In today’s reading, we find the Israelites finally arriving at the banks of the Jordan, the last thing stopping them from crossing into the Promised Land. In Exodus when the Israelites were fleeing Egypt the Red Sea blocked their escape, but God performed a miracle, parted the seas, and led them out. Now their descendants (for everyone who was in Egypt has died except Joshua and Hebron), are barred from the Promised Land by another body of water. Joshua tells the people to get ready, God is about to do wonders again. He’s about to fulfill the promise he made to Abraham hundreds of years prior when He told Abraham his descendants would inherit the land of Cannan. It might take a while, but God always fulfills His promises.
P.S. - 2000 cubits = about 3000ft = about half a mile.
[Joshua 3.1-8]
3.1 Then Joshua rose early in the morning and they set out from Shittim. And they came to the Jordan, he and all the people of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over. 2 At the end of three days the officers went through the camp 3 and commanded the people, “As soon as you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall set out from your place and follow it. 4 Yet there shall be a distance between you and it, about 2,000 cubits in length. Do not come near it, in order that you may know the way you shall go, for you have not passed this way before.” 5 Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” 6 And Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on before the people.” So they took up the ark of the covenant and went before the people.
7 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. 8 And as for you, command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, ‘When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’”
[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?
+ Who are the Levitical priests and why are they carrying the Ark?
+ What is important about the ark going before the people?
+ What is Joshua’s relationship with God?
[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?
+ What is my next step?