CROSSING OVER. Joshua 3 The instructions given in the first part of this chapter clearly show that this conquest of Canaan was not driven by greed or oppression, but was a battle against spreading evil. With the ark of God leading the Israelites and divine power stopping the flow of the Jordan River, it’s evident that it was a “holy war” aimed at stopping idolatry. In Canaan, idol worship included sexual immorality and the intentional killing of children as sacrifices to the corrupt worship of adults.
After Joshua heard the report of the spies who returned from Jericho, he did not delay. He led the children of Israel from Acacia Grove to the banks of the Jordan River so they would be prepared to cross at a moment’s notice. That was when the Lord began to make Joshua a great leader in the eyes of the Israelites. The people's confidence in their leaders is important to God as well as those they lead.
If we are not careful, we Christians can quickly become accustomed to worldly and wilderness living and miss out on the blessings of living above and beyond the ways and expectations of the unbelieving world around us. It is important that we do not linger in the area of "Shittim" but get up and move toward the promised land before us. Israel stopped at the banks of the Jordan River to wait for God's instructions. In the Christian life, important events that happen to us can transform us forever. When we reach the point of living for ourselves and commit to following Christ, the entire purpose of life changes.
Personal success, financial gain, and a well-known public reputation mean nothing when we reach the point of consecration. Consecration is essential for living a committed life. The miraculous power of God requires His people to be sanctified. God does not wait for clever people; He wants pure-hearted people. I need to "watch the ark" and keep my eyes on Christ when it’s time to either step forward in faith or continue to follow my own path. The children of Israel were to stay far enough from the ark so everyone could see it, not just those at the front of the group. Every child of God must see for themselves the need for consecration to God.
Preparation was essential. They needed food for three days. Other issues that would demand God’s people's attention and consume all their time were also present. Consecration is an outward sign of an inward cleansing and condition that God recognizes. When God's people have sanctified themselves, there is clear outward evidence of an inward work. We must remember who we are as God's people and be willing to wait and watch for the "wonders" God will perform for His sanctified people.
Every believer is responsible for their own sanctification and must see Christ for themselves as they move forward to the higher ground where God's promises are meant to be grasped. When we come to God, we need a pure heart. It takes time and dedication to be holy. We should not rush God's work with us or ours with Him. It's vital that we listen to God before we rush ahead and make mistakes.
Regardless of the situation or event, respect for the Lord, His word, and an awareness of His presence and leadership must be maintained. To have fellowship with Him and be useful to Him, we need to consecrate ourselves before engaging in a new venture. That will keep us conscious of God’s presence with us and remind us of our limitations and need for divine power.
Every believer has experienced "The Passover" in their life. They understand the work of Christ personally as the Spotless Lamb of God who paid the price for our redemption with His own blood. Believers recognize the Red Sea experience when, by the power of Christ, we are delivered from Satan's grip. There were shouts of victory and songs of praise on the banks of the sea after God's people had crossed during the night. Now, God's people stand at the Jordan River at flood stage. Many are content to be saved and secure but do not want to be sanctified through God's work. We have been brought to where we are seated with Christ in heavenly places, but not all believers enjoy everything that entails unless they have sanctified themselves and experience the "wonders" of God among us.
Joshua clearly told those he led that the “living God” was with them, and He was the one who would cleanse Canaan of the evil practices the Canaanites engaged in. The role of God's people was to follow His guidance and obey His commands. The first of these commands was for the benefit of the Israelites themselves. As they moved forward at God's command to cross the Jordan, even though it was at the “flood stage,” they were not to hesitate.
When the priest, the representatives of God to the people and the people to God, got their feet wet, God stopped the river's flow. It would have been a powerful sight for those watching when the water stopped flowing and piled up like behind a dam for twenty miles upstream from Jericho. When God steps in to intervene on behalf of His people, there are no obstacles. “God dried up the Jordan before you.” Before the crossing, instructions were given, and the people were told to watch the ark from a respectful distance and follow it.
The ark of God represents Christ, and the path of faith we walk is one we've never traveled before. The Lord knows the way through the wilderness and how to handle obstacles. Our duty is to follow Him respectfully, obediently, and happily. We can't follow Him unless we “sanctify ourselves” and separate from anything that would keep us distant from Him. He is our sanctification. We have no power over evil except through His power. When we keep our eyes on our Lord Jesus Christ, we will experience the “wonders” of God's power.
God was going to "magnify" Joshua in the sight of the people so his leadership would be established without question. Joshua told the officers, who then instructed the people on what to do in preparation for crossing the Jordan; the Lord confirmed his leadership through God's chosen method. There are no shouts of victory or songs of praise, just a solemn stillness as we move forward in holiness into the heavenly places in Christ. When we truly understand this, there is a quiet awe associated with heartfelt worship and an awareness that God is among us and has appointed His leadership for our blessing.
When the ark of the covenant moved out before the people that day, it was positioned far enough away so everyone could see it. The sighting was necessary. They needed to watch the ark. The key to their success was the presence of God with them. Even though it was 1,000 yards away and they couldn't see it directly, they could see the cloud overhead and know that God was with them. All the people had to move forward toward the floodwaters in faith, trusting God to do the "wonders" only He can do.
We must always keep a clear view of the Lord before us. Barriers may seem impossible to cross and cause us to hesitate or stop before God can reveal His wonders. It might seem like we have to step into the water before the difficulty subsides, but when the time comes, we will realize that our Lord has been there ahead of us and has already done what is needed.
The crossing of the Jordan River took place in daylight, unlike the Red Sea crossing which happened at night. The enemies likely could see from their fields where they were harvesting crops, observe the floodwaters between them and the Israelites, and believe they were safe. The inhabitants of the promised land had, for four generations since the time of the patriarchs, served idols—symbolizing the world—practiced religious immorality—representing the flesh—and worshipped evil spirits—signifying the devil. There is no place for a Christian to compromise with any of these practices. God dealt with the sins of His own people when they were in the wilderness, and He will also deal with the sins of all humanity in a way that aligns with their evil actions.
The Passover in Egypt was a night scene that reminds us that the precious blood of Christ has redeemed us. Crossing the Red Sea was also at night, which shows that our Lord has delivered us from the power of Satan. He has conquered sin, Satan, and death by laying down His life and taking it again. Crossing Jordan was a daytime scene. Because He lives, we live also. We have been “planted together” with Him and are saved by His life.
A solemn stillness took hold of the people as they crossed over Jordan onto new ground, just as it happens when we are made to sit in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Our Lord Jesus is exalted as the One who is our Savior from sin, our Deliverer from Satan, and our Victor over death. The greatness of the resurrection life we have received must be understood before we can truly honor our Lord as we should.
The crossing of Jordan signified the end of self-centered living and the start of new life in the promised land. For us as Christians, this marks the end of relying on our own efforts and the beginning of a life based on faith and obedience. When God calls us to move forward, we must not linger to pick flowers or enjoy sin's pleasures. His plans for us are in the promised land of fellowship and joy with Him. By keeping our focus on the Lord Jesus Christ (the ark) in front of us, we won't seek new experiences or "second blessings," but instead seek fellowship with the Lord, the Victor—not the victories we try to claim. When we reflect on what Christ did for us when He "stood still in Jordan," we realize there’s no need to fear the water.
Between the believer and the fulfillment of God’s purposes lies the Jordan with its obstacles. God's plans for us are in Canaan. Barriers like habits, ambition, passion, harsh judgment of others, jealousy, and self-will stand between the believer and complete freedom and testimony. The key to victory is trusting in the presence and guidance of the Lord. In Joshua 3, the Ark of the Covenant is mentioned ten times. Each of the over two million people needed a clear personal view of the ark. It moved forward, carried by the priests over a half-mile ahead of the people. The flooded river didn’t stop when they were just three feet from the edge. They had to step into the water, and God caused the water to roll back.
Until the priests carrying the ark stepped into the water, the entire nation would have been puzzled as they watched the rushing river and thought crossing at that moment was impossible. Now, their focus shifted to the fact that the Lord was with them, symbolized by the ark of the covenant. As the ark entered the water, the impossible was overcome.
The Lord Jesus Christ went to the garden of Gethsemane, where the waters of judgment rolled over His soul. Then He went to the cross of Calvary, where He died for us and was buried. But, up from the grave, He arose and spoiled principalities and powers [Gal.2:15]. The victory of the Lord Jesus has conquered the floods of opposition. The impossibilities in our lives have been dealt with before we even face them. When the child of God looks at the Risen Lord, the roar of the flooding Jordan will be silent, and we can cross with confidence and victory. The power we need to live is in the Lord Jesus Christ. He holds back the challenge of sin and temptation; He keeps back the implacable foes.
Israel saw the promised land across the flood, but the impossible lay between them. The same holds true for us. We must step forward in faith, keeping our eyes on Christ, just as they kept their eyes on the ark. They crossed the river on dry ground, with the ark between them and the impossibilities. We simply need to look to Christ Himself. This is the path to blessing without selfishness, sensitivity, or complaints about injustice. That's what the phrase “Not I, but Christ” means.
The crossing of the Jordan River took place in the full daylight of morning. There is no respect of persons with God. The priests first had their feet wet, and then all the people—men, women, and children—crossed on dry ground. The ark and the people together experienced a safe passage across the Jordan. Christ entered into death and stopped its power. Through Him, believers entered into death and are now united with Him in the newness of life. We have been saved and delivered and are now standing on redemption ground. The Lord will not leave one of His own behind and remains sure and steadfast until every one of His redeemed people has safely crossed “completely over Jordan.”
God always keeps His promises, even when we don't understand how He will do it. His power was shown on the very first day of their new life in the promised land. He remained the same toward His people after forty years of failure as He was at the start of the exodus from Egypt. That miracle would have given the Israelites confidence that God was with them and that what He had promised was real.
Twelve men carrying stones out of the river and stacking twelve stones in the river testified to the world and God's people what had taken place both in the eyes of men and God. Our testimony to those around us is not that we are something on our own, but that we are enjoying the blessings of our new life in Christ. Even so, we will never forget that beneath the water is a testimony to God's eyes that death has occurred on our behalf. We have crossed over into new life when we have experienced death, burial, and resurrection with Christ.