Crossing the Jordan.

At the end of three days the officers went through the camp and commanded the people, “As soon as you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall set out from your place and follow it. Yet there shall be a distance between you and it, about 2,000 cubits in length. Do not come near it, in order that you may know the way you shall go, for you have not passed this way before.” Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” And Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on before the people.” So they took up the ark of the covenant and went before the people.

The Lord said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. And as for you, command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, ‘When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’” (Joshua 3: 2 to 8)

To cross the Red Sea, God commanded Moses to part the sea. To cross the river Jordan God commanded Joshua to part the river. Compared to parting the Red Sea, to part the river Jordan seems to be much less magnitude. Yet God was very sincere for the people of Israel crossing the river Jordan. First, they needed to consecrate themselves. Then the Levitical priests should carry the ark to set out from the camp. The people should keep a distance about 2000 cubits in length and follow it. When the priests came to the brink of the river, they should stand still. Then Joshua encouraged them as described below.

And Joshua said to the people of Israel, “Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God.” And Joshua said, “Here is how you shall know that the living God is among you and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Perizzites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, and the Jebusites. Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is passing over before you into the Jordan. Now therefore take twelve men from the tribes of Israel, from each tribe a man. And when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap.” (Joshua 3: 9 to 13)

Then the river Jordan was cut off as soon as the feet of the priests carrying the ark dipped in the water as described below.

So when the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest), the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho. Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan. (Joshua 3: 13 to 17)

God promised to be with the people of Israel ever since He summoned Moses to lead them out of Egypt. Not only to live in their midst but also be their God. Because of their disobedience and rebellion, they had to wander in the wilderness for 40 years until all of the original generation died. So, by cutting off the river Jordan with the ark of covenant, God was reassuring the Israelites His covenant to live in their midst. This was just the beginning. No wonder later on, Joshua described God as below.

Thus the Lord gave to Israel all the land that he swore to give to their fathers. And they took possession of it, and they settled there. And the Lord gave them rest on every side just as he had sworn to their fathers. Not one of all their enemies had withstood them, for the Lord had given all their enemies into their hands. Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass. (Joshua 21: 43 to 45)

With the covenant, Joshua led the Israelites to enter Canaan. With grace, Christ Jesus will lead those who are saved by grace to enter New Jerusalem. As God assured Joshua, God will also assured us with the same covenant. All we need to do is to listen to the words of God, Jesus Christ, as God commanded. Immanuel.