Joshua 3:1-17 Miracles are a norm for the righteous and courageous

Joshua 3:1-17

Background

After the spies returned and briefed Joshua of Jericho’s state of panic, Israel was assured of their eventual victory. In this chapter, God exalted Joshua to the stature of Moses by parting the Jordan River paving the way into Canaan. In today’s passage, we learn that miracles serve as signs that point to the attributes of God and inspire courage in tumultuous times. Miracles become a norm for those who are courageous in dire circumstances and obedient to God’s instructions.

Observation

Then Joshua rose early in the morning; and he and all the sons of Israel set out from Shittim and came to the Jordan, and they lodged there before they crossed. 2 At the end of three days the officers went through the midst of the camp; 3 and they commanded the people, saying, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God with the Levitical priests carrying it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it. 4 However, there shall be between you and it a distance of about 2,000 cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you shall go, for you have not passed this way before.”

5 Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” 6 And Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, “Take up the ark of the covenant and cross over ahead of the people.” So they took up the ark of the covenant and went ahead of the people.

Israel set out from Shittim and came to the Jordan, and they lodged there for three days. The Lord had commanded the ark of the covenant to go ahead towards the bank of the Jordan River with the people following at a distance. The movement of the ark of the covenant showed the direction in which the people would approach the Jordan River.

To prepare for the coming miraculous events, the people were to consecrate themselves. The act of consecration involved washing their clothing as an outward expression of inner sanctification. Israel was accustomed to rituals of consecration prior to the giving of Moses’ Law (Exodus 19:10). The act of consecration conditions the minds of the people to receive the miracle in a right spirit.

Observation

7 Now the Lord said to Joshua, “This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you. 8 You shall, moreover, command the priests who are carrying the ark of the covenant, saying, ‘When you come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan. ’” 9 Then Joshua said to the sons of Israel, “Come here, and hear the words of the Lord your God.” 10 Joshua said, “By this you shall know that the living God is among you, and that He will assuredly dispossess from before you the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Hivite, the Perizzite, the Girgashite, the Amorite, and the Jebusite. 11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is crossing over ahead of you into the Jordan. 12 Now then, take for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one man for each tribe. 13 It shall come about when the soles of the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan will be cut off, and the waters which are flowing down from above will stand in one heap.”

Moses was recognized as God’s chosen through the many miracles that God wrought through his hand. The 10 plagues, the parting of the Red Sea and the many miracles that followed in the wilderness attested to Moses as God’s chosen leader. And God was about to do for Joshua through the parting of Jordan River what he had done for Moses at the Red Sea: This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you. The purpose of the miraculous parting of the Jordan River was not only to lend divine endorsement to Joshua but also to assure Israel of God’s divine assistance in conquering the land.

Observation

14 So when the people set out from their tents to cross the Jordan with the priests carrying the ark of the covenant before the people, 15 and when those who carried the ark came into the Jordan, and the feet of the priests carrying the ark were dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks all the days of harvest), 16 the waters which were flowing down from above stood and rose up in one heap, a great distance away at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan; and those which were flowing down toward the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. So the people crossed opposite Jericho. 17 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.

The people set off towards the Jordan with the ark of the covenant leading the way. The people, having consecrated themselves were locked in anticipation of a miracle that reminded them of Moses’ parting of the Red Sea. The ark of the covenant that went ahead of them into Jordan depicted the faithfulness of God’s covenant with the people. They saw with their eyes God’s covenant in action that as soon as the priest’s feet were dipped in the edge of the water, the waters which were flowing down from above stood and rose up in one heap. The water was backed up 35 kilometers upstream from Jericho to the city of Adam. The priests who carried the ark of the covenant proceeded to the middle of the Jordan and stood there until all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan.

Truth

Miracles either draw us towards God in surrender or cause us to take advantage of His grace. Miracles serve as signs that point to the attributes of God. Therefore, miracles inherently carry one unambiguous meaning: there is a living God who is both willing and able to save! The experiential knowing of God’s love and power precipitates a response of worship and surrender to God. However, a mind blinded by self-centeredness and sin will see God as one whom they could use to fulfill their fleshly desires. Joshua commanded the people to consecrate themselves so that they could receive the miracle in the right spirit. Miracles should necessarily result in greater devotion towards God to do His will. There are churches that focus on preaching the idea that it is God’s nature to give and to bless. Therefore, it is against God’s nature to withhold His blessings. Because of this teaching, many descent into a state of complacency being ignorant of God’s holiness and having no fear of Him. For such, miracles only cause them to be more audacious in expecting more from God without conviction to conform to His ways.

Miracles instill boldness and courage to overcome challenges of life. The purpose of miracles is to ultimately spur us on to action with greater courage. Joshua said to the people referring to the parting of Jordan, “By this you shall know that the living God is among you, and that He will assuredly dispossess from before you the Canaanite…” Therefore, miracles are not meant to impress believers of God’s might alone, but to elevate their spirit towards greater exploits. Some churchgoers having witnessed a miracle increased their expectations of God to fulfill their desires. But it never occurred to them that greater expectations of God also require greater courage on their part.

God always goes ahead of those who walk in His will. Those who walk conscientiously in obedience to God’s instructions will have the privilege of God going ahead of them in all their endeavors. They will see miracles as norm in life, and their paths will be smooth. Proverbs 3:5-6 says,

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.

God commanded the priests carrying the ark of the covenant to go ahead of the people to part the Jordan River and with the priests remaining in the middle of the river until all the people crossed on dry ground. The ark of the covenant represented the covenantal presence of God who fought for Israel. Many churchgoers are accustomed to living according to their own directives and yet they expect God to pave the way for them. As a result, their paths are uncertain and laced with numerous setbacks. It is no wonder why they are constantly being tested. Therefore, in order to redeem the time, we must yield our dreams and desires to God who alone ordains our future.

Applications

1. Are you accustomed to asking God for miracles? Perhaps, you should ask God for wisdom and set your mind to walk in His will. In doing so, miracles will become a norm in life.
2. Do you suppose that with miracles working for you, you do not have to be bold and courageous on your part? On the contrary, miracles are reserved for those who are bold and courageous. Moses, Joshua, David, Elijah and Elisha, all wrought miracles of cosmic scale by virtue of the fact that they were men of courage. Therefore, be bold and courageous when you face challenges beyond your natural abilities. As you seek to walk in God’s will, your path will be laced with miracles and pleasant surprises.

Dear Lord, I commit myself to search out your ways and to walk in it. I will not fear when I face dire circumstances because I know you are going ahead of me to prepare the way. Inspire my spirit and cause me to be bold and courageous in all my endeavors. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.