Joshua 3

In this chapter, the Israelites are preparing to cross the Jordan River and enter the Promised Land. The crossing of the Jordan marks a significant step in their journey, and God's presence is powerfully demonstrated through the miracle of stopping the river's flow.

Joshua 3:1 (NKJV)
Then Joshua rose early in the morning; and they set out from Acacia Grove and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they crossed over.

Joshua, leading the Israelites, prepares to cross the Jordan River by bringing the people to its edge. This action signifies the beginning of their final step toward claiming the Promised Land. The mention of rising early highlights Joshua’s diligence and sense of urgency, knowing that this is a critical moment in Israel’s history.

Joshua 3:2 (NKJV)
So it was, after three days, that the officers went through the camp;

The officers go through the camp after the people have been waiting by the Jordan for three days. This pause allows the people to spiritually and mentally prepare for the great miracle that is about to take place. The number three often has spiritual significance, symbolizing preparation and divine timing.

Joshua 3:3 (NKJV)
And they commanded the people, saying, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it.”

The Ark of the Covenant, representing God’s presence, is to lead the way. The people are instructed to follow it, emphasizing that their success in crossing the Jordan depends on God's leadership. The Ark’s prominent role symbolizes God’s guidance and protection as they enter the Promised Land.

Joshua 3:4 (NKJV)
“Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before.”

The people are instructed to maintain a respectful distance from the Ark. This reverence underscores God's holiness, while also allowing the Israelites to clearly see and follow the Ark, which would guide them through unknown territory. The statement that they have “not passed this way before” highlights the newness and significance of their journey.

Joshua 3:5 (NKJV)
And Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”

Joshua instructs the people to sanctify themselves, meaning to purify and prepare for God’s presence. This preparation signals that something miraculous is about to happen, emphasizing the sacredness of the event. God's "wonders" refer to the supernatural acts He will perform, demonstrating His power and faithfulness.

Joshua 3:6 (NKJV)
Then Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, “Take up the ark of the covenant and cross over before the people.” So they took up the ark of the covenant and went before the people.

The priests, carrying the Ark, are instructed to lead the way across the Jordan. By placing the Ark in front, Joshua ensures that the focus remains on God’s presence, as He is the true leader of Israel. The Ark’s position signals that God is going before them to make the impossible possible.

Joshua 3:7 (NKJV)
And the Lord said to Joshua, “This day 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.”

God promises to exalt Joshua in the eyes of the people by performing a great miracle. This divine affirmation mirrors the way God was with Moses, showing the continuity of leadership and God’s unwavering presence. The miracle to come will confirm Joshua’s authority as Israel’s leader.

Joshua 3:8 (NKJV)
You shall command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, saying, ‘When you have come to the edge of the water of the Jordan, you shall stand in the Jordan.’”

Joshua is instructed to tell the priests to step into the Jordan River while carrying the Ark. This act of faith requires obedience and trust in God’s power to intervene. By stepping into the water, the priests symbolize the role of faith in initiating God’s miraculous works.

Joshua 3:9-10 (NKJV)
9 So Joshua said to the children of Israel, “Come here, and hear the words of the Lord your God.”
10 And Joshua said, “By this you shall know that the living God is among you, and that He will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Hivites and the Perizzites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Jebusites.”

Joshua gathers the people to listen to God’s word, reminding them that the miracle they are about to witness will confirm God's presence among them. The promise that God will drive out the seven nations assures the people that He is already working to fulfill His promise of delivering the land into their hands.

Joshua 3:11-13 (NKJV)
11 “Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is crossing over before you into the Jordan.
12 Now therefore, take for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one man from every tribe.
13 And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, that the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off, the waters that come down from upstream, and they shall stand as a heap.”

The Ark of the Covenant leads the way into the Jordan, symbolizing God’s authority over the earth. Joshua selects twelve men, one from each tribe, to later memorialize this miracle. God promises that when the priests step into the river, its waters will miraculously stop, allowing Israel to cross on dry ground—just as He did at the Red Sea.

Joshua 3:14-16 (NKJV)
14 So it was, when the people set out from their camp to cross over the Jordan, with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people,
15 and as those who bore the ark came to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests who bore the ark dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks during the whole time of harvest),
16 that the waters which came down from upstream stood still, and rose in a heap very far away at Adam, the city that is beside Zaretan. So the waters that went down into the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, failed, and were cut off; and the people crossed over opposite Jericho.

The priests, carrying the Ark, enter the Jordan during its flood season, making the miracle even more astounding. As soon as their feet touch the water, the flow of the river is halted, and the water stands in a heap far upstream. This miracle echoes the parting of the Red Sea, confirming God's mighty power and faithfulness in bringing Israel into the Promised Land.

Joshua 3:17 (NKJV)
Then the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan; and all Israel crossed over on dry ground, until all the people had crossed completely over the Jordan.

The priests remain standing in the middle of the Jordan, holding the Ark as the entire nation crosses over on dry ground. This miraculous event demonstrates God’s control over nature and His provision for His people. By standing firm with the Ark, the priests exemplify how God’s presence is the foundation for Israel’s success and safe passage.