#Bible Timeless Truths: Facing the Future in Faith Part 1. Joshua 3


3 Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over. 2 After three days the officers went throughout the camp, 3 giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. 4 Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits[a] between you and the ark; do not go near it.”
5 Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.”
6 Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people.” So they took it up and went ahead of them.
7 And the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. 8 Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.’”
9 Joshua said to the Israelites, “Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God. 10 This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites. 11 See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you. 12 Now then, choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. 13 And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the Lord—the Lord of all the earth—set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.”
14 So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. 15 Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, 16 the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. 17 The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.

Footnotes:  a) Joshua 3:4 That is, about 3,000 feet or about 900 meters

Joshua 3

This passage of Scripture finds the Hebrew nation facing a crisis. After 400 years as slaves and 40 years wandering in the desert wilderness as a result of their lack of faith as a community, God’s chosen people find themselves at the border of the Promised Land a second time.

What thoughts, doubts, and dreams must have been represented among those listening now to Joshua’s call to action?

The Hebrews had, at least, three reasons to be fearful.
  • Stories from their parents. As the Israelites traveled the desert sand, those over the age of twenty who’d grown to adulthood in Egypt must have recounted what problems they had in Egypt and what had scared them enough to vote not to enter Canaan 40 years earlier.
  • The Jordan River was at flood stage. While some of those waiting to enter Canaan remembered the Nile River’s floods, the vast majority had never seen that much water running at that speed.
  • Joshua as a rookie leader. Although he’d been Moses’ second in command for decades, this was Joshua’s first solo flight.
What thoughts, doubts, and dreams swirl through your mind?

Regardless of the future, the Scripture gives us guidelines to follow for any future to assure our success. We’ll all face new situations throughout this year. Although a rookie leader, Joshua applied principles that assured the victory. He began by using the Ark of the Covenant to remind the people of God’s faithfulness.


2 After three days the officers went throughout the camp, 3 giving orders to the people: "When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests, who are Levites, carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. Joshua 3:2-3 (NIV)

 Principle #1: 
Acknowledge the Adequacy of God’s Leadership
The Ark is no longer needed. In fact, no visual reminder of God's presence is required.

The Holy Spirit replaced the Ark as the conduit for Divine leadership in your life in the New Covenant. 

You can trust in God’s adequacy.

Thanks to Rev. John Denny for the central teachings in this blog.

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