Joshua

Joshua 3: God stops the Jordan for Israel

Begin in prayer

Before coming to the Jordan with Israel in Joshua 3, please remember that the living God rules the waters. Pray that we would hear His Word with care and see our need for the rescue Jesus gives.

The Egyptians shall know that I am Yahweh, when I stretch out my hand on Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.”

Exodus 7:5

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Teach us that You rule the waters, and show us Jesus, who alone can bring sinners to You. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Joshua and Israel camp beside the Jordan, and the officers tell the people to follow the ark at the appointed distance. The LORD promises to begin magnifying Joshua so Israel will know He is with him as He was with Moses. Joshua announces that the waters will be cut off when the priests' feet rest in the Jordan. The river overflows its banks at harvest, but its waters stand in a heap far away. All Israel crosses on dry ground while the priests stand in the middle of the Jordan.

As you read Joshua 3, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD, the living God, goes before Israel and stops the Jordan so they cross on dry ground.

Israel camped beside the Jordan at harvest time, when the river overflows all its banks (verses 1 and 15). The people had never gone this way, so they followed the priests who carried the ark (verses 3 and 4). Joshua told the people to sanctify themselves, for the LORD would do wonders among them the next day (verse 5). The LORD promised to magnify Joshua, so that Israel would know He was with him as with Moses (verse 7). Joshua said this would show that the living God was among them, and would drive out the peoples of the land (verse 10). God had told Abraham long before that the sin of the Amorites would one day be full (Genesis 15 verse 16). When the priests' feet touched the water, the river stood in one heap at Adam, and Israel crossed (verses 13 to 16). The same God who dried up the Red Sea now went ahead of Israel into the Jordan.

How does Joshua 3 show us that the LORD, the living God, goes before Israel and stops the Jordan so they cross on dry ground?

The LORD tells Israel how to follow the ark.

The officers told the people to leave their places and follow the ark when they saw it (verse 3). They were to keep a space between themselves and the ark, so that they would know the way (verse 4). Joshua also told them to sanctify themselves, for the LORD would do wonders the next day (verse 5).

God announces that the water will be cut off.

The LORD said that when the priests' feet rested in the Jordan, the waters would be cut off (verse 13). Joshua called Him the Lord of all the earth (verse 11). Peter said that Jesus Christ is Lord of all (Acts 10 verse 36).

All Israel crosses on dry ground.

The Jordan was in flood, but the waters from above stood in one heap far away at Adam (verses 15 and 16). The priests stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the river (verse 17). All the nation passed over, and they crossed near Jericho (verses 16 and 17).

Memorise

Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passes over before you into the Jordan.

Joshua 3:11

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, why do I need Jesus to forgive my sin?

The priests who carried the ark of the LORD's covenant stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, and all Israel crossed over. Israel was safe because the living God went before them. Jesus is Lord of all, and He came to bring sinners to God (1 Peter 3 verse 18).

No one can make a path through a flooded river. No one can make a path to God by his own goodness, because sin stands in the way. Jesus died for His people on the cross and suffered their punishment, so that nothing is left for them to pay. Then He rose, and death had no hold on Him.

So please turn from your sin and come to Jesus. Trust Him, and He will bring you to God. His death is the only way your sins can be forgiven.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the living God went before Israel and stopped the Jordan, and that Jesus is Lord of all. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for stopping the Jordan so Israel could cross on dry ground, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

He turned the sea into dry land. They went through the river on foot. There, we rejoiced in him.

Psalm 66:6

Lord God, thank You for Your power over the overflowing Jordan. We need Your mercy more than we need an easy path. Please turn us from sin and teach us to believe in Jesus. Help our family listen to Your Word this week and give You the glory for saving sinners. Amen.