Place: Lurgan Baptist 30:11:2010
THE VICTORY OF FAITH
Reading: Joshua 4:1-24
6. THE JORDAN CROSSING
Some years ago President Jimmy Carter was on a tour that took him to several nations. The men who went with him said that the most touching and moving part of the whole trip was when President Carter stopped at Normandy Beach in France. He stood there looking at those markers, those monuments signifying that tremendous battle, which turned the tide of war and brought victory eventually to the Allies. It is said that the President was moved to tears as he looked at that monument and thought of the great price that was paid for our freedom. You see, we are accustomed to landmarks, monuments and those things that bring reminders to our hearts and minds. But what a strange memorial this was. A stack of twelve stones stood in a heap. They had been taken from the Jordan when Joshua and the Hebrews crossed over the riverbed en route to Canaan. The Lord had dried up the river so that His people could cross over, as He had done at the Red Sea forty years earlier. Therefore, Joshua was instructed to leave the stack of stones as a remembrance for generations to come. When children yet to be born would ask their parents, “ What do these stones mean ?” they would be told of God’s mighty acts and be encouraged to reverence Him forever.
Now if we believe that the history of Israel is typical
( 1 Cor 10:6 ) then their passage first, through the Red Sea, and then through the Jordan must have spiritual significance. By the passage through the Red Sea, the people were separated from a life of bondage in Egypt, and by the passage through the Jordan they were dedicated to a life of blessing in Canaan. The first experience was from something, and the second was to something. In the one case something lay behind them to which they could never return, and in the other case something lay before them towards which they pressed.
The parting out of the Red Sea was the Way Out, of the slavery of Egypt, the parting of the Jordan is the Way In to the Promised Inheritance. The first crossing was an Exit from Bondage, this second crossing is an Entrance into Blessing. The years of wandering defeat in the desert are at an end. They are about to enter into the fullness of blessings God had in mind for them when He brought them out of Egypt.
Now in this first part of the Book of Joshua the central feature is the Jordan River, and in relation to it three distinct movements are discernible. (1) To the River:
( Ch’s 1-2 ) (2) Through the River: ( Ch’s 3-4 ) (3) From the River: ( 5:1-12 ) Now our subject this .... is, The Jordan Crossing. I want to deal with it in a three fold way. I want us to look at The Jordan Crossing
(1) Generally: (2) Practically: (3) Spiritually:
(1) THE GENERAL TEACHING OF THE JORDAN
CROSSING
It seems to me that one word sums up the general thrust of this passage. And that word is obedience. It’s significant that time and again in this section we have this particular pattern unfolded. God’s command to Joshua, Joshua’s communication of that command to the people, and the fulfilment of that command by the people. Thus the keyword here is obedience. It starts with God, and God says something then Gods servant obeys, and passes on the command to the people, and the people in turn obey and the Divine Command is fulfilled. Now it seems to me very significant that this should be the pattern in a period of Israel’s history when by in large everything went right for them. Although there were one or two notable exceptions, the period of history that we are dealing with in the Book of Joshua is one characterised by obedience to God, and surely this is why things went right for Israel.
Here is a simple, but fundamental lesson. When God speaks His servants should hear, heed, and obey. And when in turn they pass on the Word of the Lord to the people they too should be characterised by obedience. When they do, things go right when they don’t things go wrong. So it’s always wise for us when things go wrong, to go back to the first principles and have a good long hard look at ourselves, and see if this kind of pattern is in fact going to default in our lives. Obedience then is the general thrust of this passage and we see this obedience in the leaders and the priests. You see,
:
(a) THE LEADERS OBEYED IN SPITE OF THE STRENUOUS TASK:
Look if you will at ( 4:2-3, 8 ) Now this was no easy task to those who were selected. When these men reached the midst of the river, they each picked up a large stone and carried it about six miles to Gilgal where the nation encamped for the night. Gilgal was about two miles from Jericho and excluding the transjordan was the first territory in Canaan claimed by Israel for their inheritance. These had to be men of superb strength. To carry a large stone a few feet is often a difficult task, but to carry a large stone for miles requires extra-ordinary strength. You see here were twelve men representing the nation chosen for this arduous task. In New Testament terms can we not see a picture of the eldership here ? You see, while it is an honour to be chosen for this specific work it is no easy task to those who take it seriously and conscientiously. We need men of God who are not merely elders by name, but those who will exercise their function Biblically. I tell you the shoulders of these men must have been sore when they reached Gilgal. As the leaders they knew what it was to bear the burden. Is that what those of us in leadership are doing ?
Do we know what it is to bear the burdens of God’s people ? I feel at times, brethren we are so caught up with the material, that the spiritual has been forgotten. Paul after describing the many hardships involved in the work of the Lord, puts as it were their climax in the well-known words “ that which cometh upon me daily the care of all the churches.” ( 2 Cor 11:28) And all who shoulder the care of the saints know something of what that entails. (a)
(b) THE PRIESTS OBEYED IN SPITE OF THE OBVIOUS TEST:
Now there was the
1. The Test of Stepping in the Jordan:
Do you recall God told Joshua to command “ the priests that bare the ark of the covenant saying, when ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan.” ( 3:8 ) What that not a test of their faith ? I mean God had promised to part the Jordan when the priests walked into it. ( 3:13 ) But to human reasoning it was folly. Imagine walking into the flooded waters of Jordan carrying the most precious cargo, the ark. But then when God’s commands are clear, we have only one duty, obey. Faith will not be disappointed. My …. we must get our feet wet if we expect the Lord to work on our behalf. He only asks us to take a step into it and He will do the rest. 1.
2. The Test of Staying in the Jordan:
Look if you will at ( 4:10 ) Can you imagine the time it would take for all the Israelites to pass over ? Someone has said at the rate of 2,000 per minute it would take eight hours or more for all to cross over Jordan. And the priests stood by their appointed task until they were commanded to come out of Jordan. ( 4:16 ) I mean could you have taken this experience in your stride ? Think about it for a moment. The waters of Jordan were towering miraculously, mysteriously, above them, held back, by some mighty, mysterious, unseen hand. Now they were not supermen , they were ordinary mortals, but here they are standing firm, in what must have been a severe test of their faith, courage and patience. Is this not the kind of attitude that God expects ? Is this not the kind of steadfastness that God desires in His work ? We live in a day and age when few remain at their post of duty for any length of time. We see it in the work place, in the assembly, in marriage. My …. can God depend on you unquestioningly to stand where He has placed you, and to stand there as long as He wants you to stand, and to stand there until He tells you to move ? Are you dependable like that ? Obedience. For “ to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” ( 1 Sam 15:22 ) (1)
(2) THE PRACTICAL TEACHING OF THE JORDAN CROSSING
You see there are three practical lessons’s that you and I need to learn from Israel’s experience at this time. Here’s the first one. We are,
(a) TO MEMORISE THE WONDER’S OF GODS WORKS:
Now two heaps of stones were set up as memorials of Israel’s crossing of the Jordan River. There were twelve stones at Gilgal, ( 4:1-8 10-24 ) and twelve stones in the midst of the river. ( 4:9 ) Some scholars do not believe there was any built in Jordan, but claim that there was only one heap, the one at Gilgal. Those who see only one heap read the clause in ( 4:9 ) as “ from the midst of Jordan,” instead of “ in the midst of Jordan.” Now even though we read of no divine direction to Joshua to set up this second heap, we may be sure that Joshua was not acting without it. At least, God did not reproach him for doing it. Now this heap of twelve stones at Gilgal was a reminder of what God did for His people. You see, Gilgal became the place of Remembrance. ( 4:8 20 ) These twelve stones were a lasting and enduring memory of what happened that day. Indeed this monument of stones was designed as a “ sign,” unto Israel. ( 4:6 ) It was to be a message for their hearts through their eyes rather than their ears. It was to be a lasting sermon in stone. You see, God wants us to have memorials so we don’t forget. He preserved Noah and his family through the flood, and then gave them the memorial of the rainbow. From that day on, we can look up at a rainbow and remember how God delivered Noah, and has promised never again to destroy the earth by water. God gave the Israelites the Ark of the Covenant that they carried with them. Inside the Ark, was the law, the stone tablets to remember when God had given His people a code of conduct by which to live.
There was the manna by which God fed His people during their forty years of wandering. Why manna ? It was another memorial to the fact that God can feed people right there in the desert were there were no restaurants. My …. God has given us some memorials in our day. Baptism through immersion is a memorial to our relationship with the Lord Jesus in His death, burial and resurrection. What about the Breaking of Bread ? Every time we come to the Lord’s Supper we refer to it as the memorial supper. It is a reminder to us of His death, burial and resurrection. The bread speaks of His body, the wine speaks of His blood. The Lord was wise He instituted memorials. Why ? Because we have a tendency to forget.
My .... are the wonderful works of God not worth treasuring in our memories ? So often its our misfortunes that ask loudly to be remembered. It’s the slights we receive, the injuries we endure, and the disappointments we have. All these things are clamouring to be remembered. John Foster says, “ Some memories are only hooks to hang grudges on.” And the result is depression. But how different it is when, we remember God’s benefits to us and Gods blessings upon us ? Tell me, do you know what it is to memorise the wonders of God’s works ? To “ remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee.” ( Deut 8:2 ) Do you frequently call to mind your previous experiences of God’s faithfulness and His power which He exercised on your behalf ? Is this not what the Psalmist did ? Look if you will at ( Ps 77:7-14 )
Now remembering like that should deepen our confidence, strengthen our thanksgiving, and quicken our hearts. So often we remember our burdens, but it’s much better to remember our blessings. It’s not necessary for us to build stone memorials, but if might be of help to take a small note book and daily jot down the blessings of His day. For God “ daily loadeth us with benefits.”
( Ps 68:19 ) (a)
(b) TO RECOGNISE THE UNITY OF GOD'S PEOPLE:
Look if you will at ( 4:8 ) This memorial was comprised of twelve stones taken up by one man out of each tribe.
( 4:2 ) Now that is interesting when you recall that two and a half tribes ( 4:12 ) had received their inheritance on the east bank of the River Jordan. Yet this memorial on the west bank must have in it not nine or ten stones but twelve stones to signify the oneness of the people of God. My .... in this age of numerous and various denominations we must never lose sight of the essential oneness of God’s people. Separated though we are by party labels, and walls, we are members of the same family, sharing a
“ common salvation.” ( Jude 3 ) Yes, we are to recognise the unity of God’s people. And we are to promote that unity within the framework of the local church. (Eph 4:3) But how ? Well is it not interesting to notice ( 4:12-13 ) that those who received an inheritance on the east side of Jordan, “ passed over armed before the children of Israel.” (4:12 ) You see they were ready to help their brethren in the time of conflict. Is this not what we are to do ?
My .... we cannot go it alone. For years fundamental churches have stressed the three “ B’s,” the Blood, the Bible, and the Blessed Hope. Today we need to add a fourth emphasis Brother. A Christian living alone in a large city lamented that, if she died after work on Friday, the first to miss her would probably be her fellow-workers on Monday morning, not her fellow-believers on Sunday morning. Yet the New Testament is full of reminders of our duties to one another. For example we are to Love one another. ( Jn 13:34 ) Edify one another. ( Rom 14:19 )