7/25/2016

I love the book of Joshua and greatly respect the man Joshua. I feel that in Chapter 1 alone there is so much to be gleaned on how to walk by faith, how to stand waiting upon the Lord, how to trust Him, how to contend and war for the promises He has spoken to us, how to take our promised land.  All this in the first few verses of Chapter 1. And then there are countless more lessons and fleshed out examples for us in the proceeding 23 chapters that follow.

One day, as I sat reading the 4th chapter of Joshua, I was quite struck by the following verse:

Joshua 4:9
“Joshua set up the twelve stones that had been in the middle of the Jordan at the spot where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant had stood. And they are there to this day.” (emphasis mine.)

While reading, the below pieces struck me, and I’ve sketched out a bit of the significance embodied in each one which came to me while meditating upon this verse.

• twelve
• priests
• covenant
• set up

Twelve – number representing the 12 tribes of Israel, this number is also noted to denote authority in Scripture

Priests – represent those who make atonement for sin, are intercessors, are set apart for God, servants of God, holy lifestyle. Multiple facets to priestly service

Covenant – binding, contract, unshakable promise, everlasting

Set up – establish, to erect

in the middle of the Jordan – dead center of the impassable, confronting obstacle which stood as a barrier to their promised land

And the question arose. 

Why did the priests stand in the middle of the Jordan?

They could have stood right at its entrance while the people passed for Joshua 3:15 states that as soon as the priests’ feet touched the water’s edge the Jordan stopped flowing and the water piled up for the Israelites to pass.

They could have crossed over and stood on the river bed at the other side of the Jordan. The word of the Lord simply was, “Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.'”(Joshua 3:8) [no specific location for place in the river specified].

But they stood in the middle of the Jordan until the people passed over. (“The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan.” (Joshua 3:17)).

DECLARATION

Why did the priests stand in the middle of the Jordan?

There was a declaration that the priests were making by standing firm in the middle of the Jordan.   In the middle of what had once been an impassable obstacle to their crossing over to their promised land. Impassable, impossible, until they moved in faith to respond to God’s call.

As they walked into the Jordan they carried and then subsequently held up the ark of the covenant.  Standing firm in the middle of the Jordan river, they were declaring His TRUTH, His promise, His decree, His Presence.  They held up the sign of His covenant, His Presence for all the Israelite’s to see as they came up to and crossed over to the other side.  And the priests were unwavering as they stood, standing firm, holding their ground until all passed over.

Then Joshua had a man from each of the 12 tribes pick up a stone from the middle of the Jordan, from the location where the priests had stood, in order to set up a memorial on the crossed over side (Joshua 4:4-7).

What about you?  What are you declaring as you view your impassable obstacle which stands between you and your promised land?  Are you declaring His Presence with you as you stand firm waiting for Him to call?  Are you carrying His Presence with you as you by faith cross over when He says the time has come to take your land?  He is with you!