Joshua 3-4

CHAPTER 3:
             Chapters 3 & 4 are best read as one unit which describes the crossing of the Jordan River.
             The time has come to cross the river Jordan, but there’s some preparations that must be done first. Israel sets up camp near the river, and waits three days before receiving further instructions from Joshua. (v.1-2) (Joshua 1:10-11) The people are to watch for the priests as they take up the ark of the covenant and begin marching towards Jordan. (v.3) The officers also remind the people to keep a safe distance between them and the ark – about a thousand yards – so that they know where to go since this is new territory for all of them. (v.4) The other reason for this is that they remain at a respectful distance due the holiness of the ark and the presence of God that accompanies it. (Exodus 19:12)
 
            Verse 5: Joshua commands the Israelites to sanctify themselves in preparation for crossing the river, “…for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” (Exodus 19:10, 14-15, Leviticus 20:7, Numbers 11:18, Joshua 7:13, 1 Samuel 16:5, Job 1:5, Joel 2:16) This is a familiar command throughout the OT whenever the children of Israel are preparing for a major event such as this. Sanctification before God is necessary because of His holiness, because of who He is and who we are. Before the perfect blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, the only method of mankind cleansing and sanctifying themselves before God was the high priest and the animal sacrifices. Believers today are once and for all sanctified and cleansed by accepting the shed blood of Christ for their sins. (Hebrews 13:12)
            The definition of “sanctify”, according to Strong’s Concordance, is “to separate from profane things and dedicate to God.” That’s what Joshua is commanding the people to do here in preparation for crossing the Jordan and fulfilling God’s command for them to conquer the promised land. Even we today have a need to continually separate ourselves from sin and other profane things that hinder our walk with the Lord. (Ephesians 5:25-26, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, 1 Peter 3:15) Another definition of “sanctify” is “to purify, or to cleanse externally.” That’s what is needed daily as we remain in this wicked flesh for the rest of our time here on earth. Only when we are at last reunited with our Lord and Savior in eternal glory will we receive that perfect, incorruptible body and never again have to worry about the need for sanctification.
 
            Verses 6-13: God reaffirms for Joshua his divinely appointed leadership of Israel. (v.7-8) As He was with Moses, so is the Lord with Joshua. The priests that bare the ark of the covenant are to step into the river and then stand still. Joshua summons all the congregation in order to deliver to them God’s commands. (v.9) He also reminds them of the promise of God regarding their conquering of the promised land. (v.10-11) Each tribe is to select one man as a representative who will, presumably, follow behind the priests as they cross the Jordan. (v.12) The moment the priests step into the river the water flowing from the north will be cut off and stand as a wall a great distance from the crossing point. (v.13)
            There is a deliberate echo here of the crossing of the Red Sea. God is demonstrating His power and might for His chosen people, just as He did for the first generation that came up out of Egypt. When Joshua’s instructions are followed precisely, the priests stand in the midst of the dry riverbed, bearing the ark, as the children of Israel cross to the other side. (v.14-17) Note that it’s not just the Jordan river that is halted, but also all the streams and tributaries below the point of the priests’ entrance that are dried up as well.
            When all is said and done, God and His name are glorified by this miracle, just as He was after the crossing of the Red Sea. Joshua, the servant of the Lord, is also honored for His obedience and leadership. The lesson here for us today is obvious. When we exercise our faith and trust in God, He will make a way for us to fulfill whatever calling He has chosen for us. All that is required of us is simple humility and prompt obedience. God will remove whatever obstacles stand in our way as long as we rely solely on Him and are patient to wait for His timing and will.

CHAPTER 4:
            Verses 1-8: After all of Israel has crossed over the Jordan Joshua commands one man from each tribe to choose a stone from the exposed riverbed, near the spot where the priests that bear the ark are still standing. The purpose of this is to build a pillar on the west bank of the Jordan that will serve as a memorial for future generations. Here again we see an echo of the same instruction given by God to Moses as the children of Israel prepared to depart from Egypt. (Exodus 12:26, 13:14, Deuteronomy 6:20) Just as the annual passover feast and ritual would serve to remind their descendants of God’s providence and salvation, so will this monument serve the same purpose.
            This also hearkens back to the various altars that were built and/or places that were given special names by Abraham and Jacob after specific moments in their lives when they encountered God. (Genesis 22:14, 28:18-19) It was a common custom in the cultures of the ANE to construct such memorials to mark important events, people, and/or places of great significance.
 
            Verses 9-10: After the twelve tribes have built their memorial, Joshua sets up a second one in the midst of the Jordan riverbed, on the same spot where the priests are still standing. Scripture, however, doesn’t give a specific reason for this second pillar, so we can only guess at its purpose. It also seems odd to place such a memorial in the middle of the river where it will probably never be seen unless the river drops to a certain level in the seasons before and after harvest. (Joshua 3:15) The most likely reason for this second memorial is the same as the other one on the west bank: a reminder for future generations of God’s greatness, power, and providence for His chosen people.
 
            Verses 11-13: The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh honor their vow to Moses and Joshua by sending their men of war across the Jordan to fight with their fellow Israelites. (Numbers 32:17-18, Joshua 1:13-14)
            Verse 14: Because of his humility and obedience to the Lord, Joshua was lifted up by God in the sight of all the people, who now revere him as they did Moses. (Joshua 3:7) God will never exalt the proud, the rebellious, or the wicked; those who seek glory for themselves and chase after only the praise of men. However, those who humble themselves, and seek His face, and obey His divine will will God lift up before men in due time. This is the primary reason that Joshua is such a great example of leadership in scripture. He never sought the role as Moses’ replacement, but he was willing to learn while under Moses’ tutelage. When the time came for Moses to pass on, Joshua was willing and ready to follow God’s call and accepted the mantle of leadership without question.
            Now, after the miraculous crossing of the Jordan river, the people recognize Joshua as God’s appointed leader, and see that the Lord is indeed with him. They are willing to obey Joshua as the Lord’s appointed servant and mouthpiece.
 
            Verses 15-18: As soon as the last of the people have crossed over, and after Joshua has erected his monument in the middle of the riverbed, God commands Joshua to command the priests to “…come ye up out of Jordan.” (v.17) As soon as the priests step up onto the riverbank, the wall of water collapses and the river returns to its previous state, overflowing its banks. What a magnificent sight that must have been for all of Israel to witness!
 
            Verses 19-24: The nation sets up camp in Gigal, on the tenth day of the first month (v.19), and this is where Joshua erects the monument of their crossing the Jordan with the twelve stones. (v.5, 20) Joshua then commands the people to never forget what God has done for them here. The pillar of stones is to be a memorial for them and all their descendants of the power of God and the miracle that He performed on their behalf this day. Joshua compares this event to the crossing of the Red Sea of their fathers (v.23) and reminds the people of the purpose of such miraculous events: “That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the Lord your God for ever.” (v.24) (Exodus 14:31, Deuteronomy 6:2, 1 Kings 8:42, 2 Kings 19:19, Psalm 76:7, 106:8, Jeremiah 10:7)