GOD ENABLES THE ISRAELITES TO CROSS THE RIVER JORDAN

Joshua 3:1-17
Key Verse: 3:8

    "Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: `When
     you reach the edge of the Jordan's waters, go and stand in
     the river.'"

     In the last chapter we learned the two spies courageous faith.
They crossed the defense line, the River Jordan, and spied out the city
of Jericho. At the same time, there was Rahab who lived in the Jericho
fortress as a prostitute. Even if she was a prostitute, she had faith
that Jehovah God was the Sovereign Ruler of history. Her faith was based
on God's work and history happening in her own generation. She said,
"I know that the Lord has given this land to you and a great fear of
you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting
in fear because of you. We have heard how the Lord dried up the water
of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to
Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan" (2:10).
Because of Rahab's faith, the spies were protected from the scouting
enemies and they came back to Joshua and reported. And at the same time,
Rahab became the great grandmother of King David, even though she was a
gentile woman. She was listed in the genealogy of Christ! It is very funny
that a gentile prostitute was included in the genealogy of Jesus. But
to God, faith matters most. Racial or ethical problems count as nothing.

First, General Joshua prepares to cross the River Jordan. In today's
passage we learn how God enabled the people of Israel to cross the River
Jordan after hearing the report of the spies (2:24). In this passage we
learn how it was possible for the people of Israel to cross the River
Jordan. The River Jordan was the defense line for the fortress of Jericho,
so it was not easy at all. But the people of Israel crossed the River
Jordan. How was it possible? Let's see about it.

     After hearing the news of the two spies, the next day, early in the
morning, General Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and
went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over.  In this way
they started to cross the River Jordan. After three days, the officers
went throughout the camp, giving orders to the people: "When you see
the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God and the priests, who are
Levites carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow
it" (3). The officers said this to let them know how to find the way by
following the priests carrying the ark. But here we find a very important
thing: That is the ark of the covenant of the Lord. Wherever they went
they carried around the ark of the covenant of the Lord. It is because
in the ark of the covenant of the Lord were the mercy seat and the Ten
Commandments, that is, the word of God. And  they believed that when
they were with the ark of God, God was present with them. They believed
that if God was with them, victory was theirs. They also believed that
where there was the ark of God, there was abundant blessing. Once David
failed to bring the ark of God to Jerusalem. So he left the ark of God
in the house of Obed-Edom. "The ark of the Lord remained in the house
of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months, and the Lord blessed him and
his entire household" (2Sa 6:11). The officers went throughout the camp
and told them, "follow the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God and
the priests, who are Levites, carrying it."  They said, "You are to move
out from your positions and follow it. Then, you will know which way to
go, since you have never been this way before" (3b,4). The officers also
said to them, "Keep a distance of about a thousand yards between you and
the ark; do not go near it." They had an awesome fear and respect for
the ark of God, and this was the reason they wanted to keep a distance
of a thousand yards. In David's time, Uzzah tried to bring the ark of
God to Jerusalem. By accident, he touched the ark of God when the oxen
stumbled. Uzzah died on the spot because it was regarded that he had no
fear and respect for the ark of God. To the people of Israel, the ark of
God was thought to be a symbol of their God. If we read verse 3 again, it
explains that they thought the ark of God was the same as God. It says,
"When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God..." This
sentence tells us that the ark of God was the same as God himself. As
long as they had faith in the ark of God, that is the word of God,
they could conquer the promised land and rule over it.

     We also need to have a great fear and respect for the word of
God. There is a very interesting story about Peter. When Jesus fed the
5000 people with five loaves and two fish, they were greatly impressed.
They even intended to make Jesus the king of bread, by force. The
next day when Jesus talked about spiritual bread, they insisted on
his giving them physical bread, as God had given their fathers bread
from heaven.  When Jesus continued to explain the efficacy of his
blood and flesh they began to scatter, five hundred by five hundred,
two hundred by two hundred, village people by village people, couple by
couple. Only Peter and Jesus' disciples were left. When all the people
left, Jesus asked Peter, "‘You do not want to leave too, do you?' Simon
Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of
eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.'"
(Jn 6:68) Because Peter had the word of God in his heart, despite his
many failures,  he remained as the top disciple of Jesus to the end. We
see another example in St. Paul. In Galatians 2:20 he said, "I have been
crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The
life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved
me and gave himself for me." Paul had the word of God and world mission
in his heart. He was anointed by the Risen Jesus as the light for the
Gentiles. He had to go around the world to preach the gospel of Jesus.
His gospel ministry was not easy. During the time of his Corinthian and
Ephesian ministries he had an unbearably difficult time. Ordinary people
would take some break or totally give up their mission, but Paul did not
give up the world mission command of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He said
in Acts 19:21, "I must visit Rome also." Paul believed that the word
of God saves people, forgives their sins and finally leads them to the
kingdom of God, so he did not spare his own life to proclaim the gospel
of the Lord Jesus Christ. When he was put in prison, he could rarely
meet Jewish immigrants to Rome. They made Bible study appointments, but
they did not come, so he taught prison guards. Then many prison guards
who studied the Bible with Paul became devoted Christians.

Second, God exalts Joshua to be their leader.  The people of Israel
had fear and respect for the ark of God, that is the word of God. This
is the reason why they had confidence to cross the defense line, the
River Jordan. When we have confidence in the word of God, nothing is
impossible. This is the reason why Paul said, "I can do everything through
him who gives me strength" (Php 4:13). How many times have you said,
"I can do everything through him who gives me strength"?  Those who
have not said this even one time must say it twelve times this year and
experience the power of God's word and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
In the spiritual warfare, our only important weapon is the word of God,
because the word of God gives God's power in our souls.

     Joshua told the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord
will do amazing things among you" (5). General Joshua knew what to do with
the soldiers under him. First and last of all, they have to consecrate
their hearts with the word of truth. They should not be complacent or
pleasure-seeking. They must be ready to fight the enemy. They must be
ready to cross the defense line, the River Jordan.  In this way, General
Joshua proved that he knows how to obey the word of God. Let's examine
why we must consecrate ourselves with the word of God.  When Abraham
enjoyed his concubine's son, Ishmael, God visited him and told him,
"I am God Almighty. Walk before me and be blameless." Then, in Genesis
17:11, God said to Abraham, "You are to undergo circumcision and it will
be the sign of the covenant between me and you." Abraham had to sanctify
himself and his household with circumcision. Jesus also prayed for his
disciples, "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth" (Jn 17:17).
General Joshua knew that to prepare oneself with the word of God is the
best strategy. This would bring success in crossing the River Jordan.

      "And the Lord said to Joshua, ‘Today I will begin to exalt you in
the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with
Moses.'"(7)  When General Joshua consecrated himself with the word of
God and became alert, God recognized his leadership and wanted to let the
Israelites know that he is the man after Moses. God also told Joshua to
order the priests: "Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant:
‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan's waters, go and stand in the
river'" (8). The priests were not likely to listen to General Joshua,
but when God ordained him they obeyed. Next, General Joshua said to
the Israelites, "Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your
God. This is how you will know that the living God is among you and
that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites,
Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites"(10). General
Joshua believed that the word of God would be done as he had said.

Third, crossing the Jordan River.  Joshua continued to say, "See, the ark
of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead
of you" (11). He convinced the people that they were not going first,
but the word of God goes into the Jordan ahead of them. Joshua said:
"As soon as the priests who carry the ark of the Lord–the Lord of all
the earth–set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will
be cut off and stand up in a heap" (13). "Go and stand in the river"
is a terrifying command. Everyone knew that the River Jordan was at
flood stage. But Joshua said, "Let the priests go there with the ark of
God and its water flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in
a heap." What a suspenseful story. If it were a movie we could watch
it excitingly. But it was reality. It is hard to believe. But General
Joshua had faith in God.

     How was the people's response? So when the people broke camp to
cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the Lord went ahead
of them. Here we learn a deep truth. Leaders must have the word of
God and they must go ahead of the people. Jesus said in John 10:4b,
"He goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him." This is exemplary
leadership. Leaders should be good examples and good influences like
Joshua.

     "Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as
the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched
the water's edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up
in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity
of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah,
(the Salt Sea) was completely cut off" (15-16). As their feet touched the
stream the water stopped. What a spectacle! So the people crossed over
opposite Jericho. There was an apprehensive problem for the priests. The
people of Israel were crossing the River Jordan as on dry ground, but
the priests might have doubted. "Wow, this huge number of our people are
crossing. What will we do if the water divides and falls down on us?" This
leaders' worry and agony was weighing down their souls all the time. If
anybody is a leader, he experiences this kind of event many times. And
he is almost choked. But the priests who carried the ark of the covenant
of the Lord stood firm. We remember General Eisenhower, the commander in
chief of the Allied forces during WWII. Many Generals wondered about a
certain strategy, especially the Normandy invasion. General Eisenhower
decided to cross the English Channel. The waves were threatening, but he
ordered them to land on the Normandy beach. Because of his order, soldiers
were surprised. At the same time their morale was greatly enhanced. In
this way the invincible German fortress was knocked down. But in spite
of his leadership, he was gentle and noble. After the war he became
President of Harvard University and next, President of the United States.

     In this part we learn that a leader must be firm and recognized
by his soldiers under his command. It is easy for us to see how to
be firm when we see the example of Moses. Moses was in a great crisis
when he and his people were near the Red Sea. The Egyptian army which
was comparable to the army of the United States was chasing after the
Israelites making a thunderous sound by driving their iron chariots. The
Israelites could not advance because the Red Sea was billowing wild.
But Moses had faith that God Almighty would save them. He raised his
staff and prayed to God, saying, "Lord, be with us." Then the Red Sea
was divided into two and waters on both sides stood like a big pillow.
When Moses was firm in God Almighty, God was with them and enabled them to
cross the Red Sea as on dry land (Heb 11:29). Now General Joshua had to
be firm in God Almighty. It was the time for General Joshua to cross the
Jordan River, which was known as the first defense line for the fortress
of Jericho. It was the time for Joshua to be firm and cross the Jordan
River. General Joshua's battle plan is our very own. May God give you
firm faith in God Almighty, who is the Sovereign Ruler of human history.


STUDY QUESTIONS

1. Read verse 1. What did Joshua and the people do after hearing the
   report of the spies? (2:24) Read verses 2-4. What instructions did
   the officers give the people? Why?

2. What is the ark of the covenant that they should follow it? Why should
   they keep a distance? Why must it be carried by the priests? (2Sa
   6:6-11) What can we learn here about following the word of God?

3. Read verse 5. Why should they consecrate themselves? What does it
   mean to consecrate oneself? (Jn 17:19) Read verses 6-8. How and why
   would God begin to exalt Joshua?

4. Read verses 6-13. What were the priests carrying the ark to do? Why
   must they do this? What was God teaching Israel through the crossing
   of the Jordan?

5. Read verses 14-17. Describe the crossing of the Jordan. What was the
   role of the priests? What do we learn here about God? About faith?
   About leadership?