1 joshua – part 3 crossing the river. 2 joshua part 3 – crossing the river rivers form natural...
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Joshua – Part 3 Crossing The River
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Joshua Part 3 – Crossing the River
Rivers form natural barriers For defense For administrative convenience
River crossings can be momentous events Julius Caesar crossing the Rubicon
This act sparked a civil war that ended the Roman Republic
George Washington crossing the Delaware on Christmas night, 1776
This daring raid achieved a great victory
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Joshua Part 3 – Crossing the River
In Joshua chapters 3 and 4 we find the account of the entry to the promised land: The crossing of the Jordan River
The Israelites had waited 40 years for this event Moses and Aaron had been denied entry
because of their disobedience Now it was time for Joshua to lead the Israelites
into the promised land We can learn some lessons from this account
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Joshua Part 3 – Crossing the River
Lesson #1 – A large endeavor requires orderly leadership
Joshua 3:1-13
Joshua led them to the edge of the river – v1 He gave them three days there to prepare – v2 He gave them very specific marching orders –
v3-4 Follow the ark But not too closely
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Joshua Part 3 – Crossing the River
Joshua told the Israelites to consecrate themselves – v5 It was a spiritual endeavor
He told the priests carrying the ark to lead – v6 Leaders have to...lead
Now God spoke to Joshua – v7-8 He promised to exalt Joshua God prepares and provisions those he calls
to leadership
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Joshua Part 3 – Crossing the River
Joshua explained what would happen next – v9-13 A miracle would happen The river would stop flowing
The purpose of this miracle was not to keep their feet dry It was to be a tangible demonstration that
God was with them – v10
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Joshua Part 3 – Crossing the River
Lesson #2 – Take the first stepJoshua 3:14-17
God told Joshua to tell the priests:
Go stand in the river! With the Ark!
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Joshua Part 3 – Crossing the River
The Jordan averages 30 meters wide and 1 to 3 meters deep But can swell to 800 meters wide during the
flood season It was flood season – v15
That was a problem God said He would take care of the problem
But He said He would take care of it only after the priests stepped into the water
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Joshua Part 3 – Crossing the River
This is a model for us You can't steer a drifting ship You can't steer a parked car Many times, if not most, God leads us and
provides for us, one step at a time What would have happened if the Israelites had
waited for a clear crossing before moving? They would still be on the wrong side of the
Jordan! Can we expect anything different?
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Joshua Part 3 – Crossing the River
Lesson #3 – The Importance of Memorials In France, every small town and village has a
war memorial:
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Joshua Part 3 – Crossing the River
France was wracked by two world wars in the last century Almost everyone who remembered WW I is gone Many of those who remembered WW II are gone We tend to forget the lessons of the past And so we tend to repeat the mistakes of the past
Memorials help us remember important events
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Joshua Part 3 – Crossing the River
Joshua 4
God commissioned a memorial – v1-9 Joshua appointed twelve representatives
from the twelve tribes Each picked up a stone from the river bottom They built a monument with the stones
Why? As a memorial of the crossing To help future generations remember – v6-7
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Joshua Part 3 – Crossing the River
God commanded many other memorials in the Bible From Old Testament to New From Passover to the Last Supper From rituals to stone monuments
The purpose of all of them is to help His people remember He is, and who they are
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Joshua Part 3 – Crossing the River
What should our memorials look like? Plaques Statues Paintings Trees Schools Hospitals
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Joshua Part 3 – Crossing the River
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Joshua Part 3 – Crossing the River
What about more personal memorials? Family Bible Journals Photos Oral tradition