Crossing the Jordan, Part 1 - Consecration
Joshua 3v3-5
25th September 2015
Two Israelite spies had just returned from Jericho, bringing a report that "The LORD has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us" (Joshua 2v24). After 40 years of wandering, it was time to take the land God had promised.
What territory has God promised you that you still haven't taken? What has God spoken to you that has not yet been fulfilled? What biblical promises have you read that you know should apply to your life but you don't see their reality yet? It's not too late. God doesn't forget. Perhaps the time for you to cross the Jordan and take the land is right now.
Joshua 3v3-4
Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped
before crossing over.
After three days the officers went throughout the camp,
giving orders to the people: "When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the Levitical priests
carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it.
Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about two
thousand cubits between you and the ark; do not go near it."
The Israelite officers gave some common-sense directions to the people. They warned them not to lose sight of the Ark of the Covenant, because that's how they'd know where to go.
And we, of course, need to keep our eyes on the covenant God has made with us. We must never take our eyes off Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, slain for us. How will we know what to do with our lives if we ignore our Lord and Saviour? We must pray every day, asking God to lead us. How many of the promises over our lives remain unfulfilled because we've taken our eyes of our Leader?
They also told the people to keep their distance from the ark - about 1000 yards. You can't follow something unless you stay behind it. Jesus is our leader as well as our Saviour. We need to behave as his followers, not just his companions. And by keeping their distance, they also showed proper respect to the holy Ark. We Christians have an intimate relationship with God through Jesus Christ, but we must never lose our sense of reverence towards Him. He is God, and we are not.
Joshua also had an instruction for God's people:
Joshua 3v5
Joshua told the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you."
Do you want God to do amazing things in your life, and in your church? Then consecrate yourself. God wants a holy people. Take some time to pray, and ask God what you need to do to prepare yourself to move forwards in His plan. What does God want you to do? What does He want you to stop doing? And pray for the determination to obey whatever He says.
2 Timothy 2v20-21
In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble
purposes and some for ignoble.
If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master
and prepared to do any good work.
They'd waited 40 years to receive the inheritance God had promised them, and tomorrow would be the day they finally entered in. Who knows what God wants to do in your life tomorrow?