Joshua puts the Lord First
It’s interesting that we can learn from accounts of Biblical events and characters actions & reactions to life’s surprises, to learn how to be successful in our own endeavors. Our goal is to learn to make good decisions as life’s situations.
In this passage, we see Joshua, as the newly anointed leader of the children on Israel, making his first address to his people. This is from a lone person in a new position, not by the decision of a committee. Joshua is taking charge and making commands to the people who are entrusted to him by God. He is now leading them like a “surrogate father”, just as Moses was previously and they are about to cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land.
Jos 3:5 And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you.
- This is Joshua’s faith speaking. Did he know what was going to happen? His faith was in whatever the Lord would do, but He also believed it would do something great.
- He was glorifying the Lord, while not knowing what is going to happen. He had decided to put the ark (the presence of God) first and that the people would follow it.
- He was making a declaration to Israel (and the surrounding nations) that they were following and relying on their God and it was His power that was on display.
Jos 3:6 And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people.
Jos 3:7 And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.
- Joshua’s action’s of faith preceded God’s confirmationthat He would be backing up Joshua’s leadership and cause, since Joshua first demonstrated that he was leading his people by following the Lord. After Joshua stated Israel’s being under God’s authority, God then started giving instructions to the new leader.
Jos 3:8 And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan.
- God gave him revelation knowledge of future events with specific instructions of how they should proceed.
Jos 3:9 And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, Come hither, and hear the words of the LORD your God.
- Joshua immediately speaks out God’s words which contains the faith and power to accomplish God’s plan.
Jos 3:10 And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that He will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites.
- God’s supernatural miracle-working power is really dependent on their faith response (and ours) to His words and commandments.
Jos 3:11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan.
Jos 3:12 Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man.
- This was Joshua’s own inclusion, as far as we can see from scripture, not what he was specifically told by the Lord. He wanted every tribe to demonstrate, by their actions, that they were a family in covenant with God and in agreement.
Jos 3:13 And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap.
- This confirmed how God was “with Joshua” as He promised. Think about the prior relationship between Moses and Joshua. Joshua observed how God at times deferred to his chosen leader, Moses, allowing him to decide some matters and act accordingly. Joshua reasoning that God would do as He had done previously at the Red Sea, because he knew He was able to do it, declared what God would do. Such faith in action pleases the Lord.
Jos 3:14 And it came to pass,
- These events are also reminiscent of what, we will later see, Jesus doing. Having faith in God, our Lord would do what He knew His Heavenly Father did before and would again.
- Feeding the multitudes with bread is a good example. Hadn’t God done that before? Did Jesus know this beforehand, did God speak to Him specific details how to feed all these people or was it His faith in God that produced His Father’s miracle working power?
That’s their secret. We can only ask them the next time we see them.
For your further consideration:
Psa 25:12 What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.
Psa 25:13 His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.
Psa 25:14 The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.
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