Lesson 7

Some time after Moses passed away, God commanded Joshua (who was appointed in place of Moses) to lead the children of Israel across the Jordan River to the promised land.

Place: Crossing the Jordan

Bible References: Joshua 3:14-17

What?

God commanded the priests (sons of Aaron) to carry the Ark of the Covenant on their shoulders and go before the children of Israel. As the priests carrying the ark set foot in the Jordan river, the water stopped flowing. Upstream, the river gathered into a heap far away from the place the children of Israel were crossing. Downstream, the water flowed on. After the Israelites had crossed over, Joshua took 12 stones and placed them in the place where the priests stood with the ark. Then he commanded 12 other stones to be taken from the place where the priests stood and carried them over into the Land of Canaan to a place called Gilgal and created a memorial there.

Why?

Philippians 3:10

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

Crossing the Jordan river is comparable to crossing over into the other side of eternity. Before that happens, however, as we near the end of our Christian journey, our trials become harder and greater like the water heaping up.

The waters stopped as soon as the feet of the priests touched the water. The priests here symbolize the consecrated servants of God - those who contend for the truth once and for all delivered to them (Jude 1:3). When the church goes through these trials and tribulations, she needs the ministry of consecrated servants of God to help them.

Joshua 4:9, 20

And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there unto this day.

And those twelve stones, which they took out of Jordan, did Joshua pitch in Gilgal.

The 12 stones removed from the Jordan and placed in Gilgal speak about enduring trials while emerging victorious and not counting our lives dear to ourselves. They are a memorial of what God did at the river Jordan.

The 12 stones placed in the Jordan speak about standing firm for the truth in the fellowship and support of the consecrated servants of God in the face of trials.

We should always stand by and support servants of God who contend for the truth and also be ready to face trials that come our way to overcome them.