Stand Firm in Jordan

O. T. #448  "Stand Firm in Jordan"
January 27, 2015
Joshua 3-Part 3
When you reach the edge of the Jordan's waters, go and stand in the river.  Joshua 3:8

LET IT GLOW

I don't like swimming in water that is over my head. I like to be able to touch bottom and stand up in it. I especially do not like crossing over water in a boat or a canoe when the water is too deep to see the bottom. Yes, I have a fear of water, though I can swim in shallow water. I wonder if the Israelites were afraid when they walked across the Jordan River on dry ground and it was dammed up for them.

In the process of preparing to cross the Jordan River, the people of Israel sanctified themselves, preparing spiritually for God's wondrous work among them. To be right before God is to be ready for every good thing He will do. (David Jeremiah)

Are you prepared for God to do some good thing in your life?

Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the Old Testament  shows us:

• The people were sanctified (verses 1-5).
• Joshua was magnified (verse 6-8). In the Hebrew language, magnify means honor, lift up.To God all the glory is due, but God sees fit to magnify His servants that their people might honor them (1 Chron. 29:25). Joshua commanded the priests, who directed the people.  
• The Lord glorified (verses 9-13). God would prove Himself the "Lord of all the earth" by holding back the flooded Jordan and permitting His people to cross over on dry land.
• The Word verified (verses 14-17). It happened just as God said it would.

It was just a step, but the waters parted and all Israel crossed over on dry ground. Yahweh brought His people through a crossing that they could not undertake in their own strength (Ex. 14). Every big act for God begins with a small step of faith (Heb. 11:29).

Get your sandals on and we will cross over with them. Oh, grab some faith for me, too, while you're at it. I don't like being in water that is over my head.

LET IT GROW

The Ark usually traveled in the midst of the people, but this time, it was out front leading them. Every step of the way, they could see that God was with them, going before them. After all, they had never passed that way before.

What had Joshua told the Israelites? In verses 9-10, he said,

• Come listen to the words of the LORD your God.
• They would know God was among them and would certainly drive out their enemies.
• See the Ark of the Covenant go ahead of you.
• Choose 12 men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. They were to get a stone each in the midst of the Jordan where the priests stood and take them across with it. These stones were a memorial of this miracle. (4:5)
• As soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the Ark of the LORD, then the Lord will cut off the waters from upstream, and beside them standing in a heap.

At the early barley harvest, the waters are usually 16 to 20 feet above flood stage. (Falwell)
It happened just as Joshua had told the Israelites. As the priests dipped their feet into the water, it stopped flowing immediately, and piled up, so the ground was dry for the people to cross over Jordan in it. The priests stood firm in Jordan until the people passed clean over Jordan. The invisible dam of water was on their right side. God can change the course of nature when He desires.
The priests made a bold step into the river and took a bold stand to stay there until everyone passed over it.

Are we willing to take a bold step of faith to follow God? Will we take a bold stand for His Word? Are people rising up against our beliefs? How are we reacting?
Do we experience the living God among us, driving out our enemies?

LET IT GO

Take that step of faith with Jesus.

Stand firm in Jordan until others cross over.

Pass clean over my Jordan when the waters are raging around me.

*Please remember me inn prayer this morning as I have surgery to mend a hernia and remove my gall bladder.