Phil continued our series looking at Joshua, in particular the crossing the Jordan River
Introduction
Joshua 3 Verse 7 – 17
• The beginning of their mission to move into and take the land God has promised to them
• They were a People on a Mission a people who God cared passionately about.
• The first obstacle is to get across the Jordan River.
History
• HE BROUGHT THEM OUT TO BRING THEM IN,
that is he brought them out of slavery in Egypt, he made his presence physically known, he fed them with manna everyday and cared for them for 40 years, now he’s going to bring them into the best land that has everything they could want or desire a land that was rich, a fertile land a land that would provide all they needed.
Newfrontiers - Together on a globe mission
Verse 1
The move from Acacia grove to the banks of the Jordan river
Verse 2 to 4
Instructions for crossing the Jordan
Verse 5
Purify yourselves, perpetration for seeing the miraculous
Heard what God did for their ancestors
Now see what God will do for them
Verse 6
Making sure the ark of the covenant is in the right place
The ark symbolises the presence of God with then
It contained the 2 tablets with the ten commandments and Aaron's Staff
What’s next?
For Joshua? Verse 7 & 8
• God appointed leader he was there when they came out of Egypt
• He went through the Red Sea
• He went to spy the land
• He had served Moses and unknown servant
• He was a man of God Full of faith
• Joshua was to have the same recognition as Moses received from God
• Joshua had clear instructions as to what God intended to happen
• God chose this time to show to the people that Joshua was Gods mans appointed for this time
• We can see why God had said to Joshua be bold and very courageous he needed to be,
• God asked him to do things that would take courage
For the People - Verse 9 to 13
• Camped by the river in Springtime
• The river was now in flood
• Not the time to cross
• God was about to show himself to be great among the people
• They were to listen to the words of the Lord their God – Sometimes we can forget to Listen to our God or chose to ignore him as we think we know better.
• This is how you will know that God is among you (Physical Evidence)
• Clear instruction and guidance
Verse 14 to 17
The people went to cross the Jordan
In flood and impossible to cross
Miraculous follows obedience
Not an insignificant miracle
Presence of God necessary for the miraculous
Everyone crosses on dry ground
Obstacles are Gods opportunities to show us his love and grace and his mighty power to
Gods Heart is to do you good to work out in you his work of Love and Grace beyond our human understanding
Sometimes he has to take us out to bring us in
I mean by that he brings us to places where we have to make a decision to leave behind and to move into a new place god has for us
The familiar is always more comfortable, why does it have to change?
Hebrews 13 v 20-21
A great shepherd of the sheep – God equipping us with everything good for doing his will and working in us what is pleasing to him
In verse 9 the writer says this “it is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace”( esv)
Questions
1) the people of God were told to purify themselves and they would see God do wonderful things, why was this important to do?
2) They were told to to follow the instructions because they had not been this way before, how is this relevant to us?
3) the Jordan river was in flood why did God choose this time for them to cross, what does it say about God? what does it say about the people? What does it teach us?
4) Hebrews 13 we find the writing asking God to equip us with everything Good to do his will and that our hearts will be strengthened in In Grace.
Are there any areas in which you need either equipping or strengthening? Share and pray for one another.
