In our Bible study yesterday, we read about God’s call to Joshua to lead the Israelites, who had been waiting to enter the Promised Land for forty years due to their complaining and lack of faith, to the land that God had promised them. Joshua accepted God’s call and courageously began to lead the Israelites to the Promised Land. As Joshua led them, they came across an obstacle: an overflowing river. It was time for Joshua to choose faith and encourage the people of Israel to choose faith, too.
As Joshua led the people of Israel to the Promised Land in Joshua 3, God told him, “Give this command to the priests who carry the Ark of the Covenant: ‘When you reach the banks of the Jordan River, take a few steps into the river and stop there’” (verse 8). Then, Joshua told the Israelites, “Today you will know that the living God is among you….The priests will carry the Ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth. As soon as their feet touch the water, the flow of water will be cut off upstream, and the river will stand up like a wall” (verses 9-13). They were, Joshua explained, about to experience a great work of God as they journeyed to the Promised Land. God was going to lead them through the Jordan River and to the Promised Land. When they arrived at the river, Scripture tells us that “The Jordan was overflowing its banks” (verse 14). Now, Joshua and the Israelites could have let the overflowing river lead them to despair, or they could have trusted God and the promise He had previously made to them. In an act of faith, they kept going, undeterred by the overflowing river. They trusted God. Perhaps they were remembering God's promise from Joshua that God would cause the river to "stand up like a wall." Perhaps they remembered the miraculous ways that God had led their people out of slavery in Egypt, including parting the Red Sea. They trusted God and saw God miraculously lead them across the river as a result.
Maybe you need the reminder today that God is trustworthy. He has taken care of you in the past, and He will continue to take care of you in the future. Trust in His care and provision for you today.
Take a few moments to journal about what you learned during your Bible study time today. Think of just one way this past year that God has taken care of you and write it down. Then, think about one area of your life where you need God to work and provide. Write that down as well. Finally, answer the question, “How does God’s care and provision over this last year encourage you that He will work in this area, too?” After reflecting, pray. Thank God for how He has taken care of you, and commit to trusting Him to take care of you in the future, especially in the area you are waiting for Him to provide, too.
1 Early the next morning Joshua and all the Israelites left Acacia Grove and arrived at the banks of the Jordan River, where they camped before crossing. 2 Three days later the Israelite officers went through the camp, 3 giving these instructions to the people: “When you see the Levitical priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord your God, move out from your positions and follow them. 4 Since you have never traveled this way before, they will guide you. Stay about half a mile behind them, keeping a clear distance between you and the Ark. Make sure you don’t come any closer.”
5 Then Joshua told the people, “Purify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do great wonders among you.”
6 In the morning Joshua said to the priests, “Lift up the Ark of the Covenant and lead the people across the river.” And so they started out and went ahead of the people.
7 The Lord told Joshua, “Today I will begin to make you a great leader in the eyes of all the Israelites. They will know that I am with you, just as I was with Moses. 8 Give this command to the priests who carry the Ark of the Covenant: ‘When you reach the banks of the Jordan River, take a few steps into the river and stop there.’”
9 So Joshua told the Israelites, “Come and listen to what the Lord your God says. 10 Today you will know that the living God is among you. He will surely drive out the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites ahead of you. 11 Look, the Ark of the Covenant, which belongs to the Lord of the whole earth, will lead you across the Jordan River! 12 Now choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. 13 The priests will carry the Ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth. As soon as their feet touch the water, the flow of water will be cut off upstream, and the river will stand up like a wall.”
14 So the people left their camp to cross the Jordan, and the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant went ahead of them. 15 It was the harvest season, and the Jordan was overflowing its banks. But as soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the Ark touched the water at the river’s edge, 16 the water above that point began backing up a great distance away at a town called Adam, which is near Zarethan. And the water below that point flowed on to the Dead Sea until the riverbed was dry. Then all the people crossed over near the town of Jericho.
17 Meanwhile, the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant stood on dry ground in the middle of the riverbed as the people passed by. They waited there until the whole nation of Israel had crossed the Jordan on dry ground.
