Crossing the Jordan with the Ark of the Covenant

1. Read: Deuteronomy 31:24-26

2. About the Text:

1) The Ark of the Covenant was made at the beginning of the wilderness journeys.

2) Wherever the pillar of cloud went, that is where the Ark went (Numbers 10:33-36).

3) At the end of Deuteronomy, their wanderings are at an end.

4) Moses has written the law, and he puts it in the Ark.

5) This was added to the 10 commandments which were already in the Ark.

6) Joshua will lead God’s people into the promised land with the Ark before them.

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. God gave instructions for how to cross the Jordan river.

1) The priests were to carry the ark (Joshua 3:3).

2) The people were to follow and stay at 1000 yards from the Ark (Joshua 3:4).

3) The priests were to step into the waters of the Jordan river before they were held back (Joshua 3:8).

2. God has always expected man to demonstrate faith in Him.

1) Noah was commanded to build the ark (Genesis 6:14; Hebrews 11:7).

2) Abraham was commanded to sacrifice his son Isaac (Genesis 22:2; Hebrews 11:17).

3) Moses forsook Egypt (Exodus 2:15; Hebrews 11:27)

3. We act on faith when we follow God’s instructions today.

1) Being baptized for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).

2) Partaking of the Lord’s Supper every first day of the week (Acts 20:28).

3) Singing praises to God without instrumental accompaniment (Ephesians 5:19).

4) Teaching the gospel to the lost (Matthew 28:19).

5) Getting up and going to the first day of school (Colossians 3:16).

1. God promised that He would be among them and help them fight their enemies.

1) “And Joshua said, ‘By this you shall know that the living God is among you, and that He will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites…’” (Joshua 3:10a).

2) “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” (Joshua 3:13).

3) Read Joshua 3:15-17.

2. God has promised His presence with us today.

1) The presence of the Holy Spirit is promised (Ephesians 2:22).

2) The presence of Jesus Christ is promised (Matthew 28:20).

3) The presence of God the Father is promised (Ephesians 4:6).

3. It is incumbent upon us to acknowledge God’s presence in our lives.

1) “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).

2) “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” (Hebrews 13:5).

1. It took some patience for all of Israel to cross the Jordan river.

1) Some estimate there were over a million people there.

2) The priests had to stand in the middle of the river bed holding the ark that whole time.

3) They probably got tired of standing there.

2. God wants us to be patient as we go through life.

1) “My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful” (James 5:10-11).

2) “And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (Hebrews 6:11-12).

3. We must be patient in all trials that come our way.

1) “And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise” (Hebrews 6:15).

2) “You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand” (James 5:8).

1. God wanted them to remember the crossing.

1) He instructed Joshua to gather twelve stones for a monument (Joshua 4:2-3).

2) They were to be a memorial (Joshua 4:7).

3) They also set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan itself (Joshua 4:9).

4) When everyone crossed and the priests returned to land, the waters came back (Joshua 4:18).

5) Read Joshua 4:21-24.

2. God was faithful to do all that He had promised.

1) “in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began” (Titus 1:2).

2) “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

3. We must believe God’s promises and let them motivate us to act.

1) “and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform” (Romans 4:21).

2) “And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life” (1 John 2:25).

3) “Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise” (Galatians 4:28).

1. Crossing the Jordan River with the Ark of the Covenant teaches . . .

1) Man’s Faith

2) God’s Presence

3) Man’s Patience

4) God’s Faithfulness

2. Invitation