Joshua 3. CROSSING OVER If we are not careful, we Christians can quickly get used to the world 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 out toward the promised land before us. Israel stopped at the banks of the Jordan River to wait for directions from God. In the Christian life important events that happen to us can change us forever. When we come to the end of living for ourselves, and commit ourselves to following Christ, the whole objective of life is changed. Personal success, financial gain, a famous public reputation, all mean nothing when we come to the place of consecration. Consecration is necessary for a committed life. The wonder-working power of God, requires the sanctification of His people. God does not wait for clever people; He wants clean people. I need to "watch the ark," keep my eyes on Christ, when the time comes to either go forward in faith, or continue to chart my own course in life. The children of Israel were to be far enough away from the ark that everyone could see it, not just those in front of the company. Every child of God has to see for themselves the need of consecration to God
Preparation was necessary. They had to have food for three days. There were other issues that were going to demand the attention of God’s people that would take up all their time. Consecration is an outward sign of an inward cleansing and condition that God sees. When God's people have sanctified themselves, there is outward evidence of an inward work. We need to remember who we are as God's people and be willing to wait and watch for the "wonders" God will do for His sanctified people. Every believer is responsible for his or her own sanctification and needs to see Christ for themselves as they go forward to the higher ground where the promises of God are to be apprehended for ourselves. When we come to God we need a pure heart. It takes time and commitment to be holy. We dare not rush God's dealings with us nor ours with Him. It is important that we listen to God before we rush ahead and make mistakes.
Every believer has experienced "The Passover" in their life. They know personally the work of Christ as the Spotless Lamb of God who paid the price of our redemption for us with His own blood. Believers know the Red Sea experience when by the power of Christ, we are delivered from the power of Satan. There were shouts of victory and songs of praise on the banks of the sea after the people of God had passed through it during the night. Now the people of God are at the Jordan River at flood time. Many people are content to be saved and secure, but do not want to be sanctified to the work of God. We have been brought to where we are seated with Christ in heavenly places, but not all believers enjoy all that means unless they have sanctified themselves and enjoy the "wonders" of God among us.
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 told the people what to do in preparation for crossing over the Jordan, and through God's chosen method, the Lord confirmed his leadership. There are no shouts of victory or songs of praise, but a solemn stillness as we move forward in holiness into the heavenly places in Christ. When we truly understand this, there is the quietness of awe associated with worship from the heart and an awareness that God is among us and has designated His leadership for our blessing.
When the ark of the covenant moved out before the people that day, it was in a far-off position so that everyone could see it. Observation was necessary. They were to watch the ark. The key to their success was the presence of God with them. Even though it was 1000 yards away and they wouldn’t be able to see it directly, they would be able to see the cloud overhead, and know that God was with them. All the people had to move forward toward the flood-waters in faith, trusting God to do the "wonders" only He can do. We need to keep a clear view of the Lord before us at all times. There may be barriers that seem impossible to cross and make us hesitate or stop before God can show us His wonders. It may seem like we have to step into the water before the difficulty rolls back, but when the time comes, we will find out our Lord has been there before us and done what is needed.
The crossing of the Jordan River was done in the light of day, not the darkness of night as at the Red Sea. The enemies could probably look from their fields where they were harvesting their crops and see the flood waters between them and the Israelites and think they were safe. The inhabitants of the promised land had for four generations since the time of the patriarchs, served idols, a type of the world; practiced religious immorality, a type of the flesh; and worshipped evil spirits, a type of 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 is going to deal with the sins of all humanity in a way that is appropriate for their evil practices.
The crossing of Jordan marked the end of self-centered living and the beginning of new life in the promised land. In our lives as Christians, this marks the end of self-effort and the beginning of life lived on the principle of faith and obedience. When God intends for us to go forward, we dare not linger to pick flowers and enjoy sin's pleasure. His plans for us are in the promised land of fellowship and joy with Him. When we keep a clear view of the Lord Jesus Christ in front of us (the ark) we will not be looking for new experiences or "second blessings," but fellowship with the Lord who is the Victor, not the victories we try to claim for ourselves. When we see what Christ did for us when He "stood still in Jordan," then we realize we don't have to be afraid of the water at all.
Between the believer and the fulfillment of God’s purposes is the Jordan with its barriers. The plans of God for us are in Canaan. Barriers of habits, ambition, passion, harsh judgment of others, jealousy and self-will lie between the believer and a full liberty and testimony. The key to victory is assurance of the presence and leadership of the Lord. In Joshua 3, the ark of the covenant is mentioned 10 times. Each of the 2+ million people had to have a clear personal view of the ark. It moved forward, borne by the priests over a half mile in front of the people. The flooded river didn’t stop when they were three feet away from the edge. They had to step into the water and God rolled the water back.
Until the priests carrying the ark, stepped into the water, the whole army had been perplexed as they looked at the impossible river. Now their thoughts were centered on that fact that the Lord was with them as symbolized by the ark of the covenant. As the ark went into the water – the impossibility 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 then was buried. But, up from the grave He arose and spoiled principalities and powers [Gal.2:15]. The floods of opposition have been conquered by the victory of the Lord Jesus. The impossibilities of our life have been dealt with before we even get there. When the child of God looks at the Risen Lord, the roar of the flooding Jordan will be silent and we can cross in 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 impossible foes.
Israel saw the promised land in the distance across the flood, but the impossible was between them. The same is true of us. We must step ahead in faith with our eyes on Christ, the same as they kept their eyes on the ark. They went through the river on dry ground, with the ark between them and the impossibilities. We just need to look to Christ Himself. This is the way to blessing without self-interest, touchiness or complaints about injustice. This is what the phrase “Not I, but Christ” means.
God always keeps His promises even when we don't know how He is going to do it. His power was demonstrated the very first day of their new life in the promised land. He was the same toward His people after forty years of failure as He was at the beginning 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 as well as God's people what had taken place both in the eyes of men and of God. Our testimony to those around us isn't that we are something in ourselves, but that we are enjoying the blessings of our new life in Christ. Even so we will never forget that under the water is a testimony to the eyes of God that death has taken place on our behalf. We have crossed over into new life when we have experienced death burial and resurrection with Christ.