Joshua-Part Three

FBC Baxley

September 10, 2025

Part Three

Joshua 3

1 Then Joshua rose early in the morning and they set out from Shittim. And they came to the Jordan, he and all the people of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over.

2 At the end of three days the officers went through the camp

3 and commanded the people, “As soon as you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall set out from your place and follow it.

4 Yet there shall be a distance between you and it, about 2,000 cubits in length. Do not come near it, in order that you may know the way you shall go, for you have not passed this way before.”

5 Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”

6 And Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on before the people.” So they took up the ark of the covenant and went before the people.

7 The Lord said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.

8 And as for you, command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, ‘When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’”

9 And Joshua said to the people of Israel, “Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God.”

10 And Joshua said, “Here is how you shall know that the living God is among you and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Perizzites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, and the Jebusites. 11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is passing over before you into the Jordan.

12 Now therefore take twelve men from the tribes of Israel, from each tribe a man.

13 And when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap.”

14 So when the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people,

15 and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest),

16 the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho.

17 Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan.

-Pray

Part 3 — Crossing the Jordan

Text: Joshua 3:1–4:24

Opening Story:

In 1859, tightrope walker Charles Blondin stretched a rope across Niagara Falls and walked across it in front of thousands.

He then asked the crowd if they believed he could push a man in a wheelbarrow across.

Everyone cheered.

But when Blondin asked for a volunteer to get inside the wheelbarrow, the crowd went silent.

Faith is never proven by applause—it is proven when we step in.

Israel faced a “wheelbarrow moment” at the flooded Jordan.

The waters were rushing, the riverbanks overflowing (Josh. 3:15), and yet God told His people to step forward before the miracle came.

Faith always precedes sight.

1. The Ark Leads the Way (Joshua 3:1–6)

The ark of the covenant—mentioned 17 times in chapters 3–4—stood as the visible symbol of God’s presence.

Joshua commands the people to keep about 2,000 cubits (roughly 1,000 yards) behind it (v. 4), a sacred distance reminding Israel that God is holy and must lead.

The Hebrew word for “ark” (’ārôn) conveys not just a box but a sacred chest of testimony, holding the tablets of the covenant.

As John MacArthur notes, “The ark was the earthly throne of the living God, the place where His glory dwelled among His people.”

God was showing Israel that His presence must always precede their progress.

2. The Priests Step First (Joshua 3:7–17)

God promises to exalt Joshua just as He did Moses (v. 7), authenticating his leadership.

The priests carrying the ark are told to step into the Jordan while it is still overflowing its banks (v. 15).

The verb “stand still” (Heb. ’amad) in verse 13 describes the priests remaining immovable until God acted.

The miracle parallels the Red Sea crossing, but with a twist: at the Red Sea, Moses lifted his staff and the waters parted before Israel moved (Ex. 14:21–22).

At the Jordan, the waters only stopped after the priests stepped in.

As W. A. Criswell remarked, “God sometimes parts the waters before us, but more often He waits for us to put our feet in the flood.”

Historically, the Jordan River in spring could swell to a mile wide.

For an estimated 2 million Israelites with children, livestock, and belongings, crossing apart from divine intervention would have been impossible.

God intentionally waited until the river was at flood stage so that His power would be undeniable.

3. Stones of Remembrance (Joshua 4:1–9)

God commands one man from each tribe to take a stone from the Jordan’s bed, where the priests stood, and set them up at Gilgal.

The Hebrew word for “memorial” (zikkārôn) means “a reminder, a record to bring to mind.”

These stones were tangible testimonies, so when future generations asked, “What do these stones mean?” (v. 6), Israel could recount the mighty works of God.

Dale Ralph Davis observes, “We are forgetful people, and God knows our memories must be anchored with visible reminders of His grace.”

Like Israel, we need gospel markers—crosses, ordinances, testimonies—that anchor our faith in the mighty acts of God.

4. The Purpose of the Crossing (Joshua 4:20–24)

Joshua summarizes the reason: first, “that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty” (v. 24a),

and second, “that you may fear the LORD your God forever” (v. 24b).

God’s miracles are never for spectacle but for the spread of His fame and the strengthening of His people’s faith.

Adrian Rogers once said, “God doesn’t do miracles to show off—He does them to show up, so that His glory is revealed, and our faith is renewed.”

The Jordan crossing was evangelistic (so the nations would know) and edifying (so Israel would trust).

Three Life Applications

Let God’s Presence Lead Your Steps. Just as the ark went first, we must let Christ go before us.

Decisions made apart from His leadership often lead to disaster.

The Spirit-filled believer asks daily: Am I following the Lord’s presence or running ahead in presumption?

2. Step into the Flood Before You See the Miracle. Faith is not waiting for waters to part before moving; it is moving so the waters can part.

Whatever “Jordan” you face—an uncertain future, a difficult calling, or a looming fear—faith requires you to put your feet in the water.

3. Mark God’s Faithfulness for the Next Generation. The memorial stones remind us to record God’s works for those who come after.

Testimonies, answered prayers, journals, and church celebrations are “stones” that declare God’s faithfulness.

What markers are you leaving behind for your children and grandchildren? Monument of our forefathers:

The National Monument to the Forefathers is an 81-foot-tall granite monument in Plymouth, Massachusetts, honoring the Pilgrims and the Mayflower passengers who helped establish the nation. 

Dedicated in 1889, the monument symbolizes the core values and principles that the monument's creators believed formed the foundation of the nation: Faith, Morality, Law, Education, and Liberty. 

It represents the sacrifices and commitment of the early settlers to their faith, beliefs and self-governance.  

Discussion Questions

Why was it important for the ark to go ahead of the people?

How do memorials help us remember God’s work?

What “river” are you facing that requires faith to step into?