Joshua 3:1-17
3:1 Although subtly stated, there are bold recommendations within the verses we read. Joshua rose early in the morning. From the simple statement, we learn a lot about Joshua's faith. He is productive, passionate, committed, invested. Without delay, Joshua continues to follow directives from God. Having received the information he needed to be prepared (from the two spies in the previous chapter) Joshua is ready to proceed and he wastes no time doing so.
As children of God, we make our greatest impact when we contribute to His will in the same way as Joshua. We learn from James 2:14-26 that faith without works is dead. It speaks volumes then, of a person's faith, when they rise early to begin working.
Joshua and the children of Israel make camp by the Jordan in preparation to cross over.
3:2-3 For three days, the Israelites are prepared for the cross over. They are instructed to wait to cross over until the see the Levites with the ark of the covenant. The ark of the covenant is their form of physical faith, their reminder of the promise from God they agreed to participate in. We learn from this to always allow our faith, our God, to go before us into a place.
Our patient faith allows God time to prepare the circumstances we journey toward. When we are patient, He is able to take the time to tailor those places for our benefit. Not only that, God prepares us. Established in faith, God teaches us all that we need to know to progress efficiently through life and circumstance. God strengthens our patience, hope, and ability.
It is important for the children of Israel to remember that God will win this territory for them. Humans tend to become proud and even haughty over things that were accomplished by God rather than themselves. A child of God learns that their success comes through obedience rather than personal ability. God trains us and makes us able through Him.
3:3-4 The metaphor in this verse is to follow after God. Yet the caution here is to remember never to consider yourself as a god. Never become so arrogant that you forget how to follow. Keep God in view, not underfoot.
The Israelites need to understand that God will lead them into victory. Yet if they lose sight of the covenant or become so confident that they stumble right into it, they can no longer be lead. Instead they will spiral into chaos and defeat.
3:5-6 Joshua recommended each person humble themselves before God in faith and trust. The quiet moments of gratitude, learning and trust we spend with God determine our outcome when we enter the battle. It is in this quiet time that He prepares us for what lays ahead.
3:7 God ministers to Joshua and informs Him that He will display Himself to the Israelites as the same God who has been with them since Moses' leadership. The lesson is one in consistency. It is our same God who led the Israelites who ministers to us now. Although generations change and leaders change, our God who presides over all of earth, has never and will never change.
3:8 God commands Joshua to have the priests carry the covenant to the end of the water and then to stand with it in the water. The Israelites must cross the Jordan river to enter into the promised land.
3:9-11 Joshua follows God's order exactly. Our Father is a God of precision. He is present in every detail and organizing every detail. Following His precise specifications will always lead to the greatest most efficient blessings.
Joshua explains to the children of Israel that God will show them that He is still the same Entity Who has been with them since the beginning. The Israelites are reassured that God will transport them through this battle as the victors. All they (and we) have to do to receive God's promises is to listen to Him and follow.
3:12 Joshua ensures that each tribe is represented. God has made this promise to each of them (and has since extended it to all people) and so it is only right that each actively participate. God has worked for generations to get us to understand that we are active-participants with Him, 1 Corinthians 3:9.
3:13-14 God has promised to clear a path directly through the Jordan for the Israelites to pass through. 1 Corinthians 10:11 explains to us that the events in the Israelites' lives happened as examples to us in these final generations. Therefore, we need to understand the metaphor and meaning of these events. God splits the waters to show us that He is able to manipulate even impossible situations to ensure our success. As long as we follow Him, He can split seas to enable us to keep up. It is so important to Him that we reach Home, Him, our destination and blessings.
3:15-16 As promised, once the children of Israel followed God's exact directions, the waters were pulled back and a path was created. God's promise to us is that if we follow His philosophy of life, He is always going to ensure that we have a path toward blessing. God's philosophy encourages kindness, humility and passionate, consistent participation in creating good fruit. If we do that, He will bless so thoroughly, John 14:13.
3:17 The priests who held the ark of the covenant stood firmly in the middle of a centuries old river, on dry ground. The children of Israel were able to cross over because God cut off the river's source. These things happened as an example to us. God will continually cut off the source of power of our enemy, barrier and fear. But we must invite Him to do so; we must host Him well.
In the Garden of Eden, in Genesis, Adam and Eve serve as representations of a choice humanity made. Instead of living under the perfect organization of God, we seized our autonomy. God always knew that we would fail with such responsibility but we did not trust Him. Our time on earth is an opportunity to begin the process of returning our autonomy and trading it in for our original perfect state. Invite God to be the Organizer in your life again. Let Him restore order. Follow Him. Listen to Him. Let Him part the seas and rivers.
