The Israelites cross the Jordan River into the land of Canaan in Chapter 3 and their crossing is accomplished by a miracle from the Lord. The Jordan is about one hundred feet across at its widest point and is about seventeen feet deep at its deepest point and is ninety miles long. The Lord isn't going to tell the Israelites to go to one end of the Jordan or the other to find a narrow, shallow spot to cross over. He's going to take them right across the river. He's going to do it when the river is at flood stage, which means this waterway is wider, deeper, and swifter than normal.
"Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over." (Joshua 3:1) Everyone who was twenty years old and up when Israel left Egypt has died by now except Joshua and Caleb. The congregation camped by the Jordan River did not witness the Lord's parting of the Red Sea. They know the Lord has said He will take them across the river but I bet they are wondering how He's going to take them across.
"After three days the officers went throughout the camp, giving orders to the people: 'When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits between you and the ark; do not go near it.'" (Joshua 3:2-4) The priests, carrying the ark, are to go ahead of the congregation. This symbolizes the Lord Himself going ahead of them.
The Lord is asking the Israelites to take a huge step of faith. They must get into formation and begin moving forward even though they can't yet see a way forward. This event is absolutely vital for strengthening their faith. If they find themselves unable to trust the Lord enough to start putting one foot in front of the other toward the Jordan River, they won't have the faith to face armies or scale fortified walls in the promised land. But all they have to do is take that first step; the Lord is going to do everything else. He's going to perform a miracle, and if He had not performed this miracle to bolster the people's confidence that He is working on their behalf, they would have lacked the confidence that He will be with them in the battles ahead. He has timed their entry into the promised land so the Jordan will be at flood stage because this gives Him the most glory and gives the people a huge boost to their faith. The people must do their part, but it is a very small part compared to what the Lord will do.
The Lord is always willing and ready to direct us on the right path. Sometimes we won't be able to clearly see the path ahead, but all He's asking us to do is take that first step. He's going to open up the way. There are times when He will light the path so far ahead that we can see all the way to our goal. Other times we can only see well enough to keep putting one foot in front of the other. But He's the same God and He's just as trustworthy in either circumstance. He tailors each experience to provide us with what we need at the time.
As they set up camp near the river, I wouldn't be surprised if the people could scarcely take their eyes off it. It would have been an intimidating sight. Joshua doesn't want anyone becoming fainthearted so he instructs the people to put their focus on the Lord. "Joshua told the people, 'Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.'" (Joshua 3:5) They are to wash themselves and their clothes and abstain from anything that would make them ceremonially unclean. This serves to remind them that the Lord is holy and that they must honor Him with holy living. They must repent of anything standing between themselves and God. This takes their minds off the swelling waters of the Jordan River and puts their minds on their waymaking, powerful, awesome God who is holy and perfect and righteous---the God for whom nothing is impossible.
Tomorrow we will study the second half of Chapter 3 and see the Lord do amazing things, just as Joshua said He would.
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