joshua - preparation and crossing jordan

The life and time of Joshua

L a i n d o n B i b l e S t u d y , 7 t h D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 6

Preparation and crossing of Jordan

Our first study, three weeks ago

• “The life and time of Joshua – Joshua and Moses”• Joshua (‘Yahweh saves’) a ruler from Ephraim (Numbers 13 v 2, 8),

“full of the spirit of wisdom” (Deuteronomy 34 v 9)• First appearance during the battle with Amalek (Exodus 17 v 9)• Selected as one of the twelve spies, to represent his tribe, which

was when his name changed from Oshea (‘Deliverer’) to Joshua• He was the divinely appointed source of deliverance where the

law (represented by Moses) could not save (cp. Galatians 3 v 21)• Acted as a “minister” or servant to Moses (e.g. Exodus 24 v 13)• Told by Moses to “be strong and of a good courage”, as he was

established as the new leader (Deuteronomy 31 v 7, 23)

Preparation and crossing of Jordan 2

Reasons for the people to be doubtful

The previous generation had been

completely destroyed (save Joshua & Caleb)

Moses, Aaron and Miriam (leaders) were

all dead

The Jordan river was in flood and therefore

unfordable

If they made it to the other side of the river,

their escape route would be cut off

The host included women, children, animals and all of their possessions

The Canaanites had enjoyed 38 years to

prepare their defenses!


“Be strong and of a good courage”

• This phrase, with minor differences, appears just 11 times inscripture

• Four of these appearances are found in Joshua chapter 1, a timerequiring determination & bravery!• “strong” = Heb. chazaq = prevail, harden, be firm, resolute• “courage” = Heb. amats = alert (physical/mental), bold, brave, stout

• Only other appearances are:• When David was establishing Solomon as King in his stead

(1 Chronicles 22 v 13 & 28 v 20)

• When Hezekiah encouraged the people, when Sennacherib and theAssyrian armies invaded Judah (2 Chronicles 32 v 7)


Joshua & Jordan – God’s purpose


Joshua 3

7 And the Lord said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnifythee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I waswith Moses, so I will be with thee.

Cp. Jesus in Acts 2 v 22

A wonderful scriptural pattern

• The Jordan a place of conferring authority/magnifying:


Moses Joshua

Elijah Elisha

John Baptist Jesus

Cross Jordan

into land

Spirit rested

Predecessor

Making preparations – two spies

• Why two spies this time, twelvepreviously?• Twelve was “of every tribe… a

ruler” (Numbers 13 v 2)

• However, only two of them were faithful (Numbers 14 v 6):• Caleb the son of Jephunneh, of

Judah

• Joshua the son of Nun, of Ephraim

• Suggestion: perhaps Joshua selected only two to call this pattern to remembrance? [interestingly don’t know names]


Joshua 2

1 And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittimtwo men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land,even Jericho. And they went, and came into anharlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there.

c.12 miles from Shittim to Jericho

(as crow flies)

A very different mission to the twelve spies

(cp. Numbers 13 v 17-21)

c. 250 miles

Rahab the harlot (?)

•Attempts made to suggest she was an innkeeper rather than a harlot/prostitute. However, meaning of Heb. zanah is pretty clear-cut (cp. Deuteronomy 31 v 16)

• Surely we are being reminded of the ‘Corinthians principle’:

• She was to become part of the line to Christ (Matthew 1 v 5)


1 Corinthians 6

9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neitherfornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom ofGod. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified inthe name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Rahab’s great faithfulness


The intermingling of faith and works

Words [FAITH]

“I know that the LORD hath given you

the land” (2 v 9)

“the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath” (2 v 11)

“shew kindness unto my father’s house”

(2 v 12)

Actions [WORKS]

“the woman took the two men and hid

them” (2 v 4)

“she let them down by a cord” (2 v 15)

“she bound the scarlet line in the window” (2 v 21)


James 2

25 Likewise also was not Rahabthe harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

Hebrews 11

31 By faith the harlot Rahabperished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

The faithful report of the (two) spies


Joshua 2

23 So the two men returned, and descended from themountain, and passed over, and came to Joshua the son ofNun, and told him all things that befell them: 24 And they saidunto Joshua, Truly the Lord hath delivered into our hands allthe land; for even all the inhabitants of the country do faintbecause of us.

Numbers 14

8 If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land,and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.9 Only rebel not ye against the Lord , neither fear ye thepeople of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence isdeparted from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not.

38 years before…

Before the Jordan river (in Flood)


Miraculous events witnessed by all

• Surely another spiritual baptism (cp. Red Sea, 1 Cor. 10 v 2):


Joshua 3

14 And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, andthe priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people; 15 And as they that bare the arkwere come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brimof the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,) 16 That the waterswhich came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam,that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the saltsea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho. 17 And thepriests that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst ofJordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passedclean over Jordan.

All happened on 10th day of 1st month (Joshua 4 v 19) = when Passover lamb was selected (Exodus 12 v 3)

Jordan – the sequence of events

Priests bearing ark go first into

river Jordan (v. 14-15)

Waters of the Jordan

(‘A descender’) “cut off” (v. 16)

“About two thousand cubits” distance kept by the people (v. 4)

Waters cut off “very far from the city Adam…beside

Zaretan” (v.16)


From Joshua 3:

c.15 miles north

Crossing Jordan – another map


Jordan – what is represented

• Amazing things are echoed in this sequence!


Christ our mercy seat (Gk. Rom.

3v25), the forerunner

The natural (inevitable) flow

from life to death cut off (Heb. 2v15)

Christ is absent for 2,000 years, a long journey/far country (parables)

Removal of Adamic curse,

through ‘piercing’ (Jho. 19v17)

Priests bearing ark go first into

river Jordan (v. 14-15)

Waters of the Jordan

(‘A descender’) “cut off” (v. 16)

“About two thousand cubits” distance kept by the people (v. 4)

Waters cut off “very far from the city Adam…beside

Zaretan” (v.16)

[Galilee Dead Sea]

The stones of remembrance (ch. 4)

• Twelve stones taken out by twelve men (one from each tribe)

• A “memorial” to educate children (v. 6-7)

• Powerful memories created through association

• Aside: an interesting echo/possible connection in Matthew 3 v 9 “of these stones” (spoken by John the Baptist in same place)


Joshua 4

8 And the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan,as the Lord spake unto Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried themover with them unto the place where they lodged, and laid them down there. 9 And Joshua set up twelvestones in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenantstood: and they are there unto this day.

The events at Gilgal (ch. 5)

•Having passed to the other side, people circumcised (v. 2-5)

• This would have incapacitated the fighting men (cp. Gen. 34 v 24-25)… what an act of faith in a hostile land!


In the promised land, at last!


In a fortnight (God willing)


joshua - preparation and crossing jordan

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