Oh, am I mistaken? Was it supposed to be Noah and the ark? Hmmmmm. Read on.
Moses had died. He had completed all his reminding the Israelites the things God had showed them, how He protected them during their 40 year traipsing through the wilderness. How He had provided for them...even how He had been angered at their disobedience, but still forgave them. What a glorious God we have. His love never fails...for those who dedicate themselves to Him.
By God's command, Joshua was chosen to lead Israel over the Jordan River to the promised land. He had proven himself dedicated to the LORD. They would need him as leader as they battled the enemies for their land. But Joshua didn't just hold up a sword and say Follow me as they moved on. No, he wanted them again to understand that their God was with them and He would do wonders.
So what did Joshua do to lead them? He had the ark of the LORD carried by the priests be the first to cross over the Jordan River. Like Moses and Israel crossing over the Red Sea on dry ground, here the Israelites would experience the same...because the LORD was with them and prepared the dry path across the Jordan as the soles of the priests carrying the ark stepped into the water.
I say all this to make yet another point! If we place God first and foremost in our lives, He promises to make ways, as a song states, where there seem to be no ways. When we step out in faith, He steps out ahead and guides us through tough times. He knows our enemy awaits us at every turn but when we stick close to Him we will know that "the living God is among you, and that He will without fail drive out from before you the (enemy)" (Joshua 3:10).
This doesn't mean there won't be a battle. Even death might occur...but if we know the Lord Jesus and are in constant communion with and trust in Him, even in death we have life eternal. A win-win situation. Hallelujah.
After all of the Israelites had crossed over the Jordan on dry land they were to set up a monument of stones as a memorial of yet another time God had been with them. We can have memorials all throughout our lives of times when the Lord has redeemed us. They are our testimonials. Some will be small testimonies, some will be large. But they should be dotted throughout our lives (in Christ).
What happened next? God exalted Joshua before the people. The people's response? They feared (reverenced) Joshua like they did Moses. And shouldn't that be the response for us? That people who know when we express how God has aided us in some way might revere Him and perhaps see a need for His presence in their lives too?
And there's more. As those priests who carried the ark stepped foot from the dry ground of the Jordan back onto the dry ground of the promised land, the water assumed its position in the river bed as before...even to overflowing the banks.
Israel had more testimonies to show how the LORD their God had been with them. Let's let our God show us what He can do for us that others might see, know and follow this wonderful Lord we serve. Let us begin to recognize all the testimonies in our lives and cause them to become memorials to His love and faithfulness to those who love and are faithful to Him.
Joshua 4:22,24 - ...you shall let your children know, saying, "Israel crossed over this Jordan on dry land...that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever."
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