Scripture focus: Joshua 3:7-17
Disclaimer: Please forgive any typographical, grammatical, and/or content errors in the following notes. They are not meant to be an exact transcription, but rather a helpful guide for those who appreciate the written word along with the spoken word. If you have any questions on what was taught, feel free to reach out on our ‘Contact Us’ page.
In our local city of Easton, PA there was a very big flood of the Lehigh and Delaware Rivers which flooded roads and business. This is the image we should have in our mind as we picture the people of God coming up to a raging Jordan River that is impassable by human means, yet the Lord told them they would pass in 3 days time.
Joshua 3:7-17 – The Lord said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.8 And as for you, command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, ‘When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’” 9 And Joshua said to the people of Israel, “Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God.” 10 And Joshua said, “Here is how you shall know that the living God is among you and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Perizzites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, and the Jebusites. 11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is passing over before you into the Jordan. 12 Now therefore take twelve men from the tribes of Israel, from each tribe a man. 13 And when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap.”
14 So when the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, 15 and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest), 16 the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho. 17 Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan.
The Progression that the Lord takes the feet of priests through
First, it was not the job of the priests to carry the ark. It is a unique circumstance. Usually this job belonged to the Kohthites of the tribe of Levi; however, not every Levite was a priest. All priests are Levites, but not all Levites were priests. Read all about it in Numbers Chapter 4. The ark is on poles, wrapped in goat skin and the priest entered into the water.
This is interesting because a priest is a person who serves for the sake of those around me. Not to draw closer themselves, but to draw others near to God. Many times our modern evangelicalism focuses on what I can get out of my faith. If my motivation is what I can get out of the Promised Land, then may the Lord show you what a priest is called to be.
You are a priest! Isaiah 61 but you shall be called the priests of the Lord;
they shall speak of you as the ministers of our God;
you shall eat the wealth of the nations,
and in their glory you shall boast. You shall be called priest 1 Peter 2 you are a chosen race, You have a job to do – not for you, but for the sake of those around you. This is the mindset of a maturing believer. Our job is to carry the presence of the Lord into whatever flood water stands before us. This world is broken and filled with a flood of lies and deception which is constantly streaming and flowing and seeking to destroy those around us. We have the privilege to step into these waters and we are the temple of the Holy Spirit, a proverbial ark stepping into waters for those waiting to cross the Jordan. 1 corinthians 3 God’s spirit dwelling in us.
How do we as priests enter in?
- Joshua 3:13 – And when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap.
The first thing we are called to do is to be still in the midst of the flood. Exodus 14:13-14 says, “And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” says, Here’s the hard part. God might not move in the timing and way that you as a priest feel he should. It’s a whole other degree of frustration to see and watch this play out in others lives. One of the privileges of being a priest is being shaped and molded very directly by the Lord. We will be an example to those around us. Early on the Israelites were told to watch the priests who carried the ark ahead of them. You will be watched and we need to recognize the eyes on us as we are standing in the flood. We should expect the Lord to move as we obediently wait for the Lord to empower.
- Joshua 3:15-16 – and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest), the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away,
Hebrew “dipping” means to walk into the flood. The priests are now acting – putting the direction of the Lord into motion. There is a time to be still before the Lord and there will be a time to act. By no means does waiting for the Lord mean inactivity; it simply means we’re waiting and preparing for the Lord’s green light, empowering, clear direction, etc. In the fullness of God’s time it will be time to get involved and step in with the Lord’s wisdom and understanding.
Deuteronomy 20:1-4 says “When you go out to war against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. 2 And when you draw near to the battle, the priest shall come forward and speak to the people 3 and shall say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel, today you are drawing near for battle against your enemies: let not your heart faint. Do not fear or panic or be in dread of them, 4 for the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.’ This is the mindset as warrior priests. When we move into the waters it is an act of spiritual warfare and we are waging it on behalf of those who are waiting to cross the flood. Who can I serve through my obedient carrying of the presence of the Lord into a particular situation so that he gets the glory?
Choose a big epic movie – there’s often a scene where the hero gives a big speech before they go into battle. David does this when he declares victory over Goliath in 1 Samuel 17: “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47 and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand.”
Victory doesn’t mean that I come out of battle unscathed and unharmed. You might die. One pretty important person did this – Jesus! The warrior priest lives to die for the sake of those around them. How many of you know that you are invincible until you have accomplished every little thing that the Lord wants to accomplish through you for His glory and for the sake of those around you.
- Joshua 3:17 – Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan.
The context of standing firm is an allegorical battle of spiritual warfare that the Lord was winning for them. There are many parallels of the parting of the Red Sea and the drying up of the Jordan. We already know that the people in Jericho were melting in fear. They now are watching the Jordan dry up and the massive encampment walk across. These miracles are what the Lord will do today. He will bring down barriers in the hearts of people so the priests can courageously and fearlessly stand firm so these people can be saved.
Verses on standing firm
Ephesians 6:10-13 – Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
Philippians 1:27-30 – Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. 29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
1 Corinthians 16:13 – Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 14 Let all that you do be done in love.
Philippians 4:1 – Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.
1 Corinthians 15:58 – Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
James 1:12 – Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
Some Important Parallels:
Jesus is our intercessor, our advocate, and our mediator.
- Hebrews 7:25 – Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost] those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
Intercession is being still and going to the Lord of behalf of someone.
- 1 John 2 – My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
An advocate is someone who goes to bat for you. Think of a defense attorney. Advocacy is dipping your feet in and working on behalf of those who the Lord puts in your sphere of influence
- 1 Timothy 2:5 – For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
Our job as a mediator while we are standing firm on the rock in the midst of the flood is to point people to Jesus.
1 Corinthians 3:11 – For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Psalm 62:1-2 – For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.
Matthew 7:24-27 – Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
There is transformation and change when we do this!
Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan.
This is the first time the people of God are referred to as a nation – a kingdom of priests as we are all now.
Be aware of the floods that are going on around you. As we grow and mature and are more adept at weathering the storms of our life. The more humility we have in our life the more we’ll care about others floods and helping them through. It’s the challenge of this text to be priests resting in the water, dipping in, and standing firm.