GOD's UNDENIABLE LEADERSHIP-V—Joshua 3:7-17
Attention:
Recognize This?
A blonde police officer pulls over a blonde woman in a convertible sports car for speeding. He walks up to the car & asks the blonde for her driver's license. The driver searches through her purse in vain.
Finally she asks, "What does it look like?"
The police officer rolls his eyes & tells her, “It's that thing with your picture on it.” The blonde driver searches for a few more seconds, pulls out her compact, opens it, & sure enough sees herself.
She hands the compact to the blonde cop. After a few seconds looking at the compact, the blonde cop shakes his head in disbelief, hands the compact back to the driver, & says, “If you would have told me you were a police officer when I first pulled you over, we could have avoided this whole thing.”
Sometimes its not easy to recognize true leadership!
The quality of leadership can be questionable!
We are faced with a lack of integrity in leaders in the world today.
We should not tolerate it in Christian circles. God must be in control!
God began to magnify Joshua’s ministry among Israel.
*God makes His leadership undeniable among His people.
How does God endear leadership to His people?
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. OBEDIENCE(:11-13)
5. EXPECTANT FAITH(:13)
6—God’s leadership is Undeniable in...
FAITH’s WITNESS(:14-17)
Explanation:(:14-17)
:14—“So it was, when the people set out from their camp to cross over the Jordan, with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people,”
The people left their tents in order to cross the Jordan. They acted in faith, whereas previously they had only heard.
The priests went ahead of the people(2000 cubits or 1/2 mile, cf.-:4).
“Was/Came to pass/Came about”—hyh haw-yaw—1) To be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out. Strong—a primitive root [compare awh haw-vaw'; or hwh[ properly--To breathe; To be(in the sense of existence)]]; To exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass(always emphatic, & not a mere copula or auxiliary).
“Set out/Removed/Broke(camp)”—eon naw-sah'—1) To pull out, pull up, set out, journey, remove, set forward, depart. Strong—a primitive root; properly--To pull up(especially the tent-pins), i.e. Start on a journey.
“Tents/Camp”—lha o'-hel—1) Tent—1a) Nomad's tent, & thus symbolic of wilderness life, transience, 1b) Dwelling, home, habitation,1c) The sacred tent of Jehovah(the tabernacle). Strong—A tent(as clearly conspicuous from a distance).
:15—“& as those who bore the ark came to the Jordan, & the feet of the priests who bore the ark dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks during the whole time of harvest),”
The waters were at flood stage when this occurred.
The crossing occurred during “harvest.” The “harvest” would have been “the early summer harvest”(of barley?) when the river would have been swollen due to “melting snow & spring rains”—NAC, NIVAC
According to 4:19, They actually made the crossing on the “tenth day of the first month.” Nisan/Abib on the very day that the Passover lamb was to be secured by each family(Ex. 12:2-3, 6). They camped at Gilgal located on the eastern border of Jericho. “Bore”2X—asn naw-saw’—Qal Participle Active—1) To lift, bear up, carry, take. Strong—a primitive root; to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal & figurative, absolute & relative.
“Dipped in”—lbj taw-bal’—Niphal(passive/reflexive) Perfect—1) To dip, dip into, plunge. Strong—a primitive root; To dip, to immerse. Used 16X.
“Edge/Brim”(See :8)—huq kaw-tseh’—Noun Masc.—1) End, extremity—1a) End, mouth, extremity, 1b) Border, outskirts, 1c) The whole(condensed term for what is included within extremities), 1d) At the end of(a certain time). Strong—from huq kaw-tsaw’[To cut off, destroy, scrape off].
“Overflows”—alm maw-lay’—Qal Perfect—1) To fill, be full. Strong—a primitive root--To fill or intransitively--Be full of, in a wide application(literally & figuratively).
“Banks”—hdg gaw-daw’—Noun Fem.—1) A river bank. Strong—from an unused root(meaning to cut off); A border of a river(as cut into by the stream). Used 4X.
“During”—le ‘al—Prep.—1) Upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against. Strong—Above, over, upon, or against(yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications.
“Whole”—lk kol—Noun Masc.—1) All, the whole. Strong—properly--The whole; hence--All, any or every.
“Time”—Mwy yowm—Noun Masc.—1) Day, time, year. Strong—from an unused root meaning to be hot; A day(as the warm hours), whether literal(from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative--A space of time defined by an associated term, [often used adverb].
“Harvest”—ryuq kaw-tseer'—1) Harvest, harvesting—1a) Process of harvesting, 1b) Crop, what is harvested or reaped, 1c) Time of harvest; 2) Boughs, branches. Strong—Severed, i.e. Harvest(as reaped), the crop, the time, the reaper, or figuratively; also--A limb(of a tree, or simply foliage).
:16—“that the waters which came down from upstream stood still, & rose in a heap very far away at Adam, the city that is beside Zaretan. So the waters that went down into the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, failed, & were cut off; & the people crossed over opposite Jericho.”
The waters flowing from the entrance of the priest’s feet were totally cut off from their source. The waters of the Jordan emptied into the sea of the Arabah(the Salt Sea or Dead Sea).
When the feet of the priests were dipped into the edge of the Jordan, the waters flowing from the north rose up in one heap all the way to Adam which was a “great distance away”. Adam is located beside Zarethan.
“Adam” which location is evidently unknown, is variably considered to be 20-40miles upstream, just south of the Jabbok River. So this “heap” of water stood as a testimony all the way to Adam!
“Zarethan’s” exact location is likewise unknown but it was obviously known to the Israelites seeing as it is used as a confirming location marker.
Perhaps it is appropriate to mention here the archeological viability of the Bible. However, for those of a Mormon persuasion, ‘The Book of Mormon’ has not one shred of archeological evidence to support it!
This is the manner in which the people crossed across over to Jericho from Acacia Grove(Shittim).
*Our faith is continually in a process of being pruned, shaped, molded...in a process of renewal, strengthening, clarification, & encouragement!
Jn. 15:1-8—“I am the true vine, & My Father is the vinedresser. “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; & every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, & I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, & I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch & is withered; & they gather them & throw them into the fire, & they are burned. If you abide in Me, & My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, & it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”
“Came down/Flowing down” & “Went Down/Flowing down”—dry yaw-rad’—Qal Participle Active—1) To go down, descend, decline, march down, sink down. Strong—a primitive root; To descend(literally--To go downwards; or (conventionally)To a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively--To fall); causatively--To bring down(in all the above applications).
“Upstream/Above”(See :13)—lem mah’al—Substantive—1) Higher part, upper part. Adverb—1a) Above. Preposition—1b) On the top of, above, on higher ground than. With locative—1c) Upwards, higher, above. Strong—properly--The upper part; used only adverbially with prefix--Upward, above, overhead, from the top, etc..
“Rose/Rose up”—Mwq koowm—Qal Perfect—1) To rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up. Strong—a primitive root; To rise(in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive & causative).
“A/One”—dxa ekh-awd’—Adj.—1) One(number)—1a) One(number), 1b) Each, every, 1c) A certain, 1d) An(indefinite article), 1e) Only, once, once for all, 1f) One...another, the one...the other, one after another, one by one, 1g) First, 1h) Eleven(in combination), eleventh(ordinal).
“Heap”(See :13)—dn ned—Noun Masc.—1) Heap. Strong—from dwn noowd[Nod, Waver, Wander, Flee, Disappear; also (from shaking the head in sympathy)--To console, deplore, or (from tossing the head in scorn)--Taunt] in the sense of piling up; A mound, i.e. Wave. Used 6X.
“Very/Great”—dam meh-od’—Adverb—1) Exceedingly, much. Substantive—2) Might, force, abundance. Noun Masc.—3) Muchness, force, abundance, exceedingly. Strong—properly, Vehemence, i.e.(with or without preposition)--Vehemently; by implication--Wholly, speedily, etc.(often with other words as an intensive or superlative; especially when repeated).
“Far Away/Distance”—qxr raw-khak’——1) To be or become far, be or become distant, be removed, go far away. Verbal Infinitive(as adv)—3) At a distance. Strong—a primitive root; To widen(in any direction), i.e. intransitively--Recede or transitively--Remove(literally or figuratively, of place or relation).
“Arabah”—hbre ar-aw-baw'—1) Desert plain, steppe, desert, wilderness. Strong—A desert; especially(with the article prefix)--The (generally)sterile valley of the Jordan & its continuation to the Red Sea.
“Failed/Completely”(See :17)—Mmt taw-mam’—Qal Perfect—1) To be complete, be finished, be at an end. Strong—a primitive root; To complete, in a good or a bad sense, literal, or figurative, transitive or intransitive.
“Cut off”(See :13)—trk kaw-rath'—Niphal(passive/reflexive) Perfect—1) To cut, cut off, cut down, cut off a body part, cut out, eliminate, kill, cut a covenant—1b) (Niphal)—1b1) To be cut off, 1b2) To be cut down, 1b3) To be chewed, 1b4) To be cut off, fail. Strong—a primitive root; to cut(off, down or asunder); by implication--To destroy or consume; specifically--To covenant(i.e. make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutting flesh & passing between the pieces).
:17—“Then the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan; & all Israel crossed over on dry ground, until all the people had crossed completely over the Jordan.”
The priests “stood firm” on “dry ground” bearing “the ark,” in the middle of the Jordan riverbed during flood-stage. They did this until the entire nation(possibly 2 million +) had crossed to the western side of the Jordan.
This had to have made them recall the Red Sea crossing which had been remembered &/or taught to this generation—Joshua, Caleb, & the generation younger than 20yrs.(at the time of the exodus) had not perished in the wilderness(Num. 14:29-30). These would have been no more than 60 yrs. old.
“Stood”(See :13)—dme aw-mad’—Qal Imperfect—1) To stand, remain, endure, take one's stand. Strong—a primitive root; To stand, in various relations(literal & figurative, intransitive & transitive).
“Firm”—Nwk koown—Hiphil(causative) Infinitive—1) To be firm, be stable, be established—1b) (Hiphil)—1b1) To establish, set up, accomplish, do, make firm, 1b2) To fix, make ready, prepare, provide, provide for, furnish, 1b3) To direct toward (moral sense), 1b4) To arrange, order. Strong—a primitive root; properly--To be erect (i.e. stand perpendicular); hence(causatively)--To set up, in a great variety of applications, whether literal--Establish, fix, prepare, apply, or figurative--Appoint, render sure, proper or prosperous.
“Dry ground”2X—hbrx khaw-raw-baw’—Noun Fem.—1) Dry land, dry ground. Strong—feminine of brx khaw-reb’[parched or ruined]; A desert. Used 8X.
“Middle”—Kwt taw’-vek—Noun Masc.—1) Midst, middle—1a) Midst, middle, 1b) Into, through(after verbs of motion), 1c) Among(of a number of persons), 1d) Between(of things arranged by twos), 1e) From among(as to take or separate etc). Strong—from an unused root meaning to sever; A bisection, i.e. by implication--The center.
“All”—lk kol—Noun Masc.—1) All, the whole. Strong—properly--The whole; hence--All, any or every(in the singular only, but often in a plural sense).
“People/Nation”—ywg go'-ee, rarely(shortened)--yg go'-ee Or plural--Mywg—Noun Masc.—1) Nation, people—1a) Nation, people—1a1) Usually of non-Hebrew people, 1a2) Of descendants of Abraham, 1a3) Of Israel, 1b) Of swarm of locusts, other animals(figuratively). Noun Proper Masc.—1c) Goyim? = “nations.” Strong—apparently from the same root as hwg(in the sense of massing); A foreign nation; hence--A Gentile; also figuratively--A troop of animals, or a flight of locusts.
“Completely/Finished/Clean”(See :16—“Completely”)—Mmt taw-mam’—Qal Perfect—1) To be complete, be finished, be at an end. Strong—a primitive root; To complete, in a good or a bad sense, literal, or figurative, transitive or intransitive.
“Passed...Over”—rbe aw-bar'—Qal Infinitive—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).
Argumentation:
Christian Faith is neither ‘blind’ nor reckless...It is faith which commands obedience as a witness!
“As we keep our eyes on, & follow behind our victorious Jesus, the river of impossibility will dry up.”—David Guzik
**Jn. 3:8—“The wind blows where it wishes, & you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from & where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Just because somebody runs around helter-skelter ‘like a chicken with their head cut off’ does not mean they are lead by the Spirit of God. but if they are truly led by God then their lives will show it! They will not present a confusing message in relation to what the Scripture says. The Spirit breeds the ‘manner’ of Christ & He of the Spirit, as they are both God along with the Father.
**2Pet.1:16-21—“For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns & the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”
Saving faith is always couched in reality...& not some private, allegorical whimsey. God never intended for me to come up with my own re-design of God’s perfecting design.
**Jn. 20:26-31—“And after eight days His disciples were again inside, & Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, & stood in the midst, & said, “Peace to you!” Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, & look at My hands; & reach your hand here, & put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” And Thomas answered & said to Him, “My Lord & my God!” Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen & yet have believed.” And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, & that believing you may have life in His name.”
Js. 2:19—“You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe--& tremble!”
The difference between your “belief” & that of demons is your love & passion for the One of whom you witness.
**Lam. 3:1-26—“I am the man who has seen affliction by the rod of His wrath. He has led me & made me walk In darkness & not in light. Surely He has turned His hand against me Time & time again throughout the day. He has aged my flesh & my skin, And broken my bones. He has besieged me And surrounded me with bitterness & woe. He has set me in dark places Like the dead of long ago. He has hedged me in so that I cannot get out; He has made my chain heavy. Even when I cry & shout, He shuts out my prayer. He has blocked my ways with hewn stone; He has made my paths crooked. He has been to me a bear lying in wait, Like a lion in ambush. He has turned aside my ways & torn me in pieces; He has made me desolate. He has bent His bow And set me up as a target for the arrow. He has caused the arrows of His quiver To pierce my loins. I have become the ridicule of all my people--Their taunting song all the day. He has filled me with bitterness, He has made me drink wormwood. He has also broken my teeth with gravel, And covered me with ashes. You have moved my soul far from peace; I have forgotten prosperity. And I said, “My strength & my hope Have perished from the LORD.” Remember my affliction & roaming, The wormwood & the gall. My soul still remembers And sinks within me. This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!” The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope & wait quietly For the salvation of the LORD.”
How else could Jeremiah continue in hope? How could he live empowered by YaHWeH’s mercies, compassions, & faithfulness? How could he be empowered to quietly & expectantly wait to receive the goodness of God’s promise...for the salvation of the LORD? Because Jeremiah had the Witness of personal Faith!
**Heb. 6:1-6—“Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works & of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, & of eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, & have tasted the heavenly gift, & have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, & have tasted the good word of God & the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, & put Him to an open shame.”
We must move beyond law & enlightenment to relationship!
**Heb. 10:35-39—“Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: “For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come & will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith[Hab. 2:4]; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.”
**1Jn. 1:1-4—“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, & our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life-- the life was manifested, & we have seen, & bear witness, & declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father & was manifested to us-- that which we have seen & heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; & truly our fellowship is with the Father & with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.”
Every single day of your life you are actively choosing whether to ‘trust & obey for there’s no other way’ or whether to continue in your ‘politically motivated’ brand of Christianity! ‘Politically motivated’ Christianity never rises above its own fleshly & worldly dominated abilities!
What have you witnessed of God & His work among His people? ?How has it changed your attitude & heart towards Him?
**2Kgs. 6:8-17—“Now the king of Syria was making war against Israel; & he consulted with his servants, saying, “My camp will be in such & such a place.” And the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are coming down there.” Then the king of Israel sent someone to the place of which the man of God had told him. Thus he warned him, & he was watchful there, not just once or twice. Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was greatly troubled by this thing; & he called his servants & said to them, “Will you not show me which of us is for the king of Israel?” And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.” So he said, “Go & see where he is, that I may send & get him.” And it was told him, saying, “Surely he is in Dothan.” Therefore he sent horses & chariots & a great army there, & they came by night & surrounded the city. And when the servant of the man of God arose early & went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses & chariots. And his servant[Elisha’s] said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, & said, “LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, & he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses & chariots of fire all around Elisha.”
2Cor. 1:24—“...for by faith you stand.”
**Rom. 8:16-25—“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, & if children, then heirs--heirs of God & joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans & labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.”
Some see physically yet receive nothing from the experience.
Mat. 15:7-9—“Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”
Isa. 29:13-14—“Therefore the LORD said: “Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men, Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work Among this people, A marvelous work & a wonder; For the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, And the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden.”
Many have the name of Jesus on their lips without knowing Him at all! God’s marvelous work is not in religion but in salvation, & one’s unhindered certain dedication to Him from that moment on.
Illustration:
Since I have answered God’s call to pastor, He has never let me down/God has never left me/He has never disappointed me/...Have I been disappointed in people, yeah...And they in me, yeah! Have I ever left God, yeah! Have I let myself down, yeah!/I have seen God work in so many people/I have seen His protection of the church from a few faithless folks/I have seen Him save many from hell/I have seen many brought back into fellowship with God/God is good & He is true & He is worthy of all my life’s effort!/FAITH’s WITNESS
My wife & I get excited about bird & other animals & plants, etc./We have a white squirrel which visits our feeder occasionally as of late/Its ‘kind of thin’ & has dark eyes & has a little black on the top of its head/Before I moved to Carrabelle, I had never heard of nor seen a non-albino white squirrel!/It seems the ‘eastern grey squirrels’ in the US have some sort of genetic makeup that can cause their fur to be white/The Big 5 white squirrel towns are Marionville, MO; Brevard, NC; Olney, Il; Kenton, TN; Exeter, Ontario/I swear to you I have seen it!/Sooooo....
...Ochlocknee River State Park openly claims to have a population of wild white squirrels on the premises/In Faith, having heard the statement, believing it was true, we went to Ochlocknee River State Park...& sure enough, we saw one!/FAITH’s WITNESS
Application:
?Is God’s leadership undeniable in Your FAITH’s WITNESS?
?Is God’s Leadership Undeniable in His people?
“To face such impossible challenges in our lives, we must look unto Jesus, our Joshua. He always leads us.”—David Guzik
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
Blonde police officer—“If you would have told me you were a police officer when I first pulled you over, we could have avoided this whole thing.”
Action:
God’s leadership is Undeniable in...
6. FAITH’s WITNESS(:14-17)
1. CONTINUITY(:7)
2. DIRECTION(:8-9)
3. HOPE(:10)
4. OBEDIENCE(:11-13)
5. EXPECTANT FAITH(:13)
Pts. 5-only! presented 08/28/2016am to:
FBCCbelle
206 Storrs Ave. SW(SE Ave. A)
Carrabelle, FL 32322
