Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,
Joshua 3 is the inspired record of the miraculous crossing of another large body of water by the people of Israel. The first was the trip across the Red Sea in Exodus 14. And now we read of the very same miracle occurring once again at the Jordan River, swollen as it was by the spring rains, and impossible to ford without a boat. In both of these crossings, the text of Scripture is most clear and deliberately specific. For example, compare the following verses:
“. . . the sons of Israel shall go through the midst of the sea on dry land . . . . And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left”–Exodus 14:16, 22.
“Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan”–Joshua 3:17.
What is the connection between these two impossible crossings, and why are they so much alike? What is the Lord teaching His Old Covenant people by twice leading them to a point of crisis, and then leading them through large bodies of water on “dry land”? And what does this have to do with us?
As we prepare our hearts for Lord’s Day worship, let’s all take time to read this amazing story found in Joshua 3:1-17. And as we do, let’s pray that the Lord will help us to understand this impossibly great event in light of the greater ‘Joshua’ and the biggest and most impossible miracle of all!
I can’t wait to see you on Sunday, and I love you all so dearly!
Mike