1 Joshua – Part 3 Crossing The River

2 Joshua Part 3 – Crossing the River Rivers form natural barriers  For defense  For administrative convenience River crossings can be momentous events  Julius Caesar crossing the Rubicon This act sparked a civil war that ended the Roman Republic  George Washington crossing the Delaware on Christmas night, 1776 This daring raid achieved a great victory

3 Joshua Part 3 – Crossing the River In Joshua chapters 3 and 4 we find the account of the entry to the promised land: The crossing of the Jordan River The Israelites had waited 40 years for this event Moses and Aaron had been denied entry because of their disobedience Now it was time for Joshua to lead the Israelites into the promised land We can learn some lessons from this account

4 Joshua Part 3 – Crossing the River Lesson #1 – A large endeavor requires orderly leadership Joshua 3:1-13 Joshua led them to the edge of the river – v1 He gave them three days there to prepare – v2 He gave them very specific marching orders – v3-4  Follow the ark  But not too closely

5 Joshua Part 3 – Crossing the River Joshua told the Israelites to consecrate themselves – v5  It was a spiritual endeavor He told the priests carrying the ark to lead – v6  Leaders have to...lead Now God spoke to Joshua – v7-8  He promised to exalt Joshua  God prepares and provisions those he calls to leadership

6 Joshua Part 3 – Crossing the River Joshua explained what would happen next – v9-13  A miracle would happen  The river would stop flowing The purpose of this miracle was not to keep their feet dry  It was to be a tangible demonstration that God was with them – v10

7 Joshua Part 3 – Crossing the River Lesson #2 – Take the first step Joshua 3:14-17 God told Joshua to tell the priests: Go stand in the river! With the Ark!

8 Joshua Part 3 – Crossing the River The Jordan averages 30 meters wide and 1 to 3 meters deep  But can swell to 800 meters wide during the flood season  It was flood season – v15 That was a problem  God said He would take care of the problem But He said He would take care of it only after the priests stepped into the water

9 Joshua Part 3 – Crossing the River This is a model for us  You can't steer a drifting ship  You can't steer a parked car  Many times, if not most, God leads us and provides for us, one step at a time What would have happened if the Israelites had waited for a clear crossing before moving?  They would still be on the wrong side of the Jordan! Can we expect anything different?

10 Joshua Part 3 – Crossing the River Lesson #3 – The Importance of Memorials In France, every small town and village has a war memorial:

11 Joshua Part 3 – Crossing the River France was wracked by two world wars in the last century  Almost everyone who remembered WW I is gone  Many of those who remembered WW II are gone  We tend to forget the lessons of the past  And so we tend to repeat the mistakes of the past Memorials help us remember important events

12 Joshua Part 3 – Crossing the River Joshua 4 God commissioned a memorial – v1-9  Joshua appointed twelve representatives from the twelve tribes  Each picked up a stone from the river bottom  They built a monument with the stones Why?  As a memorial of the crossing  To help future generations remember – v6-7

13 Joshua Part 3 – Crossing the River God commanded many other memorials in the Bible  From Old Testament to New  From Passover to the Last Supper  From rituals to stone monuments The purpose of all of them is to help His people remember He is, and who they are

14 Joshua Part 3 – Crossing the River What should our memorials look like?  Plaques  Statues  Paintings  Trees  Schools  Hospitals

15 Joshua Part 3 – Crossing the River

16 Joshua Part 3 – Crossing the River What about more personal memorials?  Family Bible  Journals  Photos  Oral tradition