Joshua Chapter 3 Verse 1

• Numbers 26 tells us that there were 601,730 men older than the age of 20 numbered by Moses and Eleazar in the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho. Scholars estimate that would mean the total number of people standing there at the banks of the Jordan would be at least 2.5 million including women and children! Not to mention carts, animals, possessions, tents in tow…
• All that talk about the promised land, the land flowing with milk and honey, the land God had promised to them, even given to them, now must have seemed so very out of reach! I mean can you imagine? A river that runs 156 miles! Overflowing its banks which we’re told later in this chapter! To the point of a mile wide even! And here you are with your family…your little ones…Link, my four year old…can’t swim…won’t even allow his feet to get wet (he’s so dainty)…this must have been deflating to many…
• But…the Jordan is the river of miracles, man! It would be easy to get VERY discouraged right at this moment but quit discounting God! Quit discounting His Word! He said you’d make it! Could it be that you’ll just have to make it on faith? Oh yes! (Piranha Gun “Oh Yes!” - Vector Voice) See if you’re anything like me then you read the Word of God, believe it and then go figure it’s time to make it happen! Time to figure it out, make the plan and watch it unfold perfectly!
• But God be like, “You’re silly. I like you! How is it that My Word is accomplished by man’s understanding and effort?” No no no, apart from God man can do nothing the Bible says yet with the faith of a mustard seed…just a smidge, mountains roll! When we are faced with the rushing waters man…and I am talking face to face…can’t understand, no clue what to do next, that is the moment of faith! At that point you either believe or you wander! And check this out, by human means…by human understanding…this predicament…incomprehensible!
• And yet the people have Joshua to lead them. Just as Joshua will lead them through the River Jordan, the impossible hurdle that stands before them and the promises of God…so too Jesus will lead you…if you trust Him. Why else would He wait until John was dunking folks in the Jordan before coming to be baptized…to send a powerful message to you and to me! That those that are His, will trust Him…and will walk through the tough times…trusting…ultimately succeeding.
• Don’t follow your feelings man…don’t follow your heart…don’t follow your best thought-out plans…your hopes and dreams…your rights and your reasons…all of those things will leave you ashamed and back at square one, all dried up and wandering still in the wilderness…away from the waters man…like chutes and ladders…man if you have the gut, the wisdom, the spiritual spine…follow the Word of God man and trust Jesus above self…you will not be ashamed!
• You know what the River Jordan is today? Polluted. It is a dumping ground for raw sewage. And isn’t that just interesting. If the River Jordan is a symbol of God’s faithfulness, His divine providence and yours and my faith to follow Him…doesn’t it just make sense that in today’s world it would be polluted. Don’t believe the hype. God is still on the throne and His Word, unchanging, will always come to pass…

Joshua Chapter 3 Verses 2 – 3

• I love this. No Army Corp of Engineers. No warriors, no thinkers, no builders, scientific examiners…no committee…first in, leading the way, the priests and the tangible presence of the Lord. Joshua knew this was a spiritual problem, not a feat of human engineering. Just like where you’re at today…maybe your marriage, maybe your relationship with your neighbor, your boss, your co-worker…whatever. What’s leading you? Are you sure you’ve properly assessed your current state? Notice, the nation would complete this entire impossible task by following the presence of the Lord and keeping their eyes firmly on the Lord!
• The issues we face today, so often we believe them to be physical, circumstantial but the Bible would say that the things unseen are more real than the things seen and therefore, whatever it is…it is a spiritual matter. Folks that think things would be better if Obama wasn’t in office don’t understand the problem!
• Have you spent time in prayer? Have you sought God’s Word? Is He leading? Oh man, if not…more problems are on the way…the bible says that the wisdom of man leading man is like the blind leading the blind, both will fall into the ditch, but the Word of the Lord is a strong tower, the faithful see it and run to it and are fortified…

Joshua Chapter 3 Verse 4

• When you see the Lord move, go after Him! I love that! Get after Him! Do something! Press forward!
• Why 2,000 cubits? Which is about 1,000 yards? I love this…two reasons…God’s like, “Give Me some space! Let Me get out in front of you a bit…,” oh but we don’t like that! We ask Him to lead and then so often get all antsy when He actually does! Trust Him man!
• Second reason…because God wanted everyone, small-great, young-old, front of the pack-middle-or back of the pack…He wanted them all to have a clear view of Him as He led them…I love that. That is how He operates today mind you. Each one of those folks. Different position in the pack…different vantage point…therefore, slightly different experience…where’s the Ark? Same place for everyone…the implication? The point? God desires an individual walk, an individual relationship with each one of us…He’s so personal man…each person would be well able to see the priests and the Ark this way! So cool!

Joshua Chapter 3 Verses 5 – 10

• Joshua says, “You want to be a part of this? Follow the Lord, keep your eyes on the Lord, and sanctify yourselves! You want to see wonders? You want to see the Lord work? Sanctify Yourselves!” Come away man from all the evil and the sin and the backwardness of pride and selfishness…lest you miss the victory, the miracle…the journey all together!
• And notice there in verse 8…we usually want the river dry before we are willing to take a step but here’s faith, here’s trust…the priests walk into the water…only then did the miracle commence!
• And were those all of the nations? All of the nations that they would face? No! Here Joshua mentions seven…the number of perfection man. Yes many obstacles stand in the way, tests, trials, even wars, but God will lead you perfectly through them all…do you believe that? Then obey His Word!! So simple! Are you a believer…here’s the test…do you obey Him?

Joshua Chapter 3 Verses 11 – 17

• I love that Joshua mentions that even within the midst of the Jordan…dry ground. Their kicks don’t even get dirty! (Only the priests…a picture of servitude towards God and the people) Why? The Ark, man…the presence of the Lord. The Lord leading them…14 times in 17 verses…the Ark, the Ark, the Ark…the presence of God with man…Emmanuel in the Old Testament…what in the New Testament? Jesus!
• Do you know how many times the Ark of the Covenant is mentioned in the New Testament? Twice. Once historically in the Book of Hebrews…Chapter 9…not speaking about its present day presence…and only once more in Revelation Chapter 11…never is the Ark mentioned in terms of its physical presence…why?   Because Jesus is on the scene.

• When you see God move…will you get after Him? Will you come to the water’s edge and go no further? Will you let Him get out in front of you man? Will you keep your eyes on Him? Same question…will you see miracles…will you enter into His promises?