Joshua Chapter 3

Joshua – Chapter 3

Distributed by: KJV Bible Studies

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Introduction: In our study last week Joshua prepared the people to move across Jordan and into the promised land. The two spies were sent out, and Rahab helped the men escape without harm from Jericho. This week, we see the people make the crossing of Jordan during one of the times of the year when the water flowed the greatest.

We open the chapter seeing the long season of preparation ending and the time has drawn nigh for the people to finally enter the land that was promised years before to the forefathers. The people had wandered 40 years in the desert after leaving Egypt, and in God’s time, they now are about to enter the land prepared for them.

We should learn from this that our timing may not match our Heavenly Father’s timing, but He knows better for us than even we know for ourselves. Remember how the people of Canaan feared the Israelites in last week's lesson?

Josh 2:9 And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.

Josh 2:10 For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.

Josh 2:11 And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.

Just like God went before the Israelites, God goes before us today.

John 10:4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

John 10:5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

I. Standing at the Jordan

Josh 3:1 And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over.

Josh 3:2 And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host;

Josh 3:3 And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it.

Josh 3:4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.

Josh 3:5 And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.

Josh 3:6 And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people.

The people faced a great obstacle in the Jordan River. No obstacle is too great for our God, and the people were behind Joshua. We see in verse 1 that Joshua rose early in the morning, ready to get on with the task at hand. We need to be this way, not lazy in the work of the Lord, but ready to give our all to the Lord. We need to always diligently be about God’s work.

Col 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

Col 3:24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

Joshua was not afraid of the task before him. The people of Israel could have been like their forefathers and murmured and complained as they did in the wilderness, but they did not. They laid hold of the promise that within 3 days they would cross over Jordan. They went forward in faith and obedience which is very pleasing to God.

Josh 1:11 Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the LORD your God giveth you to possess it.

The Israelites did not know how they would cross Jordan, but they just went forward in faith believing that if God promised they would cross this river, He would provide the way. Our path of duty sometimes may ask for us to do something that we don’t know how we can accomplish it, but if it is the true calling of God, believe me, God will provide the way. When we set out to build this new church building, no one was sure where the money would come from.

But since the beginning of our church a few years ago, I’ve been the treasurer and we have never had a shortfall of money. Rather, each time we take on a new missionary at the pastor’s request, it is like the windows of heaven open up and the offerings increase even more than the new expense. Is God able to provide or what? Yes God promises to provide, and what God promises to do, He delivers. There were two times a year that the river Jordan reached flood stage, normally in the Fall and in the Spring. It was now overflowing its banks, as we see in verse 15.

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