence of the people.
Josh 4:12 And the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh, passed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses spake unto them:
These were the men who promised to fight with the other tribes who crossed over the Jordan. Their land was already inhabited on the side where the crossing began.
Josh 1:14 Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle, shall remain in the land which Moses gave you on this side Jordan; but ye shall pass before your brethren armed, all the mighty men of valour, and help them;
Josh 1:15 Until the LORD have given your brethren rest, as he hath given you, and they also have possessed the land which the LORD your God giveth them: then ye shall return unto the land of your possession, and enjoy it, which Moses the LORD'S servant gave you on this side Jordan toward the sunrising.
Josh 1:16 And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go.
Josh 1:17 According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only the LORD thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses.
Josh 4:13 About forty thousand prepared for war passed over before the LORD unto battle, to the plains of Jericho.
Josh 4:14 On that day the LORD magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.
Forty-thousand soldiers passed before God, knowing that God was with them. So important it is to know that if we must fight, that it is of God. Joshua was magnified as he obeyed and magnified the LORD. They had fear, great respect, for their leader. He was a man of God's choosing.
Josh 4:15 And the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying,
Josh 4:16 Command the priests that bear the ark of the testimony, that they come up out of Jordan.
Josh 4:17 Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, Come ye up out of Jordan.
Josh 4:18 And it came to pass, when the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD were come up out of the midst of Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet were lifted up unto the dry land, that the waters of Jordan returned unto their place, and flowed over all his banks, as they did before.
At the command of Joshua, the priests stepped out of the banks of the Jordan River and immediately the waters returned to flood stage. There was no turning back, but why turn from the presence of the Lord? They were going forth into God's promise for them.
We walk in God's presence, not looking back. We belong to God, our commander is the Lord of Hosts, the Lord Jesus Christ is our commander. We obey him.
Tell the Children
Josh 4:19 And the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho.
Josh 4:20 And those twelve stones, which they took out of Jordan, did Joshua pitch in Gilgal.
The memorial stones were in Gilgal, the place that was the camp and planning place for the conquest of the land.
Josh 4:21 And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones?
The stones were a memnorial and reminder for future generations, of God's miracles. These are faith building. When we remember the past victories, it builds our faith. If we see failure in the past, it usually means that flesh was in the way of faith.
Josh 4:22 Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.
Let your children know. How important it is to pass on the heritage we have of God's presence and provision. There has been a stripping of our past from us in this time. Liberal politicians and organizations have destroyed our connection to the past. God is being left out of the history books and his name is not allowed in the public place. This is the work of the devil. As Christians we must give our children memorials and true and factual history lessons showing that God had indeed worked his way in our land. His hand guided our nation in the beginning and if America does not repent he will bring judgment to our land.
Josh 4:23 For the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over:
Josh 4:24 That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your God for ever.
The miracle of the Jordan River and the Red Sea, were examples to be taught to their children. All the world would hear and know that the God of Israel is great and mighty. Rahab spoke of the world's fear of the God of Abraham.
Josh 2:11 And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.
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