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Prepare to Share Scriptural Background Joshua 3-5:1 Historical Information Background: Crossing rivers was a big deal back in the day. Bridges were not very common in the time of the Bible. For an individual to cross a river they would have to be on the lookout for the ford(s). We see these fords used in Judges 12:25-26. However, this would not be conducive in transferring a large number of people. Though this is an interesting fact, the main purpose for the crossing is as the Lord stated clearly to raise the status of Joshua in the eyes of the people. The Lord stated, 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. (Josh 3:7 ESV) The crossing of the Red Sea was a dramatic, important event that stayed with the Israelites throughout their history even to the point that Paul makes a correlation to it in his first letter to the Corinthian church. So how was Joshua to be elevated in the eyes of his fellow citizens? How was Joshua to be a 2nd Moses type? The answer is simply the crossing of the Jordan River. In describing this river, it is important to note that the Jordan was normally 10-12 feet deep and can be up to 100+ feet wide. Being that it was the harvest season, the Jordan river was flooded over its boundaries. This natural barrier is a real issue facing the Israelites. The instructions given to the people are unique. First, they are to consecrate themselves preparing, themselves in participation to this unusual event. Second, the Ark of the Covenant is to go ahead of the nation with a minimum of approximately ½ mile distant of separation. At that point in history, the idea that your most religious relic was going ahead was not only rare, but would never happen in the cultures that surrounded Israel. The common practice of the day was that your god would be with the army not in front leading, but in the back being protected. Here we see God is leading. God is in front and there is not a single sword, not page B
a single spear, not a single sling surrounding the Ark - just the four priests who are authorized to carry the Ark. Not only is there no weapon but no person within a half mile is seen. Imagine being one of these men: there is not a soul around and if one could look back a half mile, the nearest person would be a dot. This was done, demonstrating that Yahweh and Yahweh alone is the one responsible for what came next when the priests entered the water. As they entered the water, we see in verse 16 the water piled up at the town of Adam which is approximately 16 miles north of Jericho, which is about 4 miles north of the Dead Sea. The water is piling up, stacking up, and sixteen miles high at the town of Adam. The riverbed that was uncovered was about 20 miles all instantly being dried up. Easily, the Israelites crossed the Jordan River with efficiency and speed, keeping their ½ mile distance from the Ark. What a sight that must be from the perspective of a helicopter! Please note the difference between the crossing of the Red Sea and the Jordan. It was the arm and staff of Moses that Yahweh used to initiate the split of the Red Sea; whereas it is the Ark of the Covenant that leads the parting of the Jordan. At the Red Sea, the Israelites were running away from an enemy which was destroyed; whereas Israel is going into the land being the destroyer. At the Red Sea, Moses sings a song of God s might salvific act; whereas at the crossing of the Jordan, Israel gathered 12 stones building a monument to be reminded of what Yahweh has done. Besides the dryness of the ground, the similarity was that both Moses and Joshua was exalted by Yahweh in front of the nation. Studying God's Word Read the Word The children of Israel are now finally just about ready to cross into the Promised Land. Imagine, after all these years and all these hardships (caused by their own sin, of course) you're finally going to go into the land that God so long ago promised to give to you and your people. But there's a major problem the very flooded Jordan River, with no bridge anywhere to be found... Let's read Joshua 3:7-13 together. Examine the Word - Observe the Text page C
Refer to the Bible Study poster to remind your students how to dig deeper into God's Word by asking the right questions. What does God promise to do for Joshua? He promises to honour him before all Israel, so they'll understand that he is going to lead them like Moses once did. What's so unusual about what God tells Joshua to tell the priests (v.8)? It doesn't seem to make any sense to cross a river by having some priests carry the Ark of the Covenant into it, does it? What does Joshua want the people to understand as they watch this miracle happen (v.10)? He wants them to know that the LORD is among them, and that without a doubt He will drive out their enemies and give them the land He promised to their father Abraham so many generations before. Skip ahead to Joshua 4:24. What other purpose for this miracle do we learn there? God also performed this miracle so that all the nations would recognize His great power. So if we put it all together, why does God do this miracle? Guide students in listing the four reasons: a) so the Israelites could get across the river, b) so that Joshua would be honoured and moved clearly into the position once occupied by Moses, c) so that the children of Israel would be encouraged to remember that God would provide the land for them, and d) so that the surrounding nations would know the great power of God. Examine the Word - Discover the Truth We tend to think about miracles as merely amazing ways that God provides for some need. They're certainly that, but they're almost always also much more than that. Here we have a real, pressing need to cross the Jordan. So God, in keeping with His character, provides for that need. But there are probably a million different ways He could do this, so why does He choose to part the waters? Wouldn't it have been much easier to make a bridge appear? The Bible sometimes reveals to us the intentions of God's miracles. In this page D
case, there seem to be (at least) three intentions other than just meeting the physical need of crossing the river. First, God wants to clearly mark Joshua as the new Moses the new man that will speak the words of the LORD and lead His people through their upcoming challenges. Moses was the only leader these people had ever known, so replacing him fully will be a tall order. What better way for God to indicate His will that Joshua be their leader and guide than to perform a miracle that would have reminded them of the parting of the Red Sea? Second, God wanted to encourage His children. They were about to enter the unknown, a thing most of us fear. Moreover, they knew that this Promised Land was not free for the taking it was populated by all kinds of people that would stand in their way. So on the eve of the next phase in their history, God gives a huge, obvious reminder that He is God and He is in control. For my part, I cant' even imagine how incredible the sight must have been four priests and the Ark in the middle of a possibly mile-wide swath of dry ground, with the thousands and thousands of Israelites pouring into the Promised Land beyond that! Thirdly, God wanted to call out once again to the nations. By performing this miracle in such an over-the-top way, the word would spread quickly, far, and wide. Within no time at all, the nations all around the region and beyond would hear of the story of how the God of the Israelites not only parted the Jordan River, but did so in incredible fashion! Would some from among these nations hear this tale and be drawn to the one true God? Read the Word Now let's see one more important point about this story one more reason that God performs this miracle. First, turn to Deuteronomy 8:11-21. You could read this passage aloud or simply summarize it by highlighting some key verses for your students. The point is clear: when they finally reached the Promised Land, they are warned profusely not to forget that it was God and God alone who led them there. God and God alone who defeated their enemies. God and God alone who deserved the credit and the glory for all that happened. Now, take your students back to Joshua. Let's read Joshua 4:20-22 together. Examine the Word - Observe the Text Where did Joshua get these twelve stones? From the now-dry bed of page E
the Jordan river. (see Josh 4:3 for details) Have you ever seen an usual pile of rocks somewhere? What was the purpose of these rocks? When future generations of children saw them, they'd ask what there were there for... leading to another chance to tell the story of God's power, His deliverance, His leader Joshua, etc... Are there things in your own life that when you see them remind you of something in the past? It would be really helpful at this point if you had an example from your own life to share as a way of getting their thinking started in the right direction. God did a truly wondrous thing in the life of the Israelites, and the entire region would quickly learn about it, too. But even more than that, the children of the Israelites were to be taught these things from generation to generation. Think about it right here, right now in your classroom we're doing just that: remembering those wondrous works of God from days now long past. Applying God's Word God's Word in the Real World Let's make sure that we think of how we can apply these ideas as we leave and go out into the world we live in. What's something you might want future generations of your own family to remember about God? Is there something particular He did in your life or the life of your family that you'll want them to know? As usual, this will work best if you start them with an example from your life or the life of someone you personally know. Is there a spiritual leader in your life that's been like Joshua to you, leading and guiding in the ways you should go? It would be great if you could help your students see that there parents, and especially there fathers, do this in their lives (assuming it's true, of course). But there may be other good answers, too. page F
How can we, like the children of Israel, keep on remembering that God is in control? Maybe a particular Bible verse will come to mind, or perhaps a family tradition. Other good thoughts would include: prayer, time spent reading or hearing the Word, singing spiritual songs, etc... page G
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