Standing on Dry Ground

 

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).

 

Today we turn our attention to Joshua 3:16. This verse is tucked in the midst of the story of the people of Israel as they crossed into the Promised Land and began their march to claim what God had promised. Here we find them at the Jordan river, swollen to its fall height, before Jericho. This great walled city seemed impenetrable forty years earlier; and yet here they were with directions from God and His mighty presence to guide them to victory. What a monumental moment in Israel's history. They crossed the Jordan River while the priests, who carried the ark of the covenant, stood on dry ground in the middle of it. The Lord was carrying out His promise of redemption from the hand of the Egyptians.

 

There are three elements we should not before we draw a conclusion concerning a message for us today. First, note how we are told specifically that when the people broke camp, the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant walked ahead of them. The Jordan River was at flood stage during the harvest season. As soon as the priests' feet touched the edge of the water, the miracle occurred. As is often the case, we are called upon to take the steps we have been given to take before the miracle of God takes place. This is not the result of their obedience. It is an acknowledgment of their faith to do what God has told them to do and trusting the rest to God to accomplish.

 

Notice also that the water flowing from upstream stopped and piled up in a heap far away at a town called Adam (near Zarethan). Meanwhile, the water flowing down toward the Dead Sea (Salt Sea) was completely cut off. God is a God of abundance. He had no interest in making a narrow strip of the riverbed dry. He piled up the river, so there could be no doubt as to the source of this great miracle. Then, if that were not enough, the priests stood firmly on dry ground in the middle of the riverbed while the entire nation of Israel crossed over on dry land opposite Jericho.

 

If we were to go back to the earlier verses in this context, we would see the reference to the waters being stopped up as a means of telling us that el khai  (a Living God) is among them (v. 10). This is exactly the purpose of Christ’s incarnation and work: to prove that He is the living God and that He is among His people. He is not like the dead gods of the nations, but He is the Lord of all the earth. It is He, Jesus, the embodiment of the law who was going before the people as the Descender, God in Christ. The deity of Jesus Christ, when the typology is understood, is inescapable.

 

We must connect the Scripture in all of the singular acts pointing us to the one great act of Jesus. When He died, Jesus declared “It is finished.” God’s miracle for the people of Israel was just a glimpse of the greatest miracle: the redemption of all men chosen by God! What a great God we have as our heavenly Father! We will stand on the dry ground of His grace won for us by Jesus!