14 Entering the Promised Land [Joshua 3]

The Bible passage: [Joshua 3]

The Story:

After Moses died, Joshua led the Israelites to the Jordan River, where they camped before crossing.

After three days, the officers went through the camp and told the people, “When you see the Ark of the Covenant being carried by the priests, break camp and follow it.”

God told Joshua, “Today, I am going to build you up in the eyes of Israel so they will know that I am with you just as I was with Moses. Tell the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant, ‘When you reach the edge of the waters, stand still in the Jordan River.’”

Joshua told the Israelites, “You will know that God is among you when He drives out the people of Canaan ahead of you. When the priests who carry the ark stop and stand in the Jordan’s waters, its waters will be cut off. The water flowing downstream will stand up in a wall.”

When the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carried the ark into the river. The Jordan overflows its banks throughout the harvest season. But as soon as the priests carrying the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water at its edge, the water flowing downstream stood still, rising up in a wall. The water flowing downstream into the Dead Sea was completely cut off, and the people crossed opposite Jericho.

The priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant stood firmly on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel crossed on dry ground until the entire nation had finished crossing the Jordan.

The Lessons:

• The Ark of the Covenant was used to lead the people of Israel while they traveled in the wilderness, and again as they crossed the Jordan River, and later as they took the land of Canaan.
• God used the crossing of the Jordan River to show the people of Israel that they could confidently follow Joshua the same way they had followed Moses.
• Just as when the children of Israel crossed the Red Sea on dry ground after leaving Egypt, they crossed the Jordan River on dry ground into the Promised Land.

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