The Israelites Crossed the Jordan River with Faith
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February 26, 2012 |
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"To the Reubenites and to the Gadites and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said, 'Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, "The LORD your God gives you rest and will give you this land." Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle shall remain in the land which Moses gave you beyond the Jordan, but you shall cross before your brothers in battle array, all your valiant warriors, and shall help them, until the LORD gives your brothers rest, as He gives you, and they also possess the land which the LORD your God is giving them. Then you shall return to your own land, and possess that which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise.'" (Joshua 1:12-15)
"And the priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan while all Israel crossed on dry ground, until all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan." (Joshua 3:17)
* Joshua, New Leader and the Second Generation of Exodus
God chose Joshua as a successor to Moses as written in Numbers chapter 27. Joshua was one of the twelve spies who had scouted the Canaan and had pleased God with the confession of faith. He followed Moses like Moses' shadow as his servant. He didn't leave Moses but stayed near him even when he fasted for 40 days on the mountain to receive the Ten Commandments. With longing heart he also would not depart from the Tabernacle which is the temple of God.
Since Joshua loved God and trusted Moses with unchanging heart as read in Numbers chapter 31, God chose him as a new leader. God called him to the Tabernacle with Moses. He told them the sons of Israel would disobey Him. Because of the disobedience, they would fall into hardship and suffering. God told them to write the song about what He said as a witness and put it on their lips. Then, Moses urged them again to obey the Law of God and blessed the twelve tribes before his death.
After Moses' death on Mount Nebo, as recorded in Joshua 1:1-9, God told Joshua to cross the Jordan and enter the Promised Land. He urged him to be strong and courageous and to be careful to do according to all the law which Moses commanded him, not to turn from it to the left or to the right.
Because the first generation of Exodus was born and raised in Egypt, they had weak faith in God and many kinds of forms of evil were planted in their hearts throughout the maltreatment and suppression from Egyptians. On the contrary, the second generation of Exodus was raised by the Word of God and saw innumerable powerful works of God from their childhood. Moreover, they understood why their parents couldn't get into the Canaan and kept it in their minds. Thus, they vowed to obey Joshua who prepared for entering the Canaan. (Joshua 1:12-18)
* The Words of Faith by Two Spies Who Scouted the City of Jericho
The Israelites had to conquer the city of Jericho first to enter the land of Canaan. Jericho was an impregnable city whose inner wall and outer wall stood strong. Furthermore, the people of Jericho tightened up guard against the attack of the Israelites.
Before crossing the Jordan, Joshua sent two men as spies from Shittim to view the land, especially Jericho. The king of Jericho heard that the spies had come into the city and he searched for them. But God stretched His helping hands to the spies through Rahab, a Canaanite woman. She was a harlot but she was of goodness and she believed in the works of God who had guided the Israelites.
The two men escaped from Jericho with the help of Rahab and related to Joshua all that had happened to them. They reported not out of fear nor negatively, but with faith and confidence. It was in this way that they gave glory to God. (Joshua chapter 2)
"They said to Joshua, 'Surely the LORD has given all the land into our hands; moreover, all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before us.'" (Joshua 2:24) Their reports were opposite to the reports of the ten spies from Kadesh-barnea. Likewise, those who truly believe God don't say negative words like "It's impossible!" or "It's so difficult!" They only speak words of faith, good words, and positive words. By doing so, they encourage others and plant faith in them.
* The Israelites Crossed the Jordan River with Faith
The Israelites were in high morale listening to the reports of the two spies and they went forward toward the city of Jericho vigorously. But they were confronted by the strong current of the Jordan on the way to the city of Jericho. What's more, the Jordan overflowed all its banks because it was the rainy season. When the time was right, God let them know how to cross the Jordan. He said that the waters of the Jordan would be 'cut off and would stand in one heap when the priests who carried the ark of the LORD entered into the waters' of the Jordan.
If the first generation of Exodus had heard it, what would they have said? They'd have grumbled saying God wanted to kill them. But the second generation didn't utter a single word of complaint or doubt. They believed that it was nothing for God to stop the flow of waters of the Jordan even though the waters overflowed since He had already parted the Red Sea.
Before crossing the Jordan, Joshua told the Israelites to 'consecrate themselves'. (Joshua 3:5) When the Israelites crossed the Red Sea, only the power of God and the obedience of one man, Moses were needed. When they crossed the Jordan, however, faith of all the Israelites was necessary.
At the end of Joshua chapter 3 we find that at the moment when the priests who carried the ark dipped their feet in the edge of the water, the waters which were flowing down from above stood and the waters which were flowing down toward the Dead Sea were completely cut off. The priest who carried the ark stood firm on dry ground in the middle of Jordan while all Israelites crossed on dry ground. As soon as the priests had come up from the middle of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and went over its banks as before. Through this, the sons of Israel came to put firmer trust in Joshua and revered him just as they had revered Moses.
God told them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan and put them down at the first lodge place after crossing the Jordan. He also made them set up the twelve stones at the place where the feet of the priests were standing. These stones stand for the twelve tribes of Israel. God wanted them to revere and obey Him by remembering what He had done before them. (Joshua 4:21-24)
Moses foreknew what would happen and commanded the sons of Israel to take up stones and coat them with lime after they crossed the Jordan as written in Deuteronomy chapter 27. So Joshua camped at Gilgal and set up the twelve stones as a memorial there after crossing the Jordan on dry ground. The stones symbolized the Israelites crossed the Jordan on dry ground by the power of God.
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