GOT ANY RIVERS?
Joshua 3:1-17
Life is continually presenting us with new experiences and fresh challenges. For some of us, these new experiences and fresh challenges are easy to identify. Some in our midst are preparing for marriage. Others are expecting their first child; some have recently added a child/children into their family. Maybe the challenge for you is being in a new grade in school, adjusting to new friends, a new teacher, a new class, maybe even a new school. Maybe some of you are making adjustments in your work schedule. Certainly we as a church are making adjustments in working with a new pastor.
New challenges, new experiences, they are all around us
Now, maybe some of you are questioning that.
Life, to you, is one big and boring rut. Well, it’s easy to get into a rut, isn’t it? We can wear that rut so deep that it’s almost impossible to get out.
Chet Unruh: "A rut is a grave with the ends kicked out."
Another authority states that by their mid-30s, most people have stopped acquiring new skills and new attitudes in any aspect of their lives. By mid-30s?!
Think about it, those of us over 30, how long has it been since you changed your attitudes or habits---spiritually, personally, politically, socially?
It’s easy for us to get into a rut. How sad it is when we are so much in a rut that we lose our enthusiasm for discovery and adventure!
"Well," you say. "That’s just the way I am. You can’t change me. Besides, I don’t have any new challenges facing me." I would like to direct your attention to Joshua 3:4.
Regardless of the challenges you face, no matter how deep a rut you might be in, you’ll have to admit that each day brings a totally new set of circumstances and experiences. In a very real sense,
"WE HAVE NEVER BEEN THIS WAY BEFORE."
From this moment on, we are walking on new ground together. This is not only true for each and every one of us personally, but it is also true collectively for us as a church body. We have never passed this way before! The way before us is altogether new. And whenever you enter a new relationship or begin a new experience there are always problems involved---questions & doubts flood our minds. That not too uncommon. I’m sure that many of the people of Israel had doubts and questions when they were asked to cross the Jordan River into Canaan.
Upon what did they rely as they prepared for the crossing of the Jordan River? Upon what can we rely as we face new challenges and obstacles before us?
What promises of God can we rely on?
WE HAVE THE PROMISE OF GOD’S PRESENCE AND THE PROMISE OF GOD’S POWER!
As we look forward to the new adventures that life brings us together:
I. WE CAN BE CONFIDENT BECAUSE WE HAVE THE PROMISE OF GOD’S PRESENCE (vv. 1-11)
Now, let’s take a look at Joshua 3... read v. 1
The trip from Shittim to the banks of the Jordan River was an easy one---just a few miles over smooth ground. So we can assume that the Israelites probably finished their hike before noon and had begun setting up camp on the banks of the Jordan. The Jordan River consisted not only the regular riverbed, but also an area called the Zor which was a desolate gray soil unfit for habitation or cultivation because of the constant flooding had eroded the topsoil. There was also another area called the Ghor which was fertile and green just beyond the Zor. It was here on the Ghor, close to the river’s edge (which now covered the middle area because it was flood time) (3:15) that the Israelites camped.
Here the people camped in traditional orderliness, tribe by tribe, along the raging Jordan. And they camped there for 3 days, watching the river race by at flood stage.
Pretend with me that you are one of those Israelites, camped for 3 days along the flooded Jordan. What must be going through your mind? Does it seem like an impossibility that you will be able to cross this river in front of you? How was everyone going to get across? The elderly, the children, everyone! Maybe there would be some question as to why Joshua had led you here, to cross the Jordan in flood stage. Does Joshua know what he’s doing? Does God know what He’s doing here?
Yes, He does. God had a plan. We know the plan now, but they didn’t then. God would reveal the steps they must take to cross the impossible Jordan, and the success that was theirs if they followed Him. This chapter would become a key passage for the people and nation of Israel. And it can become a key passage for us today as well. But I wonder, how many of us get to the edge of the river and never cross it? How many of you can see the promises of God but never obtain them?
Let’s see what happens next. (read vv. 2-4)
Obviously, there is significance to the command to follow the Ark of the Covenant. What in the world is this Ark of the Covenant? What was it used for? What did it symbolize to the Israelites?
Keep your finger in Joshua 3 and turn with me back to Exodus 25:10-22. I hope you bring your Bibles with you to church and I hope you are able to follow along in your Bibles as we learn from God’s Word together. Although I realize I might be running the risk of what one visitor said to his friend after visiting his friend’s church one Sunday. This first time visitor said, "Boy, you people don’t trust your pastor very much do you?" His friend asked him, "Why do you say that?" "I’ll tell you why. Every time the pastor mentioned a passage of Scripture you can hear pages rustling and that proves that you don’t trust your pastor!"
I don’t mind if I hear pages rustling! In fact, I prefer it!
So please turn to Exodus 25:10-22.
Here in the instructions of how to build this piece of furniture (about 4 ft long, about 2 and a half ft. high, and about 2 and a half feet wide) we see that verse 22 tells us that there, over the Ark of the Covenant, God would meet with His people. The glory of the Lord (Shekinah glory) centered on the Ark of the Covenant. It was there, through the mediation of the High Priest, that God met with His people. It was a symbol of God’s presence with His people. The ark contained the tablets of stone containing the Ten Commandments. It also had a pot of manna (which showed God’s gracious provision during the past 40 years in the wilderness) cf. Exodus 16:33-34. The Ark was topped with a gold plate called the Mercy Seat over which 2 statues of cherubim knelt (cf. Exodus 25:18-19. Psalm 80:1 and 99:1 describe God as "enthroned between the cherubim."
Everything about the Ark of the Covenant pointed to God’s presence! Now, back to Joshua 3. Read vv. 5-6.
God is saying, "Take this Ark of the Covenant, which symbolizes my presence with you. Take that ark, and with the priests carrying it, let it lead the way."
Look at vv. 10-11. What was God really saying to His people? He was telling them that victory would come as they focused on and followed Him. He was telling them that He would be with them and guide them.
Now, how about us? Here we are this morning. We have never been this way before. How do we know that we will move ahead with God’s blessing?
We have the promise of His presence!
Before Jesus left this earth He said, "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter to be with you forever---the Spirit of truth." (John 14:16)
We have the Spirit of the Living God living among us and in us! Isn’t that amazing?!
Jesus Christ is our "Emmanuel" "God with us" Matt 1:23
The Lord Jesus also said in Matthew 28:20 "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age."
God Himself is with us! And His presence gives us confidence to face whatever the future holds! We can have confidence even though we might not understand what’s in store for us.
God’s presence brings confidence! (ILLUSTRATION: when our children were younger, swimming with them in a pool, it’s amazing the confidence they had in the pool when one of us was nearby. Our presence gave them confidence). See the illustration for us as children of God? Are we scared about the future? We needn’t be. Why? Because God is with us! That should give us confidence and comfort. His presence with us should give us great confidence to be able to face whatever challenges life brings us.
Before we leave this concept, I was amazed as I studied this passage this week as to how Jesus Christ was the true Ark of God! Think about it. He was Emmanuel "God with us." Everything in the Ark pointed to Christ. He fulfilled the Law (Matthew 5:17). He was the manna, the bread of life (John 6:31-46). And Jesus became the Mercy Seat for us:
Romans 3:25 "God presented Him (Christ) as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in His blood whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith."
I John 2:2 "He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins."
Jesus’ death on the cross satisfied God’s wrath toward sin. Jesus’ death on the cross made it possible for you to now have a right relationship with God. You don’t have to be good enough, you CAN’T be good enough. It’s not a matter of church membership; it’s not a matter of growing up in the church. None of that will save you! It’s a matter of trust. Trusting in what Christ did for you on the cross. I hope and pray that if you have not done that, you will do it today!
For those of us who have trusted Christ, we can be confident because we have the promise of His presence.
But note there is a condition attached to this. To enjoy God’s presence, we must follow where He leads.
So what’s the condition? OBEDIENCE! (v. 3)
We must focus on and follow Jesus, the living Ark of God, who was and is God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, King of Kings and Lord of Lords!
If the people of Israel hadn’t followed the Ark and went another way, they couldn’t enjoy the presence of God. Oh, He would be with them, as He is always with us, but in order to enjoy God’s presence, we had better be sure we are following His leading.
If we are to cross the Jordans in our lives, and more fully enjoy God’s spiritual riches, we must obediently follow Christ. It’s like what I’ve read last week from Hebrews 12:2 "fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith."
This was Peter’s experience with Christ, wasn’t it? Think about the experience Peter had when he actually walked on water. Fixing his eyes on Jesus, Peter was able to walk on water (sounds impossible, huh?) But when Peter took his eyes off of Jesus what happened? He began to sink. He focused on the problems rather than on Jesus.
Got any rivers you think are uncrossable? Got any mountains you can’t tunnel through? God specializes in things thought impossible. (Like crossing the flooded Jordan, like walking on water). He does the things that others cannot do.
What kind of river do you face today?
Is it a river of bitterness and anger that is standing between you and God’s peace?
Is it a raging flood of addiction, keeping you away from intimacy with God?
Is your river a river of discouragement or depression?
Is it unconfessed sin?
Is your river a river of a broken relationship that you have somehow given up on?
Whatever obstacle you may be facing this morning,
God can see you through it!
Is there something that is keeping you from experiencing all that God wants for you?
If so, fix your eyes on Jesus!
We can be confident because we have the promise of God’s presence. But there’s another promise here for us. Not only can we be confident because we have the promise of God’s presence, but...
II. WE CAN BE COURAGEOUS BECAUSE WE HAVE THE PROMISE OF GOD’S POWER (vv. 12-17)
This is a miracle!!! Let’s look more closely at this miracle and what happened here. (See v. 13) Remember that although normally the Jordan was about 40 ft wide at its widest point, now it had flooded its banks, up to 150 ft deep and as much as a mile wide. Look at the faith of these priests in v. 13. Would you have wanted to be the first in line that day?
"Wasn’t I first yesterday? It’s your turn today!"
It took faith. Faith that gave them courage to trust and believe God. Listen, nothing will happen until you step off the riverbank of your life! It’s a step of faith.
Look what else happened in this miracle (v. 16)
Note: here’s another 3:16 in the Bible
The waters backed up to the city of Adam some 15-20 miles north of where they were crossing! This was a miracle!
Look at v. 17 for another evidence of this miracle.
The ground was so dry you could see the dust on their feet and sandals. That’s how dry it was.
This was a miracle! Remember, this was during the flood stage, not during the low season of drought.
God’s power is at work on behalf of His people. God is in the business of performing miracles for those of His children walking in obedience to Him and His Word.
Our God has all power! Amen?!
And, you know what; He shows that power on behalf of His people. (See Ephesians 1:19 then Ephesians 3:20)
Knowing that we have the promise of God’s power should give us courage to face whatever is ahead of us.
And you can be sure that there are going to be obstacles ahead of us. We’re going to face the ungodly world system around us. This world system hates the gospel of Jesus Christ. We should expect opposition when we begin telling others around us of the GOOD NEWS (Gospel) of Jesus Christ. It’s that Gospel that is "...the power of God unto salvation." (Romans 1:16)
And I believe that God is going to change some lives as they are exposed to this Gospel of Jesus Christ, because I know that we serve a powerful God who has a powerful Gospel that transforms lives. And I believe that lives are going to be transformed as they are exposed to the Gospel.
We’re going to face another obstacle as we live and work together: Not only the obstacle of Satan and the world system, but also our own sin nature. That old sin nature is going to rear its ugly head and demand its own way. I believe that this is going to be one of the most serious threats to the work of God today. It is seen when we bristle up in pride and demand that things be done our way! As we are confronted with obstacles and challenges, we are sure to fail if we face them in our own weak flesh.
But there’s good news! Aren’t you glad? We serve a God who is more powerful than our own sin natures. If we yield ourselves to Him, He will take control and give us victory!
There’s a condition to enjoying the power of God (v. 5)
CONSECRATION! (Read v. 5)
What is God talking about here? He’s talking about the crossing of the Jordan River! God is going to perform a miracle, but He wants His people to prepare themselves and get ready.
"How do we get ready?" CONSECRATE YOURSELVES!
"What does that mean?" It means to set yourself apart.
"From what?" From sin.
"O.K., but then what do I set myself to?" Set yourself apart to God. Set yourself apart for the glory and honor of the Lord Jesus Christ!
Then, God is going to perform some miracles on your behalf. I believe that God is going to do some tremendous things among us in the years to come.
I believe it! But we must be sure that we have given ourselves totally and fully to Him. (Rom 6:13 & 12:1-2)
God’s work suffers when His people are not fully yielded to Him. Are you holding back? What miracle is God waiting to perform in and for you, if you will but give yourself totally to Him?
What are you trusting God to do in your life right now?
If you’re holding back from trusting God, I wonder why?
Are you unsure of where He will take you?
Are you afraid?
You needn’t fear. God promises to guide you with His watchful eye. Psalm 32:8 "I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will guide you with my eye."
God is a God who can be trusted. His promises are sure! He is true to His Word!
Two promises to us this morning:
1. His Presence "He’s With Us"---brings confidence
2. His Power "He’s For Us"---brings courage
Yes, it’s true, we’ve never been this way before, but, if we are living obediently and have given our lives to Him, we can face the future with confidence and courage because we have a God who is with us and for us!
