Day 93 – Joshua & Crossing the Jordan

• Hurrah! At last! The people have finally made it, and God – as He promised all those years back to Abraham – has lead them into the Promised Land. Following the bravery of the spies, and the faith of Rahab, the people are ready to march on in.
• In Exodus 19, we saw the people preparing themselves for three days before the giving of the Ten Commandments. Joshua 3 opens with a very similar command for the people before they march into Canaan. What benefits might the people have had from this time of getting ready?
• As the people followed the ark, how far behind did they have to walk? This equates to about half a mile (give or take) in today’s measurements. This distance gives a level of respect to God’s ark, but is close enough that the people could have seen it to follow it.
• What miracle did God perform to help the Israelites to enter the land? What other event does this miracle mirror from 40 years prior? What do you think this event might have had on the confidence of the people coming into the land (despite the fact God had been providing them with a miracle of food every day!).
• What did God instruct the people to do in order to remember the crossing of the Jordan river?
• The twelve stones were for the twelve tribes, indicating that God’s provision was for all the people. This is later reflected in the New Testament when Jesus picks twelve disciples. You’ll find this number cropping up in other places throughout the Bible, along with other significant numbers, such as 7 and 40. Can you think of instances where you have seen any of these numbers before?
• What does this miracle, and others in the Bible, say about God’s power? Do you ever remember that the God you worship now, who loves you deeply, is the same God who performed all these miracles?

Today’s passages are triumphant. We see Israel following God (literally and spiritually), the entry into the Promised Land, a mighty miracle and a strong and united group of people celebrating the love God has for them. But as we’ll read, this enthusiasm and exuberance won’t last. Think for yourself about your relationship with God. You follow Him, He’s promised eternal life through a miracle on the Cross, and we are all part of a church united in our love of God. What more could we want? So how’s your enthusiasm for living a life reliant on God going?

We’re coming up to Easter time soon. On Good Friday we remember Jesus’ death on the cross. Remember above I mentioned about the separation between the people and God as they followed the ark? This separation is one of the barriers that would be later broken down through the death that we’re thinking about today. This act of love reunited us with our Heavenly Father, bringing God not only to dwell with us, but in us, in our hearts, in the form of the Holy Spirit.

In Joshua 3 and 4, we see victory as the people reach the place that Abraham had been promised all those hundreds of years ago. God made a way for them to pass into the land through the raised waters, and by faith the people entered. On the cross we also see victory – a victory that brings us to our Promised Land. Jesus, raised too, but on a cross, made the way, and we come to him by faith.

Amidst the reminders of the pain, sorrow and suffering of our Lord on that “Good Friday” 2000 years ago, we can see victory and joy and reconciliation. Take time today to pray a prayer of thankfulness and praise for Jesus!