Crossing the Jordan

1 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. 2 So it was, after three days, that the officers went through the camp; 3 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. 4 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.” 5 And Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” 6 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.

Joshua 3:1-6

This is an incredible picture of faith we see in this true story from the book of Joshua. The children of Israel had to cross the Jordan River, yet it was almost a mile wide at flood stage. They had no boat, rope, nor bridge, and on the opposite bank were fortified cities and giants were in the land. They didn’t have weapons, they weren’t a trained army, and they were just coming out of a long journey of wilderness wanderings. Everything in front of them was insurmountable. Everything looked hopeless and screamed impossible. The only thing they had going for them was God. It was God plus nothing. God alone. And in Him, they found the All-Sufficient One was all they needed!

For three days, Joshua and the people stared at the flooding river that separated them from their inheritance. Why did God make them wait three days? Because amazing things happen on the 3rd day. The 3rd day is the day of resurrection power. Jesus was raised from the cold dark tomb on the 3rd day. God needs his people to understand that it will take resurrection power from the cross to see us into our inheritance.

When the three days of their preparation and self-emptying had finished, they broke camp and made the hike to the Jordan. The people were to keep their eyes on the ark of Glory and follow it. The priests carried the ark (symbolic of God’s presence) on their shoulders a half mile ahead, where everyone would be able to see the ark and the miracle unfold for themselves.

The miracle of the Jordan crossing prepared a million people to enter a land of giants, obstacles, and walled cities. They needed the preparation of seeing this miracle before they took the land. Just as we will enter our inheritance, and take our land, and step into our destiny soon, we need to get ready, because a season of grand miracles is ahead of us. And, yes there will be more bumps and battles to face, but our God is more than enough!

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.” 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 Zarethan. 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.

Joshua 3:13-16

At the very moment the priests’ toes touched the river water, a mighty miracle happened. The river split in two. Half rolled up stream, and the other half raced downstream to the dead sea, leaving only bone dry ground for the people to cross over on. This was no small miracle, it was possibly the greatest of all the miracles the Israelites had encountered until then.

When we are about to step into our inheritance, God will work a mighty miracle that breaks every limitation off of our destiny. If God himself has sent you, he will move heaven and earth and water to make you succeed.

So, the water upstream piled high seventeen miles away at a town called “Adam”. To us, the river Jordan represents the death of Jesus on the cross and the price he paid to save us. The word for “jordan” is a Hebrew compound word joining the words for “to descend” and “judging”. Jesus, our Ark of Glory, descended into judgment for our sins and rolled the river of guilt and shame all the way back to Adam! Also in that scripture is another nearby town called Zarethan, which in the Hebrew means “piercing” or “bleeding of the veins”. Judgment was abated to Adam’s family by the one who was “pierced” for our rebellious deeds. He bled to death to have us.

17 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.

Joshua 3:17

What a sight as the river parted and the once muddy riverbed became dry ground. A wide path opened for the people to cross over. The priests stood in the middle of the river bed, and every single person walked right by the ark of glory. Only the high priests could come into the Holy of Holies where the ark stood, but now an entire nation got to walk by it, and see it, with their jaws dropped open!

The waters of death and judgment stopped flowing when Jesus was crucified. Now when we believe, the waters of life and glory cascade into us. Our old Adam-life was buried figuratively at the place Israel crossed into their inheritance. It was like a death, burial, and resurrection for a million people crossing over dry ground after a three day wait. So, too, have we crossed over into resurrection life with Jesus to possess our inheritance as a people delivered and redeemed.