Crossing The Jordan Series

Crossing the Jordan Joshua 3:1-17

There were three men sitting at a coffee shop talking. One was a surgeon, one was an engineer and the other was a politician. And they were having an argument as to who’s profession was around the longest. And the surgeon said, “My profession must be the oldest because the Bible said that when God created woman He carved a rib out of Adam. So, that makes my profession the oldest.” And the engineer said, “Well, go back a little bit and remember that God created the heavens and the earth from chaos and turned chaos into order and let’s face it, that’s the job of an engineer.” And the politician smiled and said, “Ah, but who created the chaos.”

Last week I read you some absurd warnings that were found on certain products and this morning I want to begin by reading you a second list that were found on various products and I should mention that this list has nothing to do with the passage.

In case you weren’t aware, we’re all in constant danger because everywhere we go there are signs and labels that alert us to the dangers that are all around us. Here are some warnings that came with things people bought; for instance, on a bottle of shampoo for dogs it said, “Caution: The contents of this bottle should not be fed to fish." And then on a 13-inch wheel that was made for a wheelbarrow it said, "Not intended for highway use." Or on a birthday card for a one year old, it read, "Not suitable for children aged 36 months or less." And then on a package of silly putty, "Do not use as ear plugs." There was actually one posted on the side of a Boeing 757 that said, "Fragile. Do not drop." Or on a sign at a railroad station that said, "Beware! To touch these wires is instant death. Anyone found doing so will be prosecuted." I like the one that was on a shipment of hammers it said, "May be harmful if swallowed." Or on a package of peanuts there was a good one, it said, "Warning: May contain nuts." And there was a hairdryer from Sears that had a warning that said, “Do not use while sleeping.” And then there was a warning on shower caps at a hotel that said, “Fits only one head.” And there was a very good warning on Marks and Spencer bread pudding that said, “Product may be hot after heating.” Then there was a warning on a Korean kitchen knife that said, “Warning, keep out of children.” And just think, with all of these dangerous products like airplanes that shouldn’t be dropped, hammers than can’t be eaten, and peanuts that might contain nuts, it’s amazing that any of us are still alive.

Let me read this passage of scripture in Joshua 3 where Joshua tells the people exactly what they were to do and how they were to do it.

“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. And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host; 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. 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. And Joshua said unto the people, sanctify yourselves: for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you. 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.

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. 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.

And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, come hither, and hear the words of the LORD your God. 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. Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan. Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man. 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.