CROSSING THE JORDAN

INTRO

Joshua 1:1–3 (ESV)

God Commissions Joshua

1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses.

Joshua 1:1–3 (RVR95BTO)

1 Aconteció después de la muerte de Moisés, siervo de Jehová, que Jehová habló a Josué hijo de Nun, servidor de Moisés, y le dijo: 2 «Mi siervo Moisés ha muerto. Ahora, pues, levántate y pasa este Jordán, tú y todo este pueblo, hacia la tierra que yo les doy a los hijos de Israel. 3 Yo os he entregado, tal como lo dije a Moisés, todos los lugares que pisen las plantas de vuestros pies.

5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you.

Joshua 1:5–7 (RVR95BTO)

5 Nadie podrá hacerte frente en todos los días de tu vida: como estuve con Moisés, estaré contigo; no te dejaré ni te desampararé. 6 Esfuérzate y sé valiente, porque tú repartirás a este pueblo como heredad la tierra que juré dar a sus padres. 7 Solamente esfuérzate y sé muy valiente, cuidando de obrar conforme a toda la Ley que mi siervo Moisés te mandó; no te apartes de ella ni a la derecha ni a la izquierda, para que seas prosperado en todas las cosas que emprendas.

-After the death of Moses, God quickly raised another leader. He did not want to make the people feel forsaken after the death of Moses.

-I think that a lot of times we can relate with the Israelites after the death of Moses, their leader. With the challenges in our lives, the hardships and the relationships, after loss of people, property, opportunity, we find ourselves— hopeless. The door that we hoped God would open never opened. You were so close, yet so far. The person that you looked up to, inspired you, made you a better person, you loved, is gone.

God knew that the challenges ahead in Joshua’s time of leadership would be difficult; life is difficult. This is why in the first verses God places emphasis to be Strong and courageous.

-As with Moses, God reassured His promise with Joshua.

-The Lord God is with you wherever you go.

PRAY

Kern River

At the mouth of the Kern Canyon reads a sign with the number 307. Since 1968, 307 people have died in the Kern River. It sends chills down your spine, like waiting in line at your most feared roller coaster. As a driver you are afraid of rolling off the cliff. If you are out for an adventure or dip, it reminds that the river has great power. It will sweep you away… It is not a force to be reckoned with.

Thesis: The other side is where you were meant to be. // Al otro lado del rio, es donde debes estar

BODY

After sending spies into Jericho, Joshua tells the people that today God will do wonders amongst them and to consecrate themselves to God (sanctificados, porque manana Dios hara maravillas entre nosotros). God tells Joshua that He would begin to exalt him in the sight of Israel. He would be proven as the peoples new leader.

-Crossing the read sea was exiting slavery, Crossing the Jordan meant entering the promised land

-Exodus 14-15 the Israelites crossing the red sea confirmed Moses as their leader. The Israelites crossing the Jordan confirmed Joshua as their leader.

THE JORDAN

What was in front of them? The Jordan. A river that expanded over 100 miles in zigzag formation from Mt Hermon (Monte Hermon) , to the dead sea.

In order to appreciate the miracle that God was about to perform for the people, we need to understand the topography.

-The Jordan river was at the flood stage. During the months of March-April currents would reach up to 40mph because of the ice melting from Mt Hermon.

-Filled with tangled brush and dense weeds

-It was about a 100ft long, anywhere from 4-12 ft deep

- Crossing the Jordan would seem impossible, they would truly need a miracle.

-The pitched their tents there for 3 days.

-The strong might be able to cross the river, but what about our children? The sickly or elderly? All our possessions on wagons?

-They were stagnant. Another barrier. A river.

CROSSING THE JORDAN

God gave detailed instruction to Joshua. He would show the people that He was going before them. First the Ark of the covenant. The presence of God! He would make the way. He told them to grab 12 stones representing 12 tribes. The evidence of the mighty works of God to tell the future generations.

Joshua 4:19–24 (ESV)

19 The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they encamped at Gilgal on the east border of Jericho. 20 And those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up at Gilgal. 21 And he said to the people of Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in times to come, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 22 then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, 24 so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.”

Joshua 4:19–24 (RVR95BTO)

19 El pueblo partió del Jordán el día diez del primer mes y acamparon en Gilgal, al oriente de Jericó. 20 Josué erigió en Gilgal las doce piedras que habían traído del Jordán. 21 Y dijo a los hijos de Israel: «Cuando mañana os pregunten vuestros hijos: “¿Qué significan estas piedras?”, 22 diréis a vuestros hijos: “Israel pasó en seco por este Jordán, 23 porque Jehová, vuestro Dios, secó las aguas del Jordán delante de vosotros, hasta que pasasteis, de la misma manera que Jehová, vuestro Dios, había hecho en el Mar Rojo, el cual secó delante de nosotros hasta que pasamos, 24 para que todos los pueblos de la tierra conozcan que la mano de Jehová es poderosa, y para que temáis a Jehová, vuestro Dios, todos los días”».

Where there was no way, God made a way.

Crossing the Jordan was important for two reasons:

- A sign to all people that God is mighty

- A call for action to fear God all their days, an accord to him the worship and allegiance.

APPLICATION

How does the crossing of the Jordan apply to me?

In our lives we are going to face impossible situations! There will be moments in which we are going to feel as if we were so close, but all hope was lost. And even when it feels and looks like that, I know that my God keeps His word.

The truth is that there will be several Jordans that will stretch before us and the challenges will seem impossible.

Be attentive to God’s voice, move when He moves. Consecrate yourself, he goes in front of us. He leads the way.

Those impossible situations are suddenly possible!

As we stand on the brink of the God-sized future and consider the obstacles that hinder us, it can feel like we're facing an impossible task between here and there. But these things are no match for the God of the Uncrossable! He knows how to get you from stuck to triumphant! Just look.

CONCLUSION

One day, and perhaps you already have, you will tell the God-stories to the generation that comes after us. Like the 12 stones, you will be the evidence of God’s outstanding work. What seemed impossible to man, was possible with God.

Perhaps today you are having a hard time truly grasping this. The Jordan in front of you is too great, too powerful and unpredictable. There is too much loss, too much to risk. You are stagnant. You don’t want to move, even though God is telling you to trust his lead.

Lean in. Be strong and courageous