(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word...)
(Joshua 3:1-17) Then Joshua got up early in the morning; and he and all the sons of Israel set out from Shittim and came to the Jordan, and they spent the night there before they crossed. 2 Then at the end of three days the officers went through the midst of the camp; 3 and they commanded the people, saying, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God with the Levitical priests carrying it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it. 4 However, there shall be a distance between you and it of about two thousand cubits by measurement. Do not come near it, so that you may know the way by which 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 miracles among you.” 6 And Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, “Take up the ark of the covenant and cross over ahead of the people.” So they took up the ark of the covenant and went ahead of the people.
7 Now the Lord said to Joshua, “This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, so that they will know that just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you. 8 So you shall command the priests who are carrying the ark of the covenant, saying, ‘When you come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’” 9 Then Joshua said to the sons of Israel, “Come here, and hear the words of the Lord your God.” 10 And Joshua said, “By this you will know that the living God is among you, and that He will assuredly drive out from you the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Hivite, the Perizzite, the Girgashite, the Amorite, and the Jebusite. 11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is crossing over ahead of you into the Jordan. 12 Now then, take for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one man for each tribe. 13 And it will come about when the soles of the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan will be cut off, that is, the waters which are flowing down from above; and they will stand in one heap.”
14 So when the people set out from their tents to cross the Jordan, with the priests carrying the ark of the covenant before the people, 15 and when those who were carrying the ark came up to the Jordan and the feet of the priests carrying the ark stepped down into the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks all the days of harvest), 16 then the waters which were flowing down from above stood and rose up in one heap, a great distance away at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan; and those which were flowing down toward the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. So the people crossed opposite Jericho. 17 And the priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan while all Israel crossed on dry ground, until all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan.
5 Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do miracles among you.” 6 And Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, “Take up the ark of the covenant and cross over ahead of the people.” So they took up the ark of the covenant and went ahead of the people.
7 Now the Lord said to Joshua, “This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, so that they will know that just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you. 8 So you shall command the priests who are carrying the ark of the covenant, saying, ‘When you come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’” 9 Then Joshua said to the sons of Israel, “Come here, and hear the words of the Lord your God.” 10 And Joshua said, “By this you will know that the living God is among you, and that He will assuredly drive out from you the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Hivite, the Perizzite, the Girgashite, the Amorite, and the Jebusite. 11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is crossing over ahead of you into the Jordan. 12 Now then, take for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one man for each tribe. 13 And it will come about when the soles of the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan will be cut off, that is, the waters which are flowing down from above; and they will stand in one heap.”
14 So when the people set out from their tents to cross the Jordan, with the priests carrying the ark of the covenant before the people, 15 and when those who were carrying the ark came up to the Jordan and the feet of the priests carrying the ark stepped down into the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks all the days of harvest), 16 then the waters which were flowing down from above stood and rose up in one heap, a great distance away at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan; and those which were flowing down toward the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. So the people crossed opposite Jericho. 17 And the priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan while all Israel crossed on dry ground, until all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan.
TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:
I've never noticed it before, but this event parallels how the Israelites will enter the Millennial kingdom, which also parallels the ancient Jewish wedding ceremony.
1. (JWC) in a Jewish wedding ceremony, the commitment came first, so the engagement was an actual covenant or contract.
(NOW) when anyone becomes a believer, they are considered children of God, and part of the Church, which is also considered the bride of Christ (Isaiah 54:5, is just one verse on this).
2. (JWC) when the groom had finished preparing his home where they would live, then at the father-of-the-bride's say-so, the groom would collect his bride, and they would consummate the marriage.
(ET) in the end times: at the right time, at the Father's say-so, Jesus will gather up His bride (the Church, which is all believers leading up to this moment) to be in heaven with Him. The Greek word used for this event is called the rapture. There will be no warning or signs of when this will happen.
3. (JWC) while the bridesmaids, the groomsmen and the guests waited, they were to be alert and ready for the procession to the wedding feast, which meant that they were to have their lamps ready, trimmed, filled with oil and lit,
(ET) all people left on earth who will go through the 7 years of Tribulation will have a chance to get themselves ready by becoming believers, which is to have the Light of Jesus in their hearts and have the indwelling Holy Spirit filling their souls.
(CTJR, verse 5) before crossing the Jordan River, the Israelites were to get ready by consecrating themselves.
(CTJR, verse 8) the priests who were carrying the ark of the covenant were to step into the Jordon River (a step of faith), then stand still and wait for God to work miracles.
4. (JWC) after the consummation / honeymoon period, the bridegroom with his bride would walk through the town collecting the guests and leading the way to the wedding feast. As people heard the commotion, those who were ready could join in the procession. Because it was usually dark at that time, people needed their lamps in order to follow closely behind the bridegroom so they didn't get lost.
(ET) at the end of the 7 years, Jesus and the raptured Church will come down to earth. Jesus will stop the flood of sinners, fight and win the battle of Armageddon, then all believers will follow Jesus into the "Wedding Feast" (also called "The Thousand Year Reign", and "The Millennium").
(CTJR, verses 3-4) as soon as the Israelites saw the priests walking past them carrying the ark of the covenant which carried God's word, they were to follow along behind it.
(CTJR, verses 10-16) the Lord stopped the Jordon River which cut off all their enemies, and the Lord was going to go before them to fight on Israel's behalf so that they would be able to enter their promised land.
5. (JWC) the bridegroom, the bride and all the guests would arrive at the wedding feast to celebrate.
(ET) Jesus will set up the Millennial kingdom, and because the Israelites will then truly be obedient as a nation (because they will have all become believers during the Tribulation after seeing the signs of their Messiah), they will have all of their promised land and all of the covenants will be fulfilled. It will be a long and wonderful celebration here on earth, where everything will be replenished, fruitful and productive.
(CTJR, verse 17) the Lord made it possible for the Israelites to enter their promised land.
Right now we are in the Church Age, waiting for Jesus to gather up His bride. We should be ready in salvation! Believing in Jesus is the commitment and covenant that we have with Him. Our position is secured. And as we wait on the Lord, we should remain alert, seeking out and following the light of Jesus, which is to obey God's word and trust in the will of God.
Know that God does everything in His perfect time, and we can trust Him fully! Notice that He chose the days of harvest for the Israelites to cross the river. During this time, the river flooded up onto the banks, allowing the men who carried the ark of the covenant to have a safe and "easy" step into the waters.
Even though this was still a big step of faith on their part, the Lord made it possible to cross the river - safe and dry! Even though there will be times when we have to cross over troubled waters, follow Jesus!!! He will get us through safely in His perfect time and in His perfect will.
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