Joshua 3:1-17
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Listening to the Living God
Listening to the Living God
Joshua, the priest, the people LISTENED to the instructions of God.
God has appointed people in leadership like Joshua, the priest, the 12 representatives...to be faithful and dependable.
Likewise, we also believe that God will put people in leadership in his Local Church to be faithful and dependable. People who listens, understands, and obey God.
Let this passage of Scripture...
rebuke us if we are not listening...
encourages us when we have problems listening....
and teaches us to listen all the more to our Living God.
Narrative Outline
I. They are told to FOLLOW the Leading of the Ark of the Covenant (vv.1-4)
I. They are told to FOLLOW the Leading of the Ark of the Covenant (vv.1-4)
1 Then Joshua rose early in the morning; and he and all the sons of Israel set out from Shittim and came to the Jordan, and they lodged there before they crossed. 2 At the end of three days the officers went through the midst of the camp; 3 and they commanded the people, saying, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God with the Levitical priests carrying it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it.
Ark of the Covenant - repeated 8 times in chapter 3.
- Symbolizes the presence of the LORD that goes with His people.
- The ark went before Israel in the wilderness journeys “to find them a place to rest”
Numbers 10:33
Show the Picture of the Ark of the Covenant.
- It also symbolizes the Gospel - the mercy seat is sprinkled with atoning blood of a lamb - in the NT, it is the atoning blood of the lamb of God Jesus Christ.
God went ahead of them - nag una ang Ark of the Lord
God goes ahead of us, leading us.
He leads, we follow, and we experience his hands at work.
They don’t know HOW they will cross the Jordan, by FAITH they listened and obeyed.
4 “However, there shall be between you and it a distance of about 2,000 cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you shall go, for you have not passed this way before.”
2000 cubits - 965 meters, almost 1 kilometer
purpose - to know the way which they shall go - strategic purpose.
Symbolic purpose - Distance is required to emphasize the Holiness of God and the Reverence due to God. Approach God with reverence.
A. Man will try to lead God instead of following God.
A. Man will try to lead God instead of following God.
The problem is that we decide on matters without consulting God.
The Book of Proverbs reminds us of this truth:
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
II. They are told to CONSECRATE themselves before crossing the Jordan (vv. 5-13)
II. They are told to CONSECRATE themselves before crossing the Jordan (vv. 5-13)
5 Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” 6 And Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, “Take up the ark of the covenant and cross over ahead of the people.” So they took up the ark of the covenant and went ahead of the people.
Joshua to people - consecrate yourselves
Consecrate - to purify, to cleanse, to set apart as dedicated to God.
This is about ceremonial cleansing - to prepare themselves for the mighty work of God.
They are about to enter a new territory and they will be able to witness the idol worships, they will be tempted to love the new place and the abundance of the place, that their is a real danger that they will forget God.
The command to CONSECRATE is for them to be reminded that they are set-apart for God. Para mahinumdum sila nga dili sila magpatakod sa pagtoo ug dautang buhat sa mga taga Canaan.
They are chosen people, set-apart to MODEL how to worship God
Joshua to the priest - take up the Ark, Cross over (pass on) ahead.
GOD put leaders to go in the front, to model, to be the bearer, for the people to follow.
7 Now the Lord said to Joshua, “This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you.
God’s Assurance to Joshua
8 “You shall, moreover, command the priests who are carrying the ark of the covenant, saying, ‘When you come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’ ” 9 Then Joshua said to the sons of Israel, “Come here, and hear the words of the Lord your God.” 10 Joshua said, “By this you shall know that the living God is among you, and that He will assuredly dispossess from before you the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Hivite, the Perizzite, the Girgashite, the Amorite, and the Jebusite.
HEAR - Listening to Instructions
Hebrew Shema (listen, understand and obey)
4 “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! 5 “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 “These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.
A commandment repeated by Jesus Christ in the Gospels. The greatest commandment.
9 Then Joshua said to the sons of Israel, “Come here, and hear the words of the Lord your God.” 10 Joshua said, “By this you shall know that the living God is among you, and that He will assuredly dispossess from before you the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Hivite, the Perizzite, the Girgashite, the Amorite, and the Jebusite. 11 “Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is crossing over ahead of you into the Jordan.
KNOW - to recognize, to understand (repeated 3 times in chapter 3 - v.4, v7, v10)
Living God - present, active, and able God. in contrast to the man-made, no life, idols and gods of the canaanites.
Lord of ALL the EARTH - not just a regional god.
A. We have a problem called “not listening”.
A. We have a problem called “not listening”.
When we do not listen, we will try to do things our way, and many times, we are wrong because we are limited in knowledge and understanding.
When we do not listen, we will end up rebelling against God.
Illustration: Jeremiah 29:18-19
18 ‘I will pursue them with the sword, with famine and with pestilence; and I will make them a terror to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse and a horror and a hissing, and a reproach among all the nations where I have driven them, 19 because they have not listened to My words,’ declares the Lord, ‘which I sent to them again and again by My servants the prophets; but you did not listen,’ declares the Lord.
because they have not listened!!!
When we listen, the seemingly difficult obstacle will become possible with God at the front, and we follow behind Him.
When we listen, the seemingly difficult obstacle will become possible with God at the front, and we follow behind Him.
III. The successful CROSSING over the Jordan River (vv.14-17)
III. The successful CROSSING over the Jordan River (vv.14-17)
14 So when the people set out from their tents to cross the Jordan with the priests carrying the ark of the covenant before the people, 15 and when those who carried the ark came into the Jordan, and the feet of the priests carrying the ark were dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks all the days of harvest),
What is the condition of the river Jordan? Overflowing
16 the waters which were flowing down from above stood and rose up in one heap, a great distance away at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan; and those which were flowing down toward the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. So the people crossed opposite Jericho. 17 And the priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan while all Israel crossed on dry ground, until all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan.
City of Adam is 26KM away from Shittim.
Miracle of splitting the Jordan River for the people to cross, just like the time of Moses.
REFLECTION:
I. When we listen to the Word of God, we are GUIDED and GUARDED.
I. When we listen to the Word of God, we are GUIDED and GUARDED.
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
The Word of God is sufficient to GUIDE and GUARD us.
Who are we going to listen to?
God and His Word.
Godly counsel from other Christians
Contra - listening to the world, and to feelings.
The reality is that we are blinded by our sin
We have no ears to hear God’s Voice.
II. It is through the listening or hearing of the Gospel that we are SAVED.
II. It is through the listening or hearing of the Gospel that we are SAVED.
16 However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
20 ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.
III. When we listen to the Word of God, we can OVERCOME any obstacles.
III. When we listen to the Word of God, we can OVERCOME any obstacles.
4 Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.
those who love God will listen to God.
IV. When we listen, we learn, and when we learn, we grow in MATURITY.
IV. When we listen, we learn, and when we learn, we grow in MATURITY.
27 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;
Maturity and Abiding is directly proportional.
The more you are abiding and faithfully following Christ, the more you become mature in the faith.
The more you are abiding and faithfully following Christ, the more you become mature in the faith.
Let this passage of Scripture...
rebuke us if we are not listening...
encourages us when we have problem listening....
and teaches us to listen all the more to our Living God.