Josué 3

Josué 3

Henry - Those who would bring great things to pass, must rise early. Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty. John J Davis - Immediately after the return of the spies, Joshua began preparations for the crossing of the Jordan. The immediacy of Joshua’s action is interesting. It indicates that he fully believed in the provision of the Lord. When the time came to actually move toward Jordan, Joshua did not request an extension of time in order to let the Jordan subside. He did not plead for a different route so as to avoid confrontation with the enemy. He did not call for a caucus, a commission, or a committee report in five copies, with this committee to be duly organized and named “The Committee on Crisis in the Contemporary Situation.” Without argument and without delay, he prepared to march. The officers went through the tribes, and as they did, they commanded that the ark should be kept in view. (Israel From Conquest to Exile) And he and all the sons of Israel set out from Shittim and came to the Jordan, and they lodged there before they crossed - There was an old saying "Go west young man," and now that is exactly where Israel is headed, covering the 7-8 miles from Shittm to the edge of the flooded Jordan River. For a young man to go west in America conveyed the hope and potential for riches and fame. For Israel it meant the potential of prosperity in the Promised Land. The text (and context) does not give us any suggestion that at this time Joshua knew how Israel would cross the flooded Jordan River, but he knew he had to be at the river's edge. Here is a glimpse of Joshua's faith in action. As someone has said faith is a "action verb," and Joshua knew that the One Who had charged Israel to enter Canaan would make a way to cross over and that it would help if they were at the edge of the River. THOUGHT - Joshua's taking this initial step of faith reminds me of Rich Mullins' song Step by Step. The practical application for all believers is when God gives us a promise, we need to obey and God will progressively show us the way, step by step. Paul Apple - – Chap 3 of the book of Joshua is about crossing over from the futile Christian walk of self-effort and defeat to the victorious life of faith that overcomes the world. What has been causing us defeat in our Christian walk? Where do we need the victory? What types of Jordan Rivers … impossible boundaries … do we need to cross today? Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah Pilgrim through this barren land; I am weak, but Thou art mighty; Hold me with Thy powerful hand. Cyril