Josué 3
F.B. Meyer · Citado em PreceptAustin
Josué 3
Meyer - Mark the all-inclusiveness of the miracle. It did not concern the strong only, but also the weak; not men only, but women and children; not the loyal and true only, but the querulous, the murmurers, the doubters, the fearless and unbelieving. Achan, whose heart was preparing for his deed of sin; and Caleb, the hale warrior, who wholly followed the Lord. Not one was missing. The feet of the priests stood firm till every individual of the redeemed race had crossed the river. It is a blessed anticipation of the keeping back of a more awful flood until without one exception the entire host of the Church has entered that city whose walls are Salvation, and its gates Praise. (Joshua) Irving Jensen -The Christian's quest for the secret of victorious living is aided much by the experience of Israel crossing the Jordan. The major obstacle of the Christian's entrance into the rest-land of a victorious, abiding life is that which appears to be the impossible factor in his life. But the bigger the obstacle the greater the manifestation of God's might. God requires faith in the face of the obstacle, but He will always go before. According to the measure that one follows God's leadership, he will personally experience His might. And just as Joshua was God's representative leader, walking with his people and bringing them over, so Jesus, the Captain of our faith, invites the Christian to warm, intimate fellowship and sure loving guidance by obeying His simple call, "Follow me." (Rest-Land Won Everyman's Bible Commentaries) Paul Toms - How do you handle troubles? Some people curse them. Some attempt to ignore them, to cover them up and hope somehow they might go away. Some tell everyone their troubles. Most of us have troubles, all right, and so most of us need to know what the Scripture has to say about overcoming them. The Jordan River is often pictured as an obstacle to be overcome. Sometimes in songs and poems it is seen as that last cold barricade to cross over before reaching heaven; so it is referred to as death. But the Jordan River can illustrate for us a new kind of understanding of the Christian experience. Life on one side of that river is a desert filled with self-efforts and self-concern. Those who live on that side of the Jordan occupy themselves largely with personal efforts to accomplish things. In contrast to that, those who live on the other side of the Jordan exemplify the Christ-filled (SPIRIT FILLED) life--a life of faith and obedience. (T'his Land Is Your Land) Dave Hunt - One thing is certain, however: The Bible never urges self-acceptance, self-love, self-assertion, self-confidence, self-esteem, self-forgiveness, nor any of the other selfisms that are so popular today . The answer to depression is not to accept self, but to turn from self to Christ. William Law reveals the view that the church held for centuries: Men are dead to God because they are living to Self. Self-love, self-esteem and self-seeking are the essence and the life of pride; and the Devil, the father of pride, is never absent from these passions, nor without an influence in them. Without a death to self, there is no escape from Satan's power over us .... To discover the deepest root and iron strength of pride and self-exaltation, one must enter into the secret chamber of man's soul, where the Spirit of God, who alone gives humility and meek submission, was denied through Adam's sin .... Here in man's innermost being, self had its awful birth, and established its throne, reigning over a kingdom of secret pride, of which all outward pomp and vanities are but its childish, transitory playthings...Imagination, as the last and truest support of self, lays unseen worlds at his feet, and crowns him with secret revenges and fancied honors. This is that satanic, natural self that must be denied and crucified, or there can be no disciple of Christ. There is no plainer interpretation than this that can be put upon the words of Jesus, "Except a man deny self, and take up the cross and follow me, he cannot be my disciple." A. W. Tozer puts it all in perspective : Self is one of the toughest plants that grows in the garden of life. It is, in fact, indestructible by any means. Just when we are sure it is dead it turns up somewhere as robust as ever to trouble our peace and poison the fruit of our lives .... The victorious Christian neither exalts nor downgrades himself. His interests have shifted from self to Christ. (ED: AND THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST) What he is or is not no longer concerns him. He believes that he has been crucified with Christ and he is not willing either to praise or deprecate such a man. Don Anderson - Maybe this message finds you wrestling with Jacob at Peniel with the angel of the Lord, over some thing that you are unwilling to surrender; and because of that unwillingness to deal with the matter, you find yourself without a moment's peace. Fenelon in his book Let Go says, "When it comes to accomplishing things for God, you will find that high aspirations, enthusiastic feelings, careful planning and being able to express yourself well are not worth v ery much. The important thing is absolute surrender to God. You can do anything He wants you to do (ADK "LET GOD, LET'S GO!) if you are walking in the light of full surrender." LISTEN SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY TO THE WORDS OF THIS HYMN AND THEN GIVE YOURSELF WHOLLY TO HIM... "Is Your All on the Altar? You have longed for sweet peace, And for faith to increase, And have earnestly, fervently prayed. But you cannot have rest, Or be perfectly blest, Until all on the altar is laid. Refrain: Is your all on the altar of sacrifice laid? Your heart does the Spirit control? You can only be blest, And have peace and sweet rest, As you yield Him your body and soul. Would you walk with the Lord In the light of His Word, And have peace and contentment alway? You must do His sweet will To be free from all ill– On the altar your all you must lay. [Refrain] Oh, we never can know What the Lord will bestow Of the blessings for which we have prayed, Till our body and soul He doth fully control, And our all on the altar is laid. [Refrain] Who can tell all the love He will send from above, And how happy our hearts will be made, Of the fellowship sweet We shall share at His feet When our all on the altar is laid! [Refrain] Sidlow Baxter - The crossing of "this Jordan" was a major crisis of faith. The same crisis had come to the former generation of Israel some forty years earlier under somewhat different circumstances, and they had failed in their reaction to it. It was bound to repeat itself to the new generation. To be "brought out" of Egypt was one thing; but it was another thing altogether to "go over this Jordon" and thus become committed, without possibility of retreat, to the struggle against the powers of Canaan in their seemingly impregnable fastnesses, with their chariots of iron, and their large armies among which were the renowned giants. To do this was to commit themselves to a course which had been condemned by ten out. of the twelve spies who had reported on the land forty years before! To the natural eye it was to hazard everything on the chance of battle, to have no retreat, and to run the risk of losing everything. The same crisis comes in one way or another to all the redeemed - that intense crisis of the soul in which we are forced to the supreme choice whether there shall be an utter once-for-all abandon of ourselves to the will of God, so that henceforth God is absolutely first in the soul's love and life, or whether we shall take what seems to be the easier way, that is, of continuing in the Christian life, but with a reservation in our love to God. It is one thing to take Christ as Saviour from the guilt of our sin. It is another thing to make Him absolute Master of our will and life. It is one thing to be brought out from the Egypt of our unregenerate life and to join God's redeemed Israel. It is another thing altogether to bury all our self-born aims and desires in Jordan's swift-flowing flood, and to pass through to that higher life where no desires or purposes are tolerated but those of our blessed Lord Himself. It was one thing for Abram to leave Ur of the Chaldees and go out in faith at God's behest. It was another thing - a far bigger and costlier and sublimer thing for him to climb Moriah and lift the knife to slay his beloved Isaac. Yet the crisis must be. There was no other way of decisively determining whether God was to be supreme in the life and love of the soul. There was no need for further testing after that; and God said: "By Myself have I sworn, because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is upon the sea shore." Abraham's Moriah and Israel's Jordan are the same crisis under different names. There is an Isaac to be sacrificed, a Jordan to be crossed, in the history of every redeemed soul. Abraham yielded his Isaac. Israel crossed the Jordan. What of you and me? This is faith's major crisis; and this is what we have in this third chapter of Joshua - the crisis of faith. (Baxter's Explore the Book) Norman Geisler - JOSHUA 3:17—Did Israel cross the Jordan here or not? PROBLEM: According to Joshua 3:17, the people crossed over the Jordan on dry ground. However, 4:5, 10–11 indicate that they had not yet crossed the river. How can these verses be reconciled? SOLUTION: In Joshua 3:17, Joshua records that the priests who were carrying the ark of the covenant stood in the middle of the river while the people crossed over on dry ground. Chapter 4 begins with the statement, “And it came to pass, when all the people had completely crossed over the Jordan, that the Lord spoke to Joshua.” The passage then goes on to describe how Joshua, according to the command of the Lord, directed twelve men, one from each tribe, to go back to the spot where the priests were still standing with the ark in order to dig up twelve stones from the midst of the river bed. Verses 10 and 11 describe how the priests, who were carrying the ark of the covenant, finally left their spot in the middle of the river bed after everything had been completed which the Lord had commanded Joshua. (When Critics Ask) CROSSING THE JORDAN Joshua 3:1–17 Joshua was chosen by God to take the place of Moses. Joshua felt very weak in himself. However, God gave him courage—Joshua 1:5. His first test was to cross the Jordan River. 1. THE COMMAND—vv. 1–4 2. THE CONSECRATION—vv. 5–6 3. THE COVENANT—vv. 7–13 4. THE CROSSING—vv. 14–17 As a Christian, remember these things: (1) God always keeps His promises, (2) God does impossible things, and (3) Be willing to trust God for your needs. (Croft Pentz) James Smith - Handfuls of Purpose - CROSSING THE JORDAN Joshua 3 “With every wild ring mist dispersed, In great deeps of Thy love immersed; Holding Thee as my heart’s treasure, In love’s measure without measure. O God, keep me a child of light, Yea, ev’n with Thine own brightness bright.” The soul that has ceased to long for a fuller experience of the riches of God has ceased to grow in grace. Every Christian will have his or her Jordan to cross before entering into the fullness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ. In the minds of men Jordan has been always associated with death, although it is not easy to see here any connection between them. After death we enter into rest, and our works follow, but when the children of Israel crossed the Jordan their work was before them. By their own works were they to drive out the enemy and take possession of their inheritance by the power of the sword. Their salvation from Egypt was all of grace, but they entered into possession of the land of plenty through the stern works of faith. See how it came about. There was— I. A Word of Warning. “When ye shall see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, … then ye shall go after it. Come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go” (vv. 3, 4). This warning is twofold. 1. They must follow when the ark moved. The ark was the symbol of Jehovah’s presence and the sign of the covenant. This is an unalterable condition of spiritual progress; we must be prepared to follow the Lord anywhere and at any time. 2. They must have a space between them and it. “About two thousand cubits by measure” (v. 4). The reason given for placing such a distance between them and the ark is, “For ye have not passed this way heretofore.” Surely this is intended to remind us that there is always a distance between the ETERNAL I AM and the creatures of but yesterday (Psa. 89:7). And also that every new path should be entered upon in entire dependence upon Him. Ye have not passed this way heretofore, therefore make sure that the ark of His guiding presence is before you. II. A Call to Preparation. “Sanctify yourselves, for to-morrow the Lord will do wonders among you” (v. 5). It is a law in the spiritual kingdom that if God is to be glorified through us He must first be sanctified in us (Lev. 10:3). The Holy God must have holy instruments for the accomplishing of His wonders among men. Sanctify yourselves. Put off the old man with his deeds if you would in your inmost soul pass over into the more “abundant life” and the “greater works” of your wonder-working God. III. A Word of Encouragement. The Lord said unto Joshua, “This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel” (v. 7). On the day that Joshua called for a sanctified people did God begin to honour Joshua. Seek the honour that cometh from God only; it maketh rich and addeth no sorrow. All human honours are like cut flowers, they soon wither in the wearing, but the honour of God crowns with everlasting reward. This diadem of divine favour is never put upon the head of those who seek it for their own glory. Begin to sanctify the Lord in your life, and God will begin to magnify you in the sight of the people. Become a prince with God, and you will have power with men. IV. A Strange Halt. “The priests that bear the ark shall stand still in Jordan” (v. 8). Crossing the Jordan does not seem to represent the passing of a soul from time into eternity so much as the passing of a soul from a lower into a higher experience of the things of God. The ark of the covenant halted right in the river as the Lord’s guarantee to His people that the mighty floods of difficulties that would hinder them from taking possession of His inheritance will be rolled back before the feet of faith (v. 13). It is surely significant that near this very spot, Bethabara (the house of passage), the feet of the Son of God rested, who is the true Ark, in whom the law was hid. And that while He stood there the clouds rolled back, and Heaven opened, and the Spirit like a dove descended upon Him (Mt 3:16). That baptism has opened up a passage for us from the wilderness experience into the milk and honey land. In this Jordan, that separates between the self-life and the Christ-life, our “Ark of the Covenant” still stands by His intercession, keeping the way open for all who by faith will enter in. Oh, that it were true of God’s people now, as it was then, that “all people passed clean over” (v. 17). Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Without this mighty baptism how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan (ED: ALL BELIEVERS HAVE RECEIVED THE SPIRIT - Ro 8:9+)? V. An Assuring Promise. “As soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the Lord rest in the waters of Jordan, they shall stand upon an heap” (vv. 13–16). “He that hath ears to hear let him hear.” Ye who have been made priests unto God, and who bear the Christ, the Ark of the Lord (Acts 9:15), be comforted and encouraged. No river of opposition whose destiny, like Jordan, is the dead Sea will ever hinder you from the enjoyment of the promises of God if in your heart you bear the Son of God. “What ailed thee, … thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back?” (Psa. 114:5). “Greater is He that is in you.” VI. A Proof of His Presence. “Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you. He will without fail drive out from before you” (v. 10). The proof of His presence is overcoming power. The overcomer is always an inheritor (see Rev 2:1-29 and Rev 3:1-22). If we are not living a victorious life we may well question whether the Lord is with us. Hear the apostle’s testimony, “I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me.” “If God be for us, who shall prevail against us?” Cyril Barber's closing comments - The Person of God The Israelites must have viewed the obstacles facing them with human feelings of apprehension. It was necessary, therefore, for Joshua to encourage them with the assurance that the living God was among them. In saying this he immediately contrasted Him with the idols worshiped by the heathen. The Lord had already protected them, kept them safe in battle, and enabled them to defeat kings and kingdoms more powerful than themselves. As we reflect on what Scripture teaches we also note God’s power and timing. The Bible portrays the Lord of heaven and earth as infinite, eternal, all-powerful, all-wise, and everywhere present. His names highlight who He is and emphasize His person and work. In this chapter He is referred to as Yahweh (printed “LORD” in most versions, and occasionally “Jehovah” in some older versions), signifying His self-existence. He had no beginning and will have no end. He is the supreme ruler of the universe. He is also referred to as ’adon, a shortened form of ’adonay, meaning “Lord” or “Master,” and emphasizing the fact that He is all-powerful and has the right to be obeyed. It also signifies that He is our supreme Sovereign who has the right to be worshiped. And other Scriptures that speak of Yahweh-Jireh, Yahweh-Nissi, Yahweh-Shammah, et cetera, when taken together, reveal the perfection of God’s character and the extent of His work on our behalf. And in Joshua 3:3 and 10, He is referred to as ’Elohim (“God”), signifying His power and might. No other god can compare with Him. Scripture confirms that our God is the Lord of heaven and earth (Genesis 24:3). He is sovereign over the kingdoms of the earth, and as such He is also Judge (Psalms 50:6; 58:11). And He is the Savior of those who put their trust in Him (Isaiah 45:15). God is so involved in human affairs that He can be known by, and answer the prayers of, those with whom He has established a covenant relationship. The great blessing of knowing “the living God” as He is revealed in Scripture is that He becomes the standard by which all things are to be measured. And He becomes the one after whom character is to be patterned (Leviticus 20:26). Those who are in a covenant relationship with Him should respond to lovingkindness with trust and obedience. The Promises of God Joshua was assured of God’s personal promises: (1) He would be with him as He had been with Moses; (2) no one would be able to stand before him; and (3) to this the Lord added that He would magnify Joshua in the eyes of the people. All of this the Lord did. Similar promises have been made to Christians. First, in the New Testament we are made aware of the truth that God the Holy Spirit indwells us, and we are assured of His presence wherever we go, no matter what may happen to us. We are also promised that He gives eternal salvation to all who believe in Christ (Hebrews 13:5, John 3:16). Second, though we are not promised unlimited secular success, the Holy Spirit does empower us and enable us to stand for what is right no matter how strong the opposition. And third, in 1 Corinthians 1:26–27 we learn that we have an adoption that has made us sons and daughters of God. The more these truths take a hold of us, the greater will be our confidence when we face the vicissitudes of life. (Joshua: A Devotional Exposition) David Guzik's closing comments - To face such impossible challenges in our lives, we must look unto Jesus, our Joshua. He always leads us a. Jesus is the fulfillment of the ark; He is Immanuel, which is translated, “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). b. Jesus has cleared the way to victory over all things: Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in the cross (Colossians 2:15). c. As we keep our eyes on, and follow behind our victorious Jesus, the river of impossibility will dry up. (Heb 12:2, cf Col 3:1) d. To the cynic, who wonders if they haven’t tried that and been disappointed, we must ask them: “Have you really tried this? Have you truly walked according to God’s word, trusted in Jesus and been disappointed?” Perhaps your disappointment is actually in your flesh Donald Campbell has a wonderful closing comment - How could this sensational event occur? Many insist that this was no miracle since the event can be explained as a natural phenomenon. They point out that on December 8,1267 an earthquake caused the high banks of the Jordan to collapse near Tell ed-Damiyeh, damming the river for about 10 hours. On July 11,1927 another earthquake near the same location blocked the river for 21 hours. Of course these stoppages did not occur during flood season. Admittedly God could have employed natural causes such as an earthquake and a landslide and the timing would have still made it a miraculous intervention. But does the biblical text allow for such an interpretation of this event? Considering all the factors involved it seems best to view this occurrence as a special act of God brought about in a way unknown to man. Many supernatural elements were brought together: (1) The event came to pass as predicted (Joshua 3:13, 15). (2) The timing was exact (Josh 3:15). (3) The event took place when the river was at flood stage (Josh 3:15). (4) The wall of water was held in place for many hours, possibly an entire day (v. 16). (5) The soft, wet river bottom became dry at once (v. 17). (6) The water returned immediately as soon as the people had crossed over and the priests came up out of the river (4:18). Centuries later the Prophets Elijah and Elisha crossed the same river on dry ground to the east (2 Kings 2:8). Soon thereafter Elisha crossed back over the river on dry ground. If a natural phenomenon is necessary to explain the Israelites’ crossing under Joshua, then one would have to conclude that two earthquakes occurred in quick sequence for Elijah and Elisha, which seems a bit presumptuous. By this great miracle, the crossing of the Jordan River at flood stage by a nation of about 2 million people, God was glorified, Joshua was exalted, Israel was encouraged, and the Canaanites were terrorized. For Israel the crossing of the Jordan meant they were irrevocably committed to a struggle against armies, chariots, and fortified cities. They were also committed to walk by faith in the living God and to turn from walking according to the flesh as they had often done in the wilderness. For believers today, crossing the Jordan represents passing from one level of the Christian life to another. (It is not a picture of a believer dying and entering heaven. For the Israelites Canaan was hardly heaven!) It is a picture of entering into spiritual warfare to claim what God has promised. This should mean the end of a life lived by human effort and the beginning of a life of faith and obedience. (ED; AND ALL GOD'S PEOPLE SAID "AMEN" LET IT BE SO LORD. AMEN). (The Bible Knowledge Commentary) Warren
Josué 3
Meyer applies consecration to believers - But if only each one of us were to sanctify himself, putting off the old man with his deeds, and putting on the new man, renewed daily in the image of Christ; forsaking every form of evil, and hating even the garment spotted by the flesh; yielding himself to the two-edged sword of the great High-Priest--we should find that wonders would begin and never cease; that the to-morrows would only unfold greater and better things than ever before; that Jordans would cleave, and Jerichos would fall. Then the Land of Promise would lie open with its immeasurable plenty, its oil and wine, its corn and honey, its precious priceless stores. (Joshua) Consecrate (Sanctify, make holy; Lxx = hagiazo) (06942) qadash means to set apart for a specific use. Consecrate, sanctify, prepare, dedicate, be hallowed, be holy, be sanctified, be separate, remove from common use, be holy, show one's self to be holy. To set apart a person or thing from all common or secular purposes to some religious use. Everything consecrated to God was separated from all profane use. Qadash could refer to anything reserved exclusively for God (Ex 13:2, 12, 13; Nu 18:15) Qadash signifies an act or a state in which people or things are set aside for use in the worship of God, i.e., they are consecrated or made sacred for that purpose. They must be withheld from ordinary (secular) use and treated with special care as something which belongs to God (Ex 29:21). Otherwise, defilement makes the sanctified object unusable (cf. Dt 22:9; Eze 44:19; 46:20). Qadash is used 3x in Joshua - Joshua 3:5, 7:13, 20:7. Wonders (06381)(pala) is a verb which means to be difficult, to be hard, to be extraordinary or amazing, be surpassing or to cause a wonderful thing to happen. To be beyond one’s power to do. To do something wonderful, extraordinary or difficult = Wonders, Marvels, Marvelous works. In most of its OT occurrences, pala refers to acts that are performed by Jehovah expressing actions that are beyond the bounds of human powers or expectations, especially His deliverances of Israel (Ex 3:20, Ps 106:22, 136:4). He has done things beyond the limits of human powers or expectation. God showed His people miracles when they came out of bondage in Egypt and as they were going into the freedom of the promised land. George Bush - Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 3 5. And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves. Rather, ‘had said,’ for as he speaks of ‘to-morrow,’ the charge was probably given, on the day previous to the one now current, on which they were passing over Jordan. The command now given was undoubtedly of the same import with that given by Moses, on the eve of the delivery of the law upon mount Sinai, Ex. 19:10–14. They were to wash their persons and their garments, and to abstain from every thing that might indispose their minds to a serious and devout attention to the miracle about to be wrought in their behalf. A similar command was generally given on great and solemn occasions. Lev. 20:7, 8; Num. 11:18; 1 Sam. 16:5; Joel 2:16. The special manifestations of God’s presence should be a waited by his people in a posture of deep humiliation, and penitence, and prayer, and by diligent efforts to ‘cleanse themselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit.’ Joshua 3:6 And Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, "Take up the ark of the covenant and cross over ahead of the people." So they took up the ark of the covenant and went ahead of the people. Take up: Jos 3:3 Nu 14:15 10:33 Mic 2:13 Joh 14:2,3 Heb 6:20 Joshua 3 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Numbers 10:33-36+ (ISRAEL HAD FOLLOWED THE ARK BEFORE) Thus they set out from the mount of the LORD three days’ journey, with the ARK of the covenant of the LORD journeying in front of them for the three days, to seek out a resting place for them. 34 The cloud of the LORD was over them by day when they set out from the camp. 35 Then it came about when the ARK set out that Moses said, “Rise up, O LORD! And let Your enemies be scattered, And let those who hate You flee before You.” 36 When it (ARK ) came to rest, he said, “Return, O LORD, To the myriad thousands of Israel.” THE OBEDIENCE OF THE PRIESTS And Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, "Take up the ark of the covenant and cross over ahead of the people." - Clearly Yahweh had communicated to Joshua how Israel would cross the Jordan and the Ark was the key. Joshua's commands are evidence of his faith and trust in the Word of Yahweh. Look at the depiction above which is probably very accurate because in Numbers 7:9 poles were to be inserted through rings in the sides of the Ark, so that it could be carried on the shoulders of those designated to bear it. How had Joshua heard from God? The text does not tell us. However recall Yahweh's instructions for success in Joshua 1:8, and thus it is very likely that Joshua was meditating on God's Word (recall he had the 5 books written by Moses). Did God speak to him through his time of meditation on the Word? That is certainly possible and certainly one of the most important ways that God speaks to His children today. THOUGHT - The preceding comment begs a question - Are you in God's Word daily, so that you might hear what He desires to say to you (what your "marching orders" are for that day)? It is one thing to go through the Word (as when doing a read through the Bible in a year program), but it is another thing for the Word to go through you! It is better to read smaller portions with a meditative mindset than to read large sections (as one often needs to do to keep up with a through the Bible in a year reading program). You are far more likely to recall shorter sections read meditatively. So they took up the ark of the covenant and went ahead of the people - This is what one might call a "crisis of faith" for they had no prior knowledge (as far as we can discern from the text) that the touch of their foot would dry up the Jordan! Nevertheless, the Levitical priests obey what to a natural man would seem to be a foolish command (cf 1Co 2:14+). Their obedience reflects their trust in their leader Joshua and in God's guidance of Joshua. THOUGHT - "Living and walking in the Promised Land comes from this kind of faith, not a slavish reliance on a “law” relationship with God.. Faith leads us into greater victories than law ever could." (David Guzik) God doesn’t usually reveal to us all of the details of His plan for our future … He wants us to take one step at a time, trusting in Him and looking for Him to guide us into the next step. When Abraham was called to leave his homeland of Ur of the Chaldees, he didn’t know all that was ahead of him. (see Heb 11:8-10+). F B Meyer applies this text - We must never go before Christ; but we must surely follow Him, though into the waters of death . The way of the inner life is through the grave. Each day God says to us, "Ye have not passed this way heretofore . " What need then to follow Jesus! We must sanctify ourselves, if we would see the wonders of God's right hand. (Joshua) George Bush - Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 3 6. Take up the ark of the covenant, &c. Joshua in giving this command is not to be considered as acting on his own absolute authority, for it would have been too much for him to assume the responsibility of changing the usual order of march, without a Divine direction. He was merely the organ of announcing the will of God in respect to this matter. He obeyed the commands of Heaven as the priests did his. They took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people. Heb. וישאו vayisu, they bore up, i. e. upon their shoulders, according to the direction, Nu 7:9. ‘A noble defiance of the enemies of Israel was thus given; who were challenged to attack the unarmed priests, or to attempt to to seize the unattended ark.’ Scott. Joshua 3:7 Now the LORD said to Joshua, "This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you. I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel: Jos 4:14 1Ch 29:25 2Ch 1:1 Job 7:17 Ps 18:35 Joh 17:1 Php 1:20 Php 2:9-11 t just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you Jos 1:5,17 Joshua 3 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Joshua 1:5 “No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. Joshua 1:17 “Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you; only may the LORD your God be with you as He was with Moses. Deuteronomy 31:7 Then Moses called to Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land which the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall give it to them as an inheritance (NET = "you will enable them to inherit it.") (NOTE WHO WILL GIVE IT OR ENABLE THEM! GOD OF COURSE BUT HE CHOOSES JOSHUA TO BE THE INSTRUMENT).. DIVINE EVIDENCE OF TRANSFER OF POWER Now the LORD (Jehovah) said to Joshua, "This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel - Now is when Joshua took this step of faith to give the command to the priests. Notice that Joshua begins to step out and God steps up (so to speak) to encourage him even further. Joshua would now be firmly established as having the "credentials" to as God's representative to guide Israel in this potentially dangerous journey. THOUGHT - This is usually the way we grow in knowledge of God. It is by walking in a manner pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good word and as a result growing in the knowledge of God. This pattern is shown in Paul's great prayer (I highly recommend praying it for yourself and others, asking them to pray it for you -- I have done this for years and God has answered in the vein of Ephesians 3:20!) aksing "that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;" (Colossians 1:9-10+, and be sure and add Col 1:11-14+) Clearly Joshua had humbled himself (e.g., serving 40 years as the servant of Moses) so that Peter's words apply Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, 1 Peter 5:5+ The miracle wrought by the LORD would not only exalt Yahweh and demonstrate His awe inspiring power, but would also magnify His chosen leader Joshua in the eyes of the people. This would instill confidence that he could indeed lead them to victory over their strong enemies. In the next chapter we read "On that day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; so that they revered him, just as they had revered Moses all the days of his life." (Joshua 4:14+). Joshua's exaltation would also in a sense a fulfillment of Yahweh's promises in the first chapter that "I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you." (Joshua 1:5+, cf Joshua 1:9+) Keil and Delitzsch - The account is also arranged upon the following plan: in every one of these three sections the command of God to Joshua is mentioned first (cf. Josh 3:7,8, 4:2,3,4:15,16); then the communication of this command to the people by Joshua; and finally its execution (Josh 3:9-17, Josh 4:4-13, Josh 4:17-20). That (introduces purpose) they may know that just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you - The exaltation of Joshua would authenticate Joshua's role as Moses' chosen replacement. As Yahweh had blessed Moses with His presence, power and protection, so too He would now be with Joshua. The miraculous crossing of the Jordan was like God saying "Follow Joshua, for he is My chosen leader." Cyril
Josué 3
Meyer - How easy life would be if only these were other than they are! Give me Canaan without its Jordan! But God permits the Jordans that he may educate our faith. Do not look at the troubled waters rushing past; look at the Priest, who is also the Ark of the Covenant. He will never send us by a way that he is not willing to tread before us. "Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passes over before you into Jordan (Joshua) George Bush - Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 3 8. Ye shall stand still in Jordan. They were first required to pause on the brink of the stream, till the channel was laid dry, and then they seem to have advanced and took their station in the midst of it, till all the people had passed over. As the entire bed of the river below the resting point of the ark would become dry by the waters running off towards the Dead Sea, the congregation might pass over in that direction having the ark on their right and keeping at the prescribed distance of 2,000 cubits. Joshua 3:9 Then Joshua said to the sons of Israel, "Come here, and hear the words of the LORD your God." Hear the words: De 4:1 12:8 Joshua 3 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries JOSHUA INVITES THE NATION TO Then Joshua said to the sons of Israel, "Come here, and hear the words of the LORD (Jehovah) your God." - Joshua is commanding all the Israelites to come within the sound of his voice. This is somewhat difficult to envision as there are some 2 million people, but God might have supernaturally amplified his voice! Nevertheless clearly Joshua is making a claim that Yahweh is actively speaking to him and he is Yahweh's "mouthpiece." And in the following section Joshua gives what is in essence a prophetic promise (Joshua 3:9-13) a prophecy that subsequently comes to pass! In that sense he has met the test of a true prophet of God. (cf Dt 13:1-5) Paul Apple - When we are entering into battle, we can’t get too much of the Word of God; that is our offensive weapon; the sword of the Spirit; that is how we combat Satan just as Christ did in His temptation George Bush - Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 3 9. Come hither. Draw nigh towards me, as many as can come within hearing. Joshua 3:10 Joshua said, "By this you shall know that the living God is among you, and that He will assuredly dispossess from before you the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Hivite, the Perizzite, the Girgashite, the Amorite, and the Jebusite. By this you shall know: Nu 15:28-30 1Ki 18:36,37 22:28 Ps 9:16 Isa 7:14 2Co 13:2,3 that the living God is among you De 5:26 1Sa 17:26 2Ki 19:4 Jer 10:10 Ho 1:10 Mt 16:16 Joh 6:69 1Th 1:9 Heb 10:31 among: Jos 22:31 Ex 17:7 De 31:17 Jdg 6:12,13 He will assuredly dispossess Jos 21:45 Ge 15:15-18 Ex 3:8 23:27-30 33:2 De 7:1 Ps 44:2,3 Joshua 3 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Psalm 115:3-8 But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases. 4 Their idols are silver and gold, The work of man’s hands. 5 They have mouths, but they cannot speak; They have eyes, but they cannot see; 6 They have ears, but they cannot hear; They have noses, but they cannot smell; 7 They have hands, but they cannot feel; They have feet, but they cannot walk; They cannot make a sound with their throat. 8 Those who make them will become like them, Everyone who trusts in them. AN ASSURANCE OF GOD'S PRESENCE God is the one who is going to take them in, drive out the enemies, and give them the land. In verse 9 it is the power of God's Word and here it is the power of God's presence. Joshua said, "By this you shall know that the living God is among you - By this - by what? The miracle of the Jordan river crossing. Notice that although God had told Joshua he would be exalted when this miracle of the Jordan transpired, he does not allude to that in speaking to the people. It was private communication meant only for Joshua's encouragement. Joshua's humility is clearly seen by his NOT passing on the truth that God would exalt him as Israel's leader. To the contrary, like all of God's great leaders in the Bible and in real life, his desire was to exalt the Name of the LORD (cf 1Co 10:31). As the leader Joshua sought to focus the people's attention of the true Leader, the living God. The miracle would be unequivocal evidence that God was among them. In effect it would be fulfillment of Joshua's promises in Joshua 3:5 that "the LORD will do wonders AMONG you." And do not miss the import of Joshua's description of Yahweh as the living God, for it is a striking contrast to the "dead gods" of the "ites" (cf. Ps 115:3–8). One would think that this description would serve to deter Israel from "whoring after" the dead idols of the Canaanites, but sadly this would not prove to be the case. Bush on the living God is among you. - Not a dull, senseless, lifeless, inactive deity, like the gods of the heathen, but a God of life, power, and energy, able to work for you, and to put to confusion all your enemies. Donald Campbell comments that "The promise, the living God is among you, became the watchword of the Conquest, the key to victory over the enemies in the land. It is a promise that appears on almost every page of this book: “I will be with you!” It is a promise that still sustains the Lord’s people—the assurance of His presence. Since God is the Lord ('adon, “master”) of all the earth (cf. Ps. 97:5), He was certainly capable of getting His people across a river. (The Bible Knowledge Commentary Old Testament or Here) And that He will assuredly (yarash) dispossess (yarash) from before you - Assuredly dispossess reflects repetition of the verb yarash, which emphasizes the fact that this will absolutely come to pass! The Septuagint is somewhat stronger as it repeats the verb olethreuo (not in NT but see exolethreuo), this repetition signifying "He shall utterly destroy. As an aside olethreuo is used in 13 verses in the Septuagint (Ex 12:23, 22:20; Nu 4:18; Jos. 3:10, 7:25; Jdg 6:25, 28,30; Jer 2:30, 5:6, 22:7, 25:36; Hag 2:22), but Joshua 3:10 is the only time is it repeated for emphasis. The Canaanite, the Hittite, the Hivite, the Perizzite, the Girgashite, the Amorite, and the Jebusite - The "ites" are now as "grasshoppers" in the sight of the living God! (contrast the first generation's unbelieving declaration "we became grasshoppers in our own sight and so we were in their [the "-ites"] sight." - Nu 13:33+). Donald Campbell - During the Civil War, the town of Moresfield, West Virginia was on the dividing line, and seesawed back and forth between Federal and Confederate troops. In one old house which still stands today, an elderly woman lived alone. One morning Yankee troops stomped up on her porch. Though at their mercy, she remained calm and invited them to be seated at her table. When breakfast was set before them, she said, "It is a custom of long standing in this house to have prayers before meals. I hope you won't mind." With that, she picked up the Bible and opened it at random and began to read from Psalm 27 (KJV): "The Lord is my Light and my Salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the Strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident .... I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart, wait, I say, on the Lord." When she finished, she murmured quietly, "Let us pray." As she prayed, she heard stealthy sounds of shuffling shoes. When she ended with "Amen," she opened her eyes. The soldiers were gone! Her lack of fear had made them fearful of lingering any longer! (No Time for Neutrality) Dispossess (03423) yarash to take possession of, inherit, dispossess, to drive out. Yarahs is an especially important word in contexts dealing with Israel's conquest of and possession of the land of Canaan. Possession of the land was directly connected to a person's relationship with the Lord; breaking the covenantal relationship led to dispossession. The meaning, "to take possession of," is most commonly used in connection with possessing land, specifically, the Promised Land. Yahweh first announced "possession" of the land in the context of the Abrahamic covenant (Gen. 15:7f). Although similar usage continues in Leviticus (Lev 20:24) and Numbers (Nu 13:30; 14:24; 21:24f), yārash in the sense of covenant land possession is a key theme in Deuteronomy. "Go in and possess the land," the Lord commanded (Dt. 1:8, 21, 39; Dt 11:31; Dt 17:14). The phrase, "where you are going to possess it," with reference to the land, recurs in Deuteronomy and Joshua (Dt. 4:5, 14, 26; Josh 1:11, 15; 12:1; 13:1; Josh 21:43; Josh 23:5). Emphasis on the idea of "possessing" the land continues in Judges (Jdg 11:21-24; Jdg 18:9). Likewise, the prophets and post-exilic Books allude to Israel's covenant right of possession of the land. Jeremiah predicted a coming repossession of the land (Jer 30:3), as did Isaiah (Isa. 61:7; Isa 65:9), while Ezekiel (Ezek. 33:24ff) and Amos (Amos 2:10) looked to past land inheritance. Habakkuk described the coming invasion of Babylonian armies to "possess" the land (Hab. 1:6). After the Babylonian exile, Nehemiah's prayer alluded to God's earlier covenant promises of land possession (Neh. 9:15, 22ff). Joshua 3:11 "Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is crossing over ahead of you into the Jordan. Lord of all the earth: Jos 3:13 Ps 24:1 Isa 54:5 Jer 10:7 Mic 4:13 Zep 2:11 Zec 4:14 Zec 6:5 Zec 14:9 crossing over ahead of you Jos 3:3-6 Isa 3:12 Joshua 3 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passage: 2 Samuel 6:2 (THE ARK CLEARLY REPRESENTED THE LORD) And David arose and went with all the people who were with him to Baale-judah, to bring up from there the Ark of God which is called by the Name, the very Name of the LORD of hosts who is enthroned above the cherubim. Psalms 24:1 A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD’S, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it. Isaiah 54:5 “For your husband is your Maker, Whose name is the LORD of hosts; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, Who is called the God of all the earth. Jeremiah 10:7 Who would not fear You, O King of the nations? Indeed it is Your due! For among all the wise men of the nations And in all their kingdoms, There is none like You. Zechariah 14:9+ (IN THE MILLENNIUM AFTER THE KING RETURNS) And the LORD will be king over all the earth; in that day the LORD will be the only one, and His name the only one. THE LORD OF ALL THE EARTH CONTROLS ALL THE EARTH Behold (hinneh; Lxx = idou) is Joshua's call to "Listen up!" "Don't miss what I am about to tell you!" Keep your eyes on the the Ark of the Covenant for leadership in the march across the Jordan and not on the soldiers, the generals or even Joshua. The Ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is crossing over ahead of you into the Jordan - The Ark symbolizes God going before them to prepare, protect, provide and make a way for Israel. In short, it was Jehovah who would lead his people into the Promised Land. Don't miss that great description Lord of all the earth, for Yahweh Alone is the Master of the Universe (and stands in stark contrast to the fictional "Masters of the Universe," poppycock which is fed to the world especially to the younger, more impressionable generations). It follows that the One Who is in control of the entire earth will have little difficulty with the raging Jordan River (or the "raging torrents" in your life)! (cf Ps. 97:5; Zech. 6:5) Lord of all creation Lord of water, earth and sky The heavens are your Tabernacle Glory to the Lord on high And God of wonders beyond our galaxy You are holy, holy The universe declares Your majesty You are holy, holy Lord of heaven and earth Lord of heaven and earth According to Nu 10:35–36+ the Ark was synonymous with the presence of the LORD Who was among them (see also related passage above). Then it came about when the ARK set out that Moses said, “Rise up, O LORD! And let Your enemies be scattered, And let those who hate You flee before You.” 36 When IT (THE ARK) came to rest, he said, “Return, O LORD, To the myriad thousands of Israel.” Campbell - The promise, the living God is among you, became the watchword of the Conquest, the key to victory over the enemies in the land. It is a promise that appears on almost every page of this book: “I will be with you!” It is a promise that still sustains the Lord’s people—the assurance of His presence. Since God is the Lord (’ăḏôn, “master”) of all the earth (cf. Ps. 97:5), He was certainly capable of getting His people across a river. (The Bible Knowledge Commentary) THOUGHT - "it is reassuring for a Christian to know that God is with him when his path carries him over new territory--sickness, pain, bereavement, failure, financial difficulties, misunderstanding, opposition. In times like these, believers may hear the Lord's voice saying "Be of good courage! Fear not!" (Bible Knowledge, Scripture Press, April, 1963, page 39). Lord (in KJV)(See also 'adonay in NAS)(0113) 'adon is a masculine noun meaning lord or master. The most frequent usage is of an earthly lord in excess of 300 times, but it is also used of divinity about 30 times (as here in Joshua 3:11). Generally, it carries the nuances of authority rather than ownership. One of the most notable uses of 'adon is in Psalm 110:1 where David records "The LORD (YAHWEH) says to my (David's) Lord ('adon = THE MESSIAH): “Sit at My right hand Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” Psalm 110:1 is quoted repeatedly in the NT - Mt 22:44; Mk 12:36; Lk 20:42, Lk 20:43; Acts 2:34, Acts 2:35; Heb 1:13 Behold (02009) hinneh s an interjection meaning behold, look, now; if. "It is used often and expresses strong feelings, surprise, hope, expectation, certainty, thus giving vividness depending on its surrounding context." (Baker) Hinneh generally directs our mind to the text, imploring the reader to give it special attention. In short, the Spirit is trying to arrest our attention! And so hinneh is used as an exclamation of vivid immediacy (e.g., read Ge 6:13)! Hinneh is a marker used to enliven a narrative, to express a change a scene, to emphasize an idea, to call attention to a detail or an important fact or action that follows (Isa 65:17, Ge 17:20, 41:17). The first use of hinneh in Ge 1:29 and second in Ge 1:31 All the uses of hineeh in Joshua - Jos. 2:2; Jos. 2:18; Jos. 3:11; Jos. 5:13; Jos. 7:21; Jos. 7:22; Jos. 8:20; Jos. 9:12; Jos. 9:13; Jos. 9:25; Jos. 14:10; Jos. 22:11; Jos. 23:14; Jos. 24:27 George Bush - Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 3 11. The ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth. The original will admit of being rendered, ‘The ark of the covenant, even the Lord of all the earth,’ and as the Hebrew accents favor this sense, it is adopted by many of the Jewish commentators, although the current of versions is against it. Indeed it is not a little remarkable that the first edition of our present English version published in 1611, exhibits this very rendering. It was afterwards altered, but at what time, by what authority, or for what reasons, it is now impossible to determine. This usage, it is contended by Buxtorf and others, is by no means confined to this passage. In repeated instances, as they maintain, the appellation ‘Lord’ is bestowed upon the ark of the covenant. Thus it is said the address is to the ark, Nu 10:35, 36; ‘And it came to pass when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, Lord, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee. And when it rested, he said, Return, O Lord, to the many thousands of Israel.’ So also, 2Sa 6:2, ‘And David arose and went with all the people that were with him, from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the Lord of hosts. Cp. Ex. 16:33; 1Sa 4:7 (Even the pagans understood the Ark was not just a box but indicative of the Lord Himself!) Such a title, however, could only be applied on the ground of its being the visible symbol of the Divine presence, and of the close connexion subsisting between the sign and the thing signified. Joshua 3:12 "Now then, take for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one man for each tribe. Jos 4:2-5,9 Joshua 3 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Joshua 4:2-5 “Take for yourselves twelve men from the people, one man from each tribe, 3 and command them, saying, ‘Take up for yourselves twelve stones from here out of the middle of the Jordan, from the place where the priests’ feet are standing firm, and carry them over with you and lay them down in the lodging place where you will lodge tonight.’” 4 So Joshua called the twelve men whom he had appointed from the sons of Israel, one man from each tribe; 5 and Joshua said to them, “Cross again to the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan, and each of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel. TWELVE MEN SELECTED TO MEMORIALIZE ISRAEL'S MIRACULOUS CROSSING Now then, take for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one man for each tribe - Joshua does not explain the command until Joshua 4:2-5+ George Bush - Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 3 12. Take ye twelve men out of the tribes of Israel. The object of this selection is afterwards explained, Josh 4:4, 5. They were now to be chosen, and to stand ready at a moment’s warning, for the service to which they were set apart. Joshua 3:13 "It shall come about when the soles of the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan will be cut off, and the waters which are flowing down from above will stand in one heap." the soles of the feet: Jos 3:15,16 Ex 14:19-22 ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth: Jos 3:11 will stand in one heap: Jos 3:16 Ex 15:8 Ps 33:7 78:13 114:3-5 Hab 3:15 Joshua 3 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Exodus 15:8 “At the blast of Your nostrils the waters were piled up, The flowing waters stood up like a heap; The deeps were congealed in the heart of the sea. Psalm 33:7 He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap; He lays up the deeps in storehouses. Psalm 78:13 He divided the sea and caused them to pass through, And He made the waters stand up like a heap. DECLARATION OF A DIVINE "DAM" It shall come about when the soles of the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the LORD (Jehovah), the Lord ('adon) of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan will be cut off, and the waters which are flowing down from above will stand in one heap - Joshua now predicts the miracle which would immediately be fulfilled, which would in turn exalt his reputation among all Israel and would be clear evidence that the living God was among them (Joshua 3:10). Donald Campbell - The priests were not expected to act on blind faith and neither are we! Their faith and ours is based on what God has revealed, on what He has promised. "What do you do with the promises of God?" someone asked. "I underline them in blue," was the reply. Like the priests at the Jordan, we must do much more. We must appropriate them by faith and make them our own." (ED: IN OTHER WORDS "DIP YOUR FOOT INTO THE WATER" OF GOD'S PROMISES, SO TO SPEAK). (The Bible Knowledge Commentary) Irving Jensen observes that "the Jordan miracle was a supernatural creation of a complex of many factors: the fulfillment of the foretelling of the event (Joshua 3:13–14) the exact timing of the event—the priests dipping their feet (Joshua 3:15) the rising up “in one heap” of a wall of water (Joshua 3:16) the fact that this happened at flood stage (Joshua 3:15) whatever was the retaining power or “wall,” it had to hold back the onrushing Jordan north of the spot, including all its tributaries, throughout most of a day in very short time the drained soft river bottom became firm as “dry ground” (Joshua 3:17) the timing of the returning flow of the Jordan, as the priests with the ark left the river bottom (Joshua 4:18) (Rest-Land Won Everyman's Bible Commentaries) George Bush - Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 3 That bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth. The Heb. here exhibits two different words for ‘Lord,’ the first יהוה Yehovah, the second אדון adōn, which is also the word occurring v. 11. This seems to countenance the idea that the ark itself is called by that title. The waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above. More correctly rendered, ‘the waters of Jordan shall be cut off, even the waters that descend from above;’ but whether he speaks in these words of the mass of waters remaining above the ark, that they were to be cut off from those below, which would be speedily drained off, and leave the channel bare; or whether the ‘waters that come down from above,’ mean those that flowed downwards from the point where the ark stood above, while the rest stood as a heap, it is difficult to determine. Comparing this, however, with v. 16, the first interpretation we think the most probable. This seems to have been the first intimation given to the people as to the manner in which they were to cross the river, unless we suppose such a transposition as we have hinted at in the note above, on v. 5. F B Meyer - Joshua 3:13 When the soles of the feet of the priests ... shall rest in the Jordan. (R.V.) The floods of the Jordan were high: so may be the goods of trial and sorrow that sometimes overflow their banks; so the floods of conviction of sin; and so, to some at least, the waters of death. Possibly this overflowing is needed for the time of harvest; the width of golden grain in the Jordan valley was no doubt to a large extent dependent on the far-spreading of those waters. How the heart trembles, as we hear the gurgling and rushing of the floods. Hark, how they lift up their voice! But when the priest’s foot touches them, they shrink away. Jesus has stepped down into these floods as our High Priest. In Gethsemane their overflowing tide washed around Him. At Calvary the water-spouts went over his head. In the grave He seemed momentarily to have succumbed. But since then they have been cut off. Through the ages He has stood, bearing the ark of propitiation, and arresting the tumultuous floods. “Thus far, and no further.” Sinful soul, deeply convicted, “Look for the Priest,” on whose person the storm broke, and by whom it has been checked and stayed! Tried believer, be sure that the water-floods cannot pass Jesus, to reach or drown thee! His promise to thee is: “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee” (Isaiah 13:2). And when death approaches thee, O fearful and trembling one, thou wilt find Jesus standing between thee and its might, making a path by which thou shalt pass over dryshod. Streams in the Desert - THE people were not to wait in their camps until the way was opened, they were to walk by faith. They were to break camp, pack up their goods, form in line to march, and move down to the very banks before the river would be opened. If they had come down to the edge of the river and then had stopped for the stream to divide before they stepped into it, they would have waited in vain. They must take one step into the water before the river would be cut off. We must learn to take God at His Word, and go straight on in duty, although we see no way in which we can go forward. The reason we are so often balked by difficulties is that we expect to see them removed before we try to pass through them. If we would move straight on in faith, the path would be opened for us. We stand still, waiting for the obstacle to be removed, when we ought to go forward as if there were no obstacles.—Evening Thoughts. What a lesson Columbus gave to the world of perseverance in the face of tremendous difficulties! Behind him lay the gray Azores, Behind the gates of Hercules; Before him not the ghost of shores, Before him only shoreless seas. The good Mate said: “Now we must pray, For lo! the very stars are gone. Brave Admiral, speak, what shall I say?” “Why, say, ‘Sail on! sail on! and on!’ ” “My men grow mutinous day by day; My men grow ghastly wan and weak!” The stout Mate thought of home; a spray Of salt wave washed his swarthy cheek. “What shall I say, brave Admiral, say, If we sight naught but seas at dawn?” “Why, you shall say at break of day, ‘Sail on! sail on! sail on! and on!’ ” They sailed. They sailed. Then spake the Mate: “This mad sea shows its teeth tonight. He curls his lip, he lies in wait, With lifted teeth, as if to bite! Brave Admiral, say but one good word; What shall we do when hope is gone?” The words leapt like a leaping sword: “Sail on! sail on! sail on! and on!” Then, pale and worn, he kept his deck And peered through darkness. Ah! that night Of all dark nights! And then a speck— A light! A light! A light! A light! It grew, a starlit flag unfurled! It grew to be Time’s burst of dawn. He gained a world; he gave that world Its grandest lesson: “On! sail on!” —Joaquin Miller. Faith that goes forward triumphs. Streams in the Desert - BRAVE Levites! Who can help admiring them, to carry the Ark right into the stream; for the waters were not divided till their feet dipped in the water (ver. 15). God had not promised aught else. God honors faith. “Obstinate faith,” that the PROMISE sees and “looks to that alone.” You can fancy how the people would watch these holy men march on, and some of the bystanders would be saying, “You would not catch me running that risk! Why, man, the ark will be carried away!” Not so; “the priests stood firm on dry ground.” We must not overlook the fact that faith on our part helps God to carry out His plans. “Come up to the help of the Lord.” The Ark had staves for the shoulders. Even the Ark did not move of itself; it was carried. When God is the architect, men are the masons and laborers. Faith assists God. It can stop the mouth of lions and quench the violence of fire. It yet honors God, and God honors it. Oh, for this faith that will go on, leaving God to fulfill His promise when He sees fit! Fellow Levites, let us shoulder our load, and do not let us look as if we were carrying God’s coffin. It is the Ark of the living God! Sing as you march towards the flood!—Thomas Champness. One of the special marks of the Holy Ghost in the Apostolic Church was the spirit of boldness. One of the most essential qualities of the faith that is to attempt great things for God, and expect great things from God, is holy audacity. Where we are dealing with a supernatural Being, and taking from Him things that are humanly impossible, it is easier to take much than little; it is easier to stand in a place of audacious trust than in a place of cautious, timid clinging to the shore. Like wise seamen in the life of faith, let us launch out into the deep, and find that all things are possible with God, and all things are possible unto him that believeth. Let us, today, attempt great things for God; take His faith and believe for them and His strength to accomplish them. —Days of Heaven upon Earth. John Butler - Sermon Starters Volume 6 - CROSSING THE JORDAN Joshua 3:13 “And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord 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” (Joshua 3:13). Crossing the Jordan was a prerequisite to entering the promised land. We note some details about this crossing. FIRST—THE PRECEPT IN THE CROSSING “As soon as the soles of the feet of the priest that bear the ark of the Lord … shall rest in the waters.” The obedience to this precept was necessary before the crossing would occur. God does not give us blessing without responsibility. If we want the blessing we must demonstrate obedience. The priests must come to the edge of the Jordan and in fact put their feet in the water before God acted. If God is not acting for you, maybe you have not gone far enough in obeying Him. Maybe your dedication is not great enough. SECOND—THE PROBLEM FOR THE CROSSING “The Jordan.” The Jordan river was a threefold problem The region of the river. The Jordan was between the Israelites and Canaan. It was a formidable obstacle to entering Canaan. The raising of the river. Several verses after our text says the crossing was ordered when the Jordan was at flood stage. Man would have had Israel crossing during a dry season when the Jordan was at its lowest. But God loves to have difficulties be their greatest, for then it shows greater His power in fulfilling His promise. The riverbed of the river. Any farmer knows that though the river ceased, it would take weeks before the riverbed was dried out enough for all the people and animals to cross without sinking in mud. THIRD—THE PROMISE FOR THE CROSSING “The waters of Jordan shall be cut off” God promised the Israelites the Jordan would be divided so the Israelites could cross over it. The promise would be hard to believe considering the circumstances, but God’s promises are not based on conductive circumstances but upon His Sovereign will. FOURTH—THE POWER FOR THE CROSSING “The Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above and they shall stand in an heap.” Many are the skeptics about God working a miracle. Some want to say there was a landslide that stopped the Jordan (a professor of my college told us that). However, a landslide would not have dried the river bed for the Israelites to cross the Jordan (Joshua 3:17). God worked a miracle here. As soon as Israel showed their faith (the priest walking into the water), God parted the Jordan. As the Creator, He certainly has the power to do things like this. The skeptics would make God weak. In fact they do not want God involved. They do not believe in Divine miracles Joshua 3:14 So when the people set out from their tents to cross the Jordan with the priests carrying the ark of the covenant before the people, the priests carrying the ark Jos 3:3,6 6:6 De 31:26 Jer 3:16 Ac 7:44,45 1Co 1:24,25 Heb 9:4 Joshua 3 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries BEAUTIFUL OBEDIENCE OF PRIESTS AND PEOPLE So - The people exercised faith when they broke camp and moved toward the river, which is still raging. The priests exercised faith when their feet got wet at the river’s edge. The Lord fulfilled His promise to go before them and open up the way. Paul Apple adds "Obedience is Faith in Action – whole book of James written to illustrate this point … it’s a dead faith that just sits around and agrees intellectually with what God has said … but God is a living God and He demands living faith of us … faith that steps out and acts on what He has commanded." When the people set out from their tents to cross the Jordan with the priests carrying the ark of the covenant before the people - What a scene this must have been to witness. The priests and the people both obeying Joshua's word from God. It was a triumphant scene presaging greater triumphs to follow in the Promised Land. Paul Apple notes that the priests "were charged with a very difficult and courageous assignment. Talk about “Be strong and courageous!” They had to stand in the middle of the Jordan and be the last to cross over. Being a leader in God’s army has always been about being a servant. Campbell - We also face obstacles that keep us from enjoying a life of faith, obedience, victory. Even if these obstacles appear as formidable as the swirling waters of the Jordan, we must never lose sight of the God Who is able to take us through. He has promised, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. (Isa 43:2) (No Time for Neutrality) Got any rivers you think are uncrossable? Got any mountains you can't tunnel through? God specializes in things thought impossible; He'll do what no other power can do. (Listen to Selah's vocal and be blessed!) Matthew Henry Concise Commentary - Verses 14-17. Jordan overflowed all its banks. This magnified the power of God, and his kindness to Israel. Although those who oppose the salvation of God's people have all advantages, yet God can and will conquer. This passage over Jordan, as an entrance to Canaan, after their long, weary wanderings in the wilderness, shadowed out the believer's passage through death to heaven, after he has finished his wanderings in this sinful world. Jesus, typified by the ark, hath gone before, and he crossed the river when it most flooded the country around. Let us treasure up experiences of His faithful and tender care, that they may help our faith and hope in the last conflict. Cyril