Crossing Over the Jordan

 

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, 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), 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. 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. (Joshua 3:14-17 ESV).

 

Just before the events of our reading today we see Joshua speaking to the people of Israel: “Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God” (v. 13). Joshua said to Israel that the “LORD of all the earth” would show that he is the one true God by allowing them to cross the Jordan River on dry land. We should remember that it was harvest time, and the Jordan River was filled to overflowing. To the Canaanites it would appear that Baal had blessed them and was defending them. Surely no army could cross the great barrier of the swollen river. Still, everyone had heard of the Israelites’ crossing at the Red Sea (cf. Exodus 14-15). It would be difficult to ignore that great miracle in trusting their false gods to protect them. Yet, they did.

 

It’s foolish to put confidence in “worthless gods.” However, before we’re too hard on the Canaanites, we ought to recognize how often we trust our “worthless gods.” They may not look the same, but they produce the same results. We trust our finances, our technology, or our political leaders to provide our security. How often must we experience the folly of such loyalty to realize there is only One God and His name is Jesus?

 

The story concludes with the servants of the Lord doing as they were directed. They watched the God, who created heaven and earth, touch the flooded Jordan and the waters recede giving them dry ground to walk over. The waters of the Jordan provided bountiful harvests. But it was not Baal who sent the rains to fill Canaan’s rivers. Only the Lord God of Israel sent the rains to bless the land. Our vast resources and leadership are God’s gifts for us, but those resources themselves do not deserve our trust. That belongs solely to our Savior, Jesus.