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| Israel crosses the Jordan River |
We look into an
uncertain year. What do we do? The book of Joshua has some answers,
specifically in chapters 3 and 4 where the children of Israel cross over the
Jordan River to the Promised Land. Let’s look at this passage today.
Key Truth: Joshua wrote Joshua 3-4 to teach Israel that God prepares us to cross into a new day, and He gives us power and perspective to cross over as well.
Key
Application: Today I want to show you what God’s Word says
about crossing into new changes.
Key Verses: Joshua 3:4; 4:24
Pray and Read: Joshua 3-4
Contextual Notes:
The narrative arrangement of Joshua 3 and 4
is remarkable. Some scholars suggest later editing and combining of two
accounts, but a simple view of the text shows the writer’s genius and negates
any attempt to say this text is somehow a patchwork of motley hero stories.
The passage has four sections: the preparation (Joshua 3:1-6), the passage (Joshua
3:7-17), the memorial stones in the river bed (Joshua 4:1-14), and the return
of the river flow and the memorial stones at Gilgal (Joshua 4:15-24). Each
section closes with a summary statement, a common Hebrew OT historical
mannerism.
In each of the last three sections, there
is a triple division: God’s command,
Joshua’s command, and the execution of the command. For example, God’s command
(Joshua 3:7-8), Joshua’s repetition of the command (Joshua 3:9-13), and the execution
of the command (Joshua 3:14-17) Verse 17 gives the customary summary.
Chapter 4 is divided into two sections. Verses
1-14 are about the bringing of twelve memorial stones from the Jordan. Verses
15-24 conclude the whole event. The same pattern is here of God’s command,
Joshua’s repetition of command, and the action of the command.
Sermon Points:
1. The
Lord Prepares Us to Cross Over (Joshua 3:1-8)
2. The
Lord Empowers Us To Cross Over (Joshua 3:9-17)
3. The
Lord Provides Perspective To Cross Over (Joshua 4:1-24)
Exposition:
1.
THE LORD PREPARES US TO CROSS OVER (Joshua
3:1-8)
a.
We must listen to the Lord’s guidance
- “move out from your positions and follow [the ark]”(Joshua
3:1-3)
b.
We must trust the Lord’s guidance - “You have never been this way before” (Joshua 3:4)
c.
APPLICATION - Who would have expected September
11th or even December 7th? Our lives are filled with
sudden surprises, sudden temptations, sudden earthquakes, sudden calamities,
sudden joys. Who might you meet this year who will change your life? What might
happen at work that throws all your plans off? Maybe a promotion or maybe a
layoff? What might the doctor say to you this year that will scare you or make
you very happy?
d. We
must respect the Lord’s guidance - “keep
a distance . . . between you and the ark” (Joshua 3:4). 2000 cubits = 1400
yards = ¾ mile
e. What
was the Ark of the Covenant? It
was the symbol of the Presence of God, built by Bezalel in the wilderness, with
the tablets of the Ten Commandments on the inside. It was a new thing for the
ark to lead. For forty years, since leaving Egypt, a pillar of cloud by day and
fire by night guided Israel. The ark was in the center of the column. Now the
ark takes the lead.
f. ILLUSTRATION
- J.E.B. Stuart was
the most famous cavalry general of the War Between the States. Years earlier,
as he was preparing to graduate from West Point, he wrote his father about his
plans, “I have
not as yet any fixed course determined upon after graduation; still I can't
help but regard it as the important crisis of my life. Two courses will be left
for my adoption, the profession of arms and that of law; the one securing an
ample support, with a life of hardship and uncertainty,--laurels, if any,
dearly bought, and leaving an empty title as a bequeathment; the other an
overcrowded thoroughfare, which may or may not yield a support, -- may possibly
secure honors, but of doubtful worth. Each has its labors and its rewards. In
making the selection I will rely upon the guidance of Him whose judgment cannot
err, for "it is not with man that walk-eth to direct his steps.” (Jeremiah
10:23).
g. APPLICATION - If you are not sure what God
wants you to do, wait on Him. Better by far to spend hours or days or years
waiting in silence, although people who don’t understand will call it indolent
– waiting for God’s clear will, than to hurry down a path and after going too
far, find yourself not in God’s will at all, and it being too far to turn back.
Following Him means the suppression of our will. We must keep our own will in
subordination to His. We must keep near Him, in order to hear His lightest
whisper. Do you want to know God’s will for you? “Keep near Him, and you will
not lack direction.”[2]
h. We
must be made holy under the Lord’s guidance - “’Consecrate
yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you’” (3:5).
i.
ILLUSTRATION – That great Scottish Baptist
expositor of the Word of the 1800s, Alexander Maclaren, wrote: “The best
security for tomorrow’s wonders is today’s sanctifying.”[3]
j. APPLICATION - Not just externally making
everything look good. A lot of us are good at making things look good to
others. We think we are, but there are those who can see right through us no
matter how hard we try. We are talking about internally asking forgiveness of
our sins, clearing any blockages to fellowship with the Lord like unforgiveness
of others, etc., turning to the Lord in intimacy. Do you want the power of God
in your life? Do you want healing of your spirit, mind, or body? Do you want to
see God move with power in answer to your prayers? Then consecrate yourself so
that the Lord may do amazing things in your life.
2. THE
LORD EMPOWERS US TO CROSS OVER (Joshua 3:9-17)
a. JOSHUA
3:9 - God’s Word is powerful - “Come here and listen to the words
of the Lord” (Joshua 3:9).
b. APPLICATION
- Getting into the Scripture afresh and getting close to the Lord again
are the best ways to prepare for a good new year.
c.
JOSHUA 3:10 - God’s Presence is
powerful - “this is how you will know that the
living God is among you”
(3:10). Things have changed for Israel, but it took 40 years. At Kadesh Barnea,
where the children of Israel had 40 years earlier rebelled against the Lord’s
will for them as God’s people, the naming of only five of the tribes in Canaan
by the spies scared the congregation into rebellion. Here in Joshua 3, the naming
of the whole seven tribal names instead gives confidence to Israel. They
realized the truth of what the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans
8:37-39
KJV: Nay, in all these
things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am
persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor
powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any
other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
d. APPLICATION - We are living in a crucial time
of preparation for some extremely difficult days to come, both financially and
in the world of nature. We must now devote ourselves to kingdom concerns and to raising up and
strengthening churches and ministries to shine in a darkening world and to
provide islands of mercy and healing for the human suffering to come. In light
of this, we must prepare to receive an unprecedented outpouring of the Holy
Spirit in the midst of gathering darkness and set our hearts to function as the
church did in Acts 2 relationally, spiritually and materially.
e. We in the church must be ready to
meet escalating spiritual and emotional needs. We must grow up and live as true
disciples.
g. Readiness necessitates a renewed
focus on the very reason for which we have been saved. God didn't save us to
make us rich. Jesus didn't die so that we could own the best car and the nicest
home. Economics and material wellbeing are irrelevant to the ultimate purpose
of God, which is that we might be "conformed to the image of the Son"
(Rom. 8:29). God will turn all things to good for us (Rom. 8:28), but, in the
context of the verse, the good He produces is defined by being "conformed
to the image of the Son." Harder times will come, but we can prepare for
them by determining to allow God to cause all things both good and bad to shape
our character to conform to His.
h. Readiness necessitates that we
choose faithful oneness with other believers who worship together, serve
together and live out covenant love together. Jesus prayed, "that they may
all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be
in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me" (John 17:21), and
He meant it.
i. Pay close attention to covenant
relationships in the days to come and guard them zealously. In Acts 2, the saints
enjoyed supernatural unity and sold their possessions and property to share
with others as any had need. You will see this same thing in the days to come.
Get connected relationally and then give sacrificially for the sake of love.
j. Finally, those who choose a kingdom
path through these difficult days will realize that we no longer live in a Christian nation and will adjust their
approach, attitude and language in relation to the surrounding culture to
correspond to that of the Christians under Rome, or Daniel under
Nebuchadnezzar, serving rather than sniping, gaining favor through love, even
in a hostile and godless culture. Those caught up in the religious spirit will
continue in an old and failed strategy, but we are called to live graciously
toward people who have no knowledge or understanding of Christianity or the
Bible at all.
k.
Joshua 3:11 - God’s Guidance is
powerful - “the ark of the covenant of the Lord
of all the earth will go . . . ahead of you” (Joshua 3:11). He controls everything. He is Lord of
all the earth, not just a territory. This
name “ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth” tells them that
wherever it leads, they need not fear to go.
l.
ILLUSTRATION - A
pastor visited an old man suffering from painful rheumatism and found him with
his Bible open in front of him. The minister noticed that the word
"proved" was written repeatedly in the margin. He turned over a few
pages and found, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in
trouble." "Proved." And so it went on through the Book. Next to
John 1:12 (KJV: “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of
God, even to them that believe on his name;”) he had written "Proved." He had received Christ by
believing and had indeed become a child of God. He had proved that promise of
God's Word. Millions of other born-again believers could write
"proved" next to this verse. There isn't a single one who has put
this promise of God to the test and been disappointed.[4]
m. APPLICATION - Trusting
Jesus’ heart for you this year is the best way to handle things when the tough
times come. He is faithful, and he does not change on you.
n. Joshua
3:15-16 - With God nothing is ever impossible - Despite flood stage,
“the water from upstream stopped flowing” (Joshua 3:15-16). Notice that the water piled up at
Adam (symbol of man) (Joshua 3:16)
See same word “heaped up” at Exodus 15:8.
Verses 14-16 are one long sentence, like a long flow of water which was
stopped or a great long shout of triumph, rolling, rushing, like the flow of
two million people across the river bed of the Jordan. Verse 17 gives the
customary summary. Remember what the Angel Gabriel told the Virgin Mary in Luke 1:37 KJV: “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” And what
Paul wrote to 6+the Philippians, in
Philippians
4:13 KJV: “I can do all things
through Christ which strengtheneth me.
o.
APPLICATION
– A Great Need God Can Handle: Dr. Gregory Frizzell is a
Specialist in Prayer and Spiritual Awakening with the Oklahoma Baptist General
Convention (BGCO).
He has written dozens of books on prayer, revival and seeking God. He writes, ““There can be no question that America's
greatest need is sweeping revival and spiritual awakening. An historic great
awakening would powerfully renew Christ's Church, draw millions to true
conversion and bring great glory to God. Such a movement would radically
reverse today's moral collapse and brings dynamic changes to the social and
political landscape. True revival often restores wisdom to government policies
and brings infinite good to human beings... If believers consistently unite to
pray God's heart with deep repentance, He promises to intervene in the land. (2
Chr 7:14)... Saints, we can only do that by embracing a serious commitment to
continually seek and obey God. (Jer 29:13)... As America teeters on the edge of
economic, social and moral collapse, we must remind ourselves that God turns
societal tides of evil by one primary means - an utterly committed praying
remnant. Though true believers are now a remnant in a land of fast growing
darkness, God is still on the throne!”
p.
Those who see our nation's moral landscape
from a biblical worldview know that politics is not the root of our national
troubles. Sin is. We must seek God's Face for ourselves, pray for God-sent
revival to our churches and awakening to our nation, and pray for God-fearing
men and women to be chosen for positions of authority in government and every
other cultural institution. Extraordinary prayer is the necessity of the day
and probably will be as long as we live. The nation and our children's very
lives - temporal and eternal - are at stake.
q.
ILLUSTRATION
– Think revival will never happen? God has often moved most powerfully in the
darkest days of nations. In the dark days of England when the
Empire was quaking under the weight of its own immoral individual and corporate
behaviors that God raised up John and Charles Wesley and George Whitefield to
preach the gospel and brought the Great Awakening to Britain. It was in the
spiritual darkness of Unitarianism in New England that after prayer the Lord
raised up Charles Finney to see whole villages come to know Christ as Lord and
Savior in the 1820s. It was in the dark days of a Wall Street financial crash
in New York, that a ill-attended prayer meeting on Fulton Street in Manhattan
turned into an tidal wave called the Great Prayer Meeting Revival in 1857-1859.
The revival swept through the Northern States, and 6 million people came to
Christ, the equivalent today of 35 million people finding the Lord in the space
of 18 months. It was in the dark and bloody days of the War Between the States
when revival swept through the Confederate army camps in Virginia and
Tennessee, and an estimated half million men confessed their sins and gave
control of their lives to Christ. It was in the dark days after the American
Revolution when a great revival swept North Carolina in 1801-1802 and brought
the state from moral decadence, ignorance, and chaos to thousands of new
Christians and hundreds of new evangelical churches. It was in the dark days of
a Japanese invasion of China that revival swept the missionaries hunkered down
in Chefoo, China, and the greatest revival Baptists have ever known saw the
conversion of many of our missionaries and later thousands, then millions of
Chinese swept into the Kingdom. God often moves in dark days. What if the dark
days ahead are an answer to our prayers for revival?
r. JOSHUA
3: 17 - With God nothing ever
changes - “The priests . . . stood firm on dry
ground . . . , while all Israel . . . completed the crossing on dry ground” (Joshua
3:17). Alexander Maclaren, in reference to this verse,
encourages us to “learn the lesson to stand fixed and patient wherever God sets
us, as long as He does not call us thence.”[5]
And the verse speaks of the character of God in respect to the doctrine of
salvation. God is not willing that any should perish. His character is to
condescend to weak faith, to wait until the last loiterer makes it to the other
bank. Until then, he remains providing a way. 2
Peter 3:9 KJV: “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as
some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any
should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
1
Timothy 2:4 KJV: “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto
the knowledge of the truth.”
s. The same God who produced the wonder
at the Red Sea now both confirms Joshua as the new Moses and communicates his
unchanging power to a new generation that only heard about the Red Sea while
growing up in the desert. Only Caleb and Joshua saw the Red Sea. While their
enemies trembled in fear, the children of Israel crossed over 2-3 million
strong, and camped in an indefensible location at Gilgal.
t. The
miracle’s purpose was two-fold --
to stamp God’s seal of authority on Joshua and to encourage the people of God’s
fighting for them. Here God “begins” to exalt Joshua (Joshua 3:7; 4:14). The miracle’s parallel with the Red Sea is
obvious. Joshua was elevated to Moses’ level. But Yeshua, the writer of Hebrews
says, is greater than Moses and Joshua. Hebrews 3:3, 5-6; 4:8: KJV - “For this man was
counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the
house hath more honour than the house. And Moses verily was faithful in all his
house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken
after; But Christ as a son over his own
house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the
hope firm unto the end. (Hebrews 4:8)
For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have
spoken of another day.”
u. Jesus
is the fulfillment of the Ark of the Covenant of God. He is not just a symbol of the
divine Presence. He IS the Presence of God. He is the Torah of God. He is the
Covenant with the people (Isaiah 49:8-9). And it was here at this crossing
place that centuries later John the Baptizer immersed Jesus at the Jordan. He
was announcing that He would stand in intercession as a priest (Joshua 3:3) and that all He would
overcome all the sin that had cut off the Promised Land, heaped up all the way
back to Adam (Joshua 3:16).
v. Don’t
miss the parallel in Joshua 4:19. “The tenth day of the first month” is 40 years to the
day since the first Passover Lamb was slain in Egypt. Jesus is our Passover
Lamb who was slain. (Joshua 5:10). The ark moved first to guide Israel into the
Promised Land. It opened the path and pushed back the torrent so that Israel
could pass through to the Promised Land on dry ground. It stood watch to guard
Israel as they crossed the river. Jesus is our Guiding Ark, summing up all
human duties in one sweet invitation, “Follow Me.”
w. This is also how Jesus can claim to be
both the Shepherd and the Gate as He did in John 10. Jesus called Himself those
things in John
10:7, 9, 11, 14 KJV:
“7Then said Jesus unto them again,
Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 9I am
the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and
out, and find pasture. 11I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd
giveth his life for the sheep. 14I am the good shepherd, and know my
sheep, and am known of mine. Alexander
Maclaren writes, “The
one Pattern for us, the one Example that we need to follow, the one Strength in
our perplexities, the true Director of our feet, is that dear Lord, if we will
only listen to Him. And that direction will be given to us in regard to the
trifles, as in regard to the great things of our lives.”[6]
3. THE
LORD PROVIDES PERSPECTIVE TO CROSS OVER (Joshua 4:1-24)
a. Listening
to the Word of God brings perspective - “the Lord said to
Joshua” (Joshua 4:1)
b. Listening
to your leadership brings perspective - “Joshua called
together the twelve men he had appointed . . . and said to them” (Joshua 4:4-6a). An African (Kiswahili) saying: “’Let me add my bit’
delays the conversation.” If everyone expresses their own opinions, little
progress will be made.[7]
For example, think about the US Congress! The priests and the people had to
listen to Joshua and follow his instructions.
c. Teaching
your children brings perspective - “In the future, when
your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them” (Joshua 4:7);
“In the future, when your descendants ask their fathers, ‘What do these stones
mean?’ tell them (Joshua 4:21-22).
i.
Teach them God’s power (Joshua
4:6-7, 21-22).
ii.
Teach them God’s faithfulness (Joshua
4:23).
iii.
Teach them God’s missionary heart (Joshua
4:24). The
Lord’s Supper is a memorial to remind us vividly through the humble bread and
wine that Jesus gave his body and blood for us.
d.
APPLICATION - God is very much concerned that
each generation be trained in righteousness. We are one generation away from
the extinction of Christian families. Look around this sanctuary. In fifteen
years, how many will be here? Who will keep the lights burning? Who will reach
out to the masses of unchurched moving into this area? It is your
responsibility before God to get your children and grandchildren involved in
church. Not the preacher’s. Not the youth directors’. Not the Sunday School
director’s or teacher’s. It is the parents’ responsibility to train children,
not the Sunday School teacher, not the pastor, not the school teacher, not the
television, not the computer.
e. APPLICATION - Take time this year with
the younger folks around you, whether children, grandchildren, or just friends.
Mentor them. Share a story about how God met you in crisis, how the Lord
rescued you from darkness, what your faith in Jesus and the Word of God means
to you, and why it has been a strong foundation for you through the school of
hard knocks.
Invitation:
We have looked today at the
Israelites who crossed over from the desert to the Promised Land. Have you crossed over from death to life?
Have you made the decision to follow the ark, to pass through the water, to be
baptized?
Are
you thinking about crossing over in that decision you’ve been pondering? In the new year, are you thinking
about going back to school? Are you thinking about changing jobs or starting
your own business? Are you trying to decide about surgery? Are you wondering if
that special someone might be the one? Are you thinking of joining this church?
Are you contemplating surrendering your life to vocational ministry in the
Kingdom in some new way?
[1] Americans for Tax Reform, Dec. 28,
2012, http://www.atr.org/trillion-obamacare-tax-hike-hitting-jan-a7393#ixzz2GU5hPlHL,
[2] Alexander Maclaren, Expositions of Holy Scripture: Deuteronomy –
2 Kings 7, ccel.org, 57-8.
[3]
Maclaren, 61.
[4] 2000+ Bible Illustrations, “God:
Faithfulness,” e-sword.
[5] Maclaren, 65.
[6] Maclaren, 58.
[7] Tokunboh Adeyemo, gen. ed., Africa Bible Commentary, 266.
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