God's Undeniable Leadership-3 Series

GOD's UNDENIABLE LEADERSHIP-III—Joshua 3:7-17

Attention:

In a former church, we were in the beginning stages of discussions surrounding the implement of AWANA. However, there was one big snag. A well-respected(& rightly so), sweet, Christian lady with much influence had issues with allowing the ‘pristine’ fellowship hall to be used for games around an AWANA Circle. She had reservations because she thought it would be terrible for the hall to be ‘dirtied up’ with scuff marks, & a ‘semi-permanent’ AWANA circle, etc. She was concerned because the fellowship hall was also used for wedding receptions. Her belief was a real hindrance to the church’s decision to move ahead in ministry.

However, as we were in the midst of discussing the potential for ministry, & her issue directly, She was asked, "Exactly how many wedding receptions do we have per year?" Her countenance change in an instant. She ‘got it’ for the first time! She immediately recanted her opposition & wholeheartedly supported the AWANA ministry from then on!

God was in control!

We are faced with a lack of integrity in the world today.

We shouldn’t tolerate it in Christian circles. God must be in control!

God began to magnify Joshua’s ministry among Israel.

God magnified His ministry thru Joshua.

God began to make His leadership thru Joshua undeniable among His people.

God initiated His undeniable leadership thru Joshua among His people Israel.

*God makes His leadership undeniable among His people.

How does God endear leadership to His people?

*When/Where is God’s leadership undeniable?

We’ve found previously that God’s leadership is Undeniable in...

1. CONTINUITY(:7)

2. DIRECTION(:8-9)

3. HOPE(:10)

4—God’s leadership is Undeniable in...

OBEDIENCE(:11-12)

Explanation:(:11-12)

:11—“Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is crossing over before you into the Jordan.”

The people were told that “the ark of the covenant”(& thus God) would “cross over” ahead of the people. The ark contained, & was thus a symbol of, the written covenant Israel had with “the Lord of all the earth”...And of which He had committed to them.

This “ark” was ‘pregnant’/brimming with symbolism/reminders of Who it was that was ultimately leading them thru Joshua & the tribal heads. It spoke of their reverent relationship to Him Who would make it a real substantive possibility.

The people were told that the ark would go before them “into the Jordan.”

“Ark”(See :3, 6)—Nwra aw-rown'—1) Chest, ark—1a) Money chest, 1b) Ark of the Covenant; 2) (TWOT)--Coffin. Strong—from hra aw-raw’[a primitive root; to pluck](in the sense of gathering); A box.

“Covenant”—tyrb ber-eeyth’—Noun Fem.—1) Covenant, alliance, pledge; 2) (phrases)—2a) Covenant making, 2b) Covenant keeping, 2c) Covenant violation. Strong—A compact(because made by passing between pieces of flesh).

“Lord”(See :13)—Nwda 'adown or (shortened) Nda 'aw-done' or ynda—1) Firm, strong, lord, master—1a) Lord, master—1a1) Reference to men—1a1a) Superintendent of household,of affairs, 1a1b) Master, 1a1c) King, 1a2) Reference to God—1a2a) The Lord God, 1a2b) Lord of the whole earth, 1b) Lords, kings—1b1) Reference to men—1b1a) Proprietor of hill of Samaria, 1b1b) Master, 1b1c) Husband, 1b1d) Prophet, 1b1e) Governor, 1b1f) Prince1b1g) King, 1b2) reference to God—1b2a) Lord of lords(probably = "thy husband, Yahweh”), 1c) My lord, my master—1c1) Reference to men—1c1a) Master, 1c1b) Husband, 1c1c) Prophet, 1c1d) Prince, 1c1e) King, 1c1f) Father, 1c1g) Moses, 1c1h) Priest, 1c1i) Theophanic angel, 1c1j) Captain, 1c1k) General recognition of superiority, 1c2) Reference to God—1c2a) My Lord, my Lord & my God, 1c2b) Adonai(parallel with Yahweh). Strong—from an unused root(meaning to rule); Sovereign, i.e. Controller(human or divine).

“All”(See :13)——

“Earth”(See :13)—Ura eh’-rets—Noun Fem.—1) Land, earth—1a) Earth—1a1) Whole earth(as opposed to a part), 1a2) Earth(as opposed to heaven), 1a3) Earth(inhabitants), 1b) Land—1b1) Country, territory, 1b2) District, region, 1b3) Tribal territory, 1b4) Piece of ground, 1b5) Land of Canaan, Israel, 1b6) Inhabitants of land, 1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under)world, 1b8) City(-state), 1c) Ground, surface of the earth—1c1) Ground, 1c2) Soil, 1d) (in phrases)—1d1) People of the land, 1d2) Space or distance of country(in measurements of distance), 1d3) Level or plain country, 1d4) Land of the living, 1d5) End(s) of the earth, 1e) (almost wholly late in usage)—1e1) Lands, countries—1e1a) Often in contrast to Canaan. Strong—from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; The earth(at large, or partitively a land).

“Crossing over/Passeth Over”—rbe aw-bar’—Qal Participle Active—1) To pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress. Strong—a primitive root; To cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically--To cover(in copulation).

“Before/Ahead of”(See :10)—Mynp paw-neeym'—

“Into”—??—

:12—“Now therefore, take for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one man from every tribe.”

The people were instructed to take 12 men—one representing each tribe—from the tribes of Israel.

We are not immediately told the purpose of the 12 men. It appears that they didn’t know either, but 4:2-6 tells us that these men were to each remove a stone from the Jordan as a memorial to their miraculous crossing.