Trust and Obey!
Crossing the Jordan
CBC Joshua Series #7
Joshua 3:1 - 17
REVIEW:
• The spies have returned with a great report.
• The Lord will help them to take the land.
• The enemies’ hearts melt within them.
INTRODUCTION:
• There are times when what is right and what is possible seem to be miles apart.
• During those times, we need a word from God.
• But when God commands, and his people follow in faith, we also receive a WORK from God.
• So it is in our text today.
• NOTE: Salvation just gets you out of Egypt, but leaves you in the wilderness. You will have to fight for your Canaan experience.
• At the Red Sea, the enemy was defeated before their eyes.
• But now, they will have to fight their enemies.
• At the Red Sea, they entered the wilderness. Now, the enter the land of milk and honey.
I. The Move to Jordan (1)
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.
A. The Obedience of Joshua
• Immediately, the very next morning after the spies come in at night, Joshua moves.
• This is a journey of about 10 miles.
• And at this point, Joshua has no clue what God will do to remove the obstacle!
• Yet he does NOT ask for more time to wait on the Jordan to subside.
B. The Obedience of the People
• They do not know where they are going.
• They do not know how they will cross.
• They simply follow their leader.
QUOTE: Unbelief says, let’s go back where it is safe. Faith says let’s go forward where God is working.
II. The Messages (2-13)
A. From the Officers (2-4)
1. Follow the Ark (2,3)
2 And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host; 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.
• Remove from your place = From your assigned tribal position.
2. Maintain Your Distance (4)
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.
• 2,000 cubits = 3,000 feet. (I.e., about ½ mile).
• There are two reasons here.
• First, they were not to hinder the other from seeing the ark move.
• How sad that some in the church will hinder others from seeing the Lord.
• Some are always “agin it.” And so they hinder others.
• Second, There is the principle of holiness.
• David learned this as he carelessly allowed men to move the ark.
• There are people and places and things that are sacred to our God!
• They are told to be careful for they have not passed this way before.
• Of course they have not. No one has crossed Jordan.
• This is not what the text means.
• Previously, God’s children followed the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire.
• Now, they will follow the ark!
• Watch your step, children of Israel.
B. From Joshua (5,6)
1. To the People (5)
5 And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you.
• Before God can do for us what we need, we must be what He needs us to be!
• This is a holy GOD, so you be holy.
• This is an holy ARK, so you be holy.
• This is a holy MISSION, so you be holy.
• “Be ye holy, for I am holy.”
• So they are not asked to prepare their swords, but to prepare themselves.
• God will do “wonders.” This is the OT word for miracles.
2. To the Priests (6)
a. The Order (6a)
6a And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people.
The leadership is having to step out on faith.
b. The Obedience
6b And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people.
• Please note that the committee gets together and discusses what the leader wants to do! NO! They follow.
• At this point, they have no idea how God will deliver.
• But leaders must take the cue from their leader, then take the lead!
• Unless leaders are willing to step forward and risk all for God, getting their feet wet in troubled waters, they are not qualified to be leaders.
C. From the Lord (7-13)
1. To Joshua (7,8)
a. Concerning Himself (7)
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.
• Joshua, today is the day that you will achieve leadership status.
• God’s leaders have authority from God.
• But they also need the status that comes from seeing God’s power.
• It does not mean that men always follow (Noah).
• But it does mean that God is at work (the flood).
b. Concerning the Ark (8)
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.
• What an order.
• To stand in a rapidly moving, overflowing river at flood stage.
• At this point, they have not been told that the water will stop.
ILLUS: Great Smokies tubing trip, rain came, took the stream to level 5 kayak rating. Or the big rock on Eastatoee creek.
2. To the People (9-13) (Through Joshua)
a. The Significance of the Signs (9,10)
9 And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, Come hither, and hear the words of the LORD your God. 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.
• Joshua says, I need for you to know that God has spoken.
• God wants me to tell you what he has said.
• And God wants me to tell you what He is going to do.
• NOTE how that Joshua could have elevated self after the direct encouragement from God. He does NOT. He magnifies GOD!
NOTE: Canaanites and Amarites are general terms for all the inhabitants of Palestine. The Egyptians called Palestine the land of the Hittites even long after they were expelled. The Canaanites (proper) lived near the coast. The Amorites (proper) lived in the mountains. The Jebusites were the inhabitants of Jebus (the ancient name for Jerusalem).
b. The Signs Themselves (11-13)
1) The Ark (11)
11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan.
• It was made of acacia wood, and covered in gold.
• The tablets of the law were inside.
• The cherubim sat upon it and their wings lifted to a point where they almost met.
• Here, at times, the visibile presence of God would appear.
• When difficulties arise and obstacles loom large, we must follow God and we must follow His Word.
2) The Sign of the Twelve (12)
12 Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man.
• The full significance of this is not given until the next chapter.
• These will carry the twelve memorial stones.
• Here, they show that all Israel is united.
• NOTE: There are segments of our congregation that look up to different leaders.
• Leaders must be united, and lead their followers in the direction that The Leader is going.
ILLUS: A player who does not agree with the play call, must still run the play call that is made! So must a deacon.
3) The Sign of the Water (13)
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 [Jehovah], the Lord [Adonai] 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.
• What an incredible promise.
• Some, perhaps suggested a vacation.
• The man has snapped.
• Status quo is always frightened by a visionary.
• But to move ahead, risks must be taken.
• You can’t steal second and keep your foot on first!!!
III. The Miracle (14-17)
A. The Walk of Godly Obedience (14,15)
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; 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 [the barley] harvest,)
• The people did what they were asked to do.
• The priests did what they were asked to do.
• Now it is time for God to do what only HE can do!
B. The Work of God’s Deliverance (16,17)
1. The Jordan is Stopped (16)
16 That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from [better, at] 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.
a. Some deny miracles.
b. Some offer natural explanations.
c. Some just take God at His word!
NOTE: It should be noted that twice in history, the Jordan has been completely stopped by landslides that dammed up the river. The first was on Dec. 8, 1267 when it stayed dry for 10 hours, the latest was July 11, 1927 when it stayed dry for 21 hours! But it would still be a miracle for God to know just when to have the Israelites there! It is so much easier to believe God!
2. The Position of the Priests (17a)
17a And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan,
• They did not continue on in front.
• They stop in the middle.
• Every Israelite that crosses must acknowledge that it is because of God!
3. The Crossing of the Children of Israel (17b)
17b and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.
• The simple words, with no flair of drama, simply reveal that God keeps His Word!
• Imagine as the Canaanites observe the miracle and 2 million people crossing toward them!
CONCLUSION:
LESSONS LEARNED
• God honors faith.
• God honors obedience.
APPLICATION
• I wonder if there is anyone here that has not yet had your Red Sea experience.
• You have never left Egypt. You are still unsaved.
• Perhaps there are some here that have left Egypt, but you have never claimed your Canaan.
• You have never followed Jesus, your Joshua, to victory.
• For these, there was a 40 year difference between crossing the Red Sea and crossing Jordan.
• That didn’t have to be, and it doesn’t have to be for you either!
• Perhaps you have an obstacle that is holding you back from obeying God.
• Where our God guides, he provides!
