FOLLOWING GOD
Joshua 3:1-6
Today we are celebrating several departures – we have a number of people finishing their educations and moving on to other fields where they will be able to pursue other ministry opportunities: not to mention, this will be our last week in this building – next week we will be at our new location.
Many times departures bring sorrow instead of celebration – it is very normal to miss the people and the places God has used in our lives, but departures bring incredible transitions to our lives that God can use in incredible ways!
Departures are necessary in order for God to move us and place us exactly where He wants us to be, and though they can be difficult, they are incredibly beneficial!
When we according to Proverbs 3:5-6 5Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Today I would like to look at an incredible departure in the Word of God, where God led His people to the place that He had prepared for them: very similar to what we are looking for!
Joshua 3:1-6 1And 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. 2And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host; 3And 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. 4Yet 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. 5And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you. 6And 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.
This is truly an incredible passage of Scripture – laying out for us what it really looks like to FOLLOW GOD with everything that is in us!
Departure time is at hand! Time to leave the wilderness and go into the Promised Land!
However, there are quite a few difficult things that accompany this incredible opportunity!
A) TIME OF TRANSITION
Moses is DEAD. All the old timers are DEAD (Except Joshua and Caleb)
Joshua 1:1-3 1Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying, 2Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel. 3Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.
God has passed His power from Moses onto Joshua – to lead His people into the promised land.
Remember, this isn’t the first time they have been here. CHECK OUT LAST TIME:
Numbers 14:1-4 1And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. 2And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness! 3And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt? 4And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.
Of course, this isn’t the response God was looking for, so He passes judgment on them, and tells them that they will not enter into the land because of their lack of FAITH and MURMURING.
Then, have you ever noticed how they respond to God’s judgement?
Numbers 14:40-45 40And they rose up early in the morning, and gat them up into the top of the mountain, saying, Lo, we be here, and will go up unto the place which the LORD hath promised: for we have sinned. 41And Moses said, Wherefore now do ye transgress the commandment of the LORD? but it shall not prosper. 42Go not up, for the LORD is not among you; that ye be not smitten before your enemies. 43For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and ye shall fall by the sword: because ye are turned away from the LORD, therefore the LORD will not be with you. 44But they presumed to go up unto the hill top: nevertheless the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and Moses, departed not out of the camp. 45Then the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill, and smote them, and discomfited them, even unto Hormah.
This right here is so incredibly characteristic of how people FAIL TO FOLLOW GOD.
EITHER: 1) They refuse to do what He commands them
to do…
OR 2) They do what He has told them not to do!
We just happen to see both in this example right here – we see them not go when He says go, and then we see them go when He says not to go.
Which of these two are we more prone to fall into?
They key to this life (especially during difficult times of transition) is to FOLLOW GOD!
Because along with this difficult time of transition also comes a:
B) TIME OF TESTING
40 years have passed by, but really nothing (except personnel) has changed:
On the plus side, it is the same promised land flowing with milk and honey; however, it still has the same walled cities, same giants, same Jordan River to pass over.
Joshua 3:2-4 2And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host; 3And 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. 4Yet 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.
These people are moving to an entirely new place – an entirely new land – a land that they have never been to before!
There is only one way to pass this incredible test of faith: Keep your eyes on God, and when you see Him move – GO AFTER HIM! (STRESS ON THE WORD AFTER)
These people were commanded to stay 2000 cubits behind the ark = 10 football fields.
The cool thing about following at a distance: you really have no influence over the direction you go! You just simply: FOLLOW at a DISTANCE!
“Take Jesus with you, wherever you go!” How about: “Let Jesus take you wherever you go?”
There are a lot of people “TAKING JESUS” a lot of places that Jesus isn’t necessarily going!
In addition, Jesus is often going places that nobody really wants to go.
God brings these trials and testing into our lives – so that He and He alone can get the glory!
1 Peter 4:12-13 12Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
Job 23:10-12 10But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. 11My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. 12Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
If we will be obedient in these times – if we will FOLLOW GOD the way that He desires us to FOLLOW, we must do one thing completely - WE MUST COMPLETELY TRUST HIM!
C) TIME OF TRUST
Look carefully at what God’s man tells these people who are on the brink of a crisis of belief:
Joshua 3:5-6 5And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you. 6And 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.
JOSHUA HAS THE CHEAT SHEET RIGHT HERE – HOW TO PASS THE TEST AND MAKE THE TRANSITION!
1) SANCTIFY YOURSELF (Be separated to God – Consecrated for Him and Him alone)
2) TRUST GOD (To do all of the wonderful things that we cannot)
1 Corinthians 2:9 9But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
Ephesians 3:20-21 20Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
The longer I live, the more I realize that this life is NOT ABOUT HOW:
STRONG, SKILLED, SMART, OR SWEET we are, instead it is all about how much we TRUST and DEPEND on our Heavenly Father.
It is only when we realize that we cannot do it and that He is the only way, the only answer; that His power can and will be unleashed in incredible ways.
There is an incredible obstacle in their way here - that Jordan River might as well be the Red Sea to these people:
Joshua 3:15-16 15And 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,) 16That 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.
20 to 30 yards wide, as much as 10 feet deep, there was no way to cross, except by the incredible power of God!
God comes through for them here, just like He did when they were in transition from Egypt!
WE CANNOT WEAR OUT THE POWER OF GOD – GUYS! IT IS UNLIMITED!
Talk about a test – how would’ve you like to be one of these priests here? (YOU GO FIRST!)
NOT JUST THE JORDAN – Guess where they crossed - Right against Jericho!
Right in the middle of ENEMY TERRITORY!
THEY TRUSTED GOD – THEY PASSED THEIR TEST – THEY MADE THE TRANSITION!
GOD GAVE THEM INCREDIBLE VICTORY – IN THE SAME PLACE THAT THEIR FATHER’S SUFFERED INCREDIBLE DEFEAT!
HE CAN DO THE SAME THINGS IN OUR LIVES!
WE SIMPLY NEED TO:
1) EMBRACE GOD-ORDAINED TRANSITIONS (CHANGES) IN THIS LIFE,
2) SEE HOW GOD IS MOVING AND FOLLOW HIM THROUGH THE TESTS OF THIS LIFE,
3) TRUST IN HIM (HIS POWER) TO BRING US TO THE OTHER SIDE!
If we will do this – not only will we have victory, GOD WILL BE GLORIFIED by our lives!
