1. Book of Joshua Concerns the Conquest of Canaan
Joshua 1 – Joshua prepares for the Conquest
v. 2 – God says going over Jordan
v. 5 – No one will stand against you
vv. 7-8 – Follow the law = success
v. 11 – people must prepare / be ready
v. 16 – people say: will do and go

2. Book of Joshua Concerns the Conquest of Canaan
Joshua 1 – Joshua prepares for the Conquest
Joshua 2 – Sending out the spies to Jericho
Spied out the city & made a deal with Rahab
v. 24 – The report

3. Book of Joshua Concerns the Conquest of Canaan
Joshua 1 – Joshua prepares for the Conquest
Joshua 2 – Sending out the spies to Jericho
Joshua 3 – Crossing the Jordan
v. 1 - Camped at the Jordan for three days before they cross
2-4 – Officers went through the camp instructing the people

4. Never crossed the Jordan before Never taken walled cities before
Joshua 3:4
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
Never crossed the Jordan before
Never taken walled cities before
Never battled giants with chariots of iron
New challenges
New difficulties

5. As with Israel – We’ve Not Passed this Way Before
Joshua 3:4
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
As with Israel – We’ve Not Passed this Way Before
Face Uncertain Challenges
Have Divine Instruction
Comforted from our Observations

6. We’ve Not Passed This Way Before
Joshua 3:4
We’ve Not Passed
This Way Before

7. We’ve Not Passed This Way Before
Joshua 3:4
The Uncertain Challenges

8. Things look difficult ♦ Untrodden Paths ♦ A bit intimidating
The Uncertain Challenges
Things look difficult ♦ Untrodden Paths ♦ A bit intimidating
Crossing the Jordan (v. 8)
The Jordan is overflowing at the time (v. 15)
Not crossed the river in this fashion before
None of the present generation (ex: Joshua & Caleb) passed through Red Sea
Waters are deep & swift – how on earth were they going to cross it?
It very well could be that you are standing on shore of your Jordan today!

9. Things look difficult ♦ Untrodden Paths ♦ A bit intimidating
The Uncertain Challenges
Things look difficult ♦ Untrodden Paths ♦ A bit intimidating
Crossing the Jordan (v. 8)
The Mighty People (v. 10)
Early reports were of giants in land (Num. 13)
Not just that they may be problem – but you will drive them out of the land!
Not just one group – but many nations!
It very well could be that you are facing some mighty people in your own life! (Some challenge as great as conquering a land and driving the inhabitants away!)

10. Things look difficult ♦ Untrodden Paths ♦ A bit intimidating
The Uncertain Challenges
Things look difficult ♦ Untrodden Paths ♦ A bit intimidating
Crossing the Jordan (v. 8)
The Mighty People (v. 10)
Trusting God (vv )
God says the waters will heap up.
God says you will cross over on dry land
When get in the middle of river bed – look up to the wall of water to their right will they trust that God will do what he says?
It could be that you are crossing your river today – and seeing the terrifying waters heaped above your head!

11. Things look difficult ♦ Untrodden Paths ♦ A bit intimidating
The Uncertain Challenges
Things look difficult ♦ Untrodden Paths ♦ A bit intimidating
Crossing the Jordan (v. 8)
The Mighty People (v. 10)
Trusting God (vv )
Abundant Blessings (Deut. 6:10-12)
They are about to have it better than ever had it in the wilderness!
Can be a challenge (Jas. 1:9-11)
Not always something bad that is a challenge
It may be that you are eating from your new vineyards you never planted!

12. We Face Uncertain Challenges When We Have Not Passed This Way Before
Change (Leaving home, moving away, going to college, new job, trying make it on your own)
Repented (Can I do this? Doing what I have neglected will be hard, giving up some things – extremely hard)
Getting married (Can I keep this together? )
Having Children (How can I raise this child to love God? What about the mistakes I’m sure to make?)
Sickness
Troubles in home (in marriage or with children)
Aging
Death
Like Jonah we would rather go to Tarshish than meet the task in Nineveh!
Like Moses we complain and claim to be slow of tongue to avoid a difficult circumstance!

13. We’ve Not Passed This Way Before
Joshua 3:4
The Uncertain Challenges
The Divine Instruction

14. God gives instructions for the challenges - We must have faith
The Divine Instruction
God gives instructions for the challenges - We must have faith
The Lord will Guide You (v. 3)
When see ark move – follow it (v. 3)
Staying back from ark – you will know way to go (v. 4)
Constantly urged to “hear” (v. 9)
Point: just listen and follow instructions – all will be okay!
Same is true with your uncertain challenges:
Lord’s word tells you want is ahead
Lord’s word tells you where to go / what to do

15. God gives instructions for the challenges - We must have faith
The Divine Instruction
God gives instructions for the challenges - We must have faith
The Lord will Guide You (v. 3)
Respect for the Divine (v. 4)
Some distance between the ark & people
Certain – that includes: deep fear of God
Includes: respect for God and all things pertaining to God
Means listen to instructions
Means confidence in his promises
Willing to put your life in his hands
It may be that your untrodden path calls for your to have a greater respect of the Divine!

16. God gives instructions for the challenges - We must have faith
The Divine Instruction
God gives instructions for the challenges - We must have faith
The Lord will Guide You (v. 3)
Respect for the Divine (v. 4)
Step in the Water (v. 13)
Step into the waters of the overflowing Jordan!
That is a real leap of faith!
Confidence that the waters will be held back just as God said!
Really believe that God can and will do what seems impossible!
It may be time for you to quit planning and worrying and just step into the water by faith (2 Cor. 5:7)

17. We’ve Not Passed This Way Before
Joshua 3:4
The Uncertain Challenges
The Divine Instruction
The Comforting Observations

18. Fundamental observations bring comfort in our challenges
The Comforting Observations
Fundamental observations bring comfort in our challenges
Way is New to You, But Not to your God
You have not been this way – but God has!
Crossing the sea & conquering enemies – God has done before!
Cast your cares upon him (1Pet. 5:7) – he knows what lies ahead
The God helping you (Phil. 4:13) has help multitudes before you with the same challenge!

19. Fundamental observations bring comfort in our challenges
The Comforting Observations
Fundamental observations bring comfort in our challenges
Way is New to You, But Not to your God
Way is New to You, But Not to God’s People
You have not been this way – but God’s people have!
Israel before – crossed Red Sea!
We are not the first to come to this point!
Whatever your uncertain challenge – God’s people have faced that before!

20. Fundamental observations bring comfort in our challenges
The Comforting Observations
Fundamental observations bring comfort in our challenges
Way is New to You, But Not to your God
Way is New to You, But Not to God’s People
Way is New to You, But Not More Dangerous
Deep waters of Jordan and the thought of people on the other side – had to look like danger!
Neither would be any more danger than the wilderness itself – If they follow close to God!
He will never leave nor forsake (Heb. 13;5)

21. Fundamental observations bring comfort in our challenges
The Comforting Observations
Fundamental observations bring comfort in our challenges
Way is New to You, But Not to your God
Way is New to You, But Not to God’s People
Way is New to You, But Not More Dangerous
Way is New to You, But God Has Always Been Faithful
Brought them out of Egypt
Brought them through the wilderness
Brought them to the promise land
Means: he will be with you through conquest
God will be with you and never leave you!

22. Fundamental observations bring comfort in our challenges
The Comforting Observations
Fundamental observations bring comfort in our challenges
Way is New to You, But Not to your God
Way is New to You, But Not to God’s People
Way is New to You, But Not More Dangerous
Way is New to You, But God Has Always Been Faithful
Way is New to You, But Path is in Right Direction
New to you – doesn’t mean it is the wrong path
Progress demands a new path!
Even if the way is uncertain and seems to be fearful, going in the right direction is comforting.

23. We’ve Not Passed This Way Before
Joshua 3:4
The Uncertain Challenges
The Divine Instruction
The Comforting Observations