In the book of Joshua, we learned how, “Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over. And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host. And they commanded the people, saying, When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then you shall remove from your place, and go after it”, and in chapter three and verse four of the book of Joshua, the writer or Joshua shared how the officers said, “there shall be a space between you and it” where we read,
Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that you may know the way by which you must go: for you have not passed this way heretofore.
The verse reads, “Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure:” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “yet there shall be a space” which means “howbeit, surely and indeed there is to exist a distance”, “between you and it” or “betwixt and from one to the other from you, the people of Israel, and the ark of the covenant”, “about two thousand cubits by measure” which means “around two thousand eighteen inch long measures in size and portion”. Joshua or the writer instructed the people of Israel to keep a distance of around three thousand feet between themselves and the ark of the covenant.
The verse continues, “come not near unto it, that you may know the way by which you must go: for you have not passed this way heretofore.” Joshua added the words, “come not near unto it” or “do not approach or be close to the ark of the covenant”, “that you may know the way” which means “so you, the people of Israel, might perceive, discern and distinguish the path of travel” “by which you must go” or “through which you, the people of Israel, are to depart, proceed and move”: “for you have not passed this way heretofore” which means “because, since and on account that you have in no way or manner marched, traversed or crossed this traveled path in the past”. Joshua or the writer shared how the “officers” continued to instruct the people of Israel by ordering them not to approach and to keep distant from the ark of the covenant, so they would have knowledge of the path they were to travel. In the past, they had not traveled or crossed this path.
When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Joshua or the writer how the people of Israel were to keep a great distance (about three thousand feet) between themselves and the ark of God. This would allow them to see the direction they were to march, and because they had never been upon this traveled road before, they were not to approach and keep their distance from God’s ark. God loves people, and He is Holy. He alone has provided salvation through His Son Jesus who came into the world to die on the cross for the sins of everyone and raised Him from the dead after three days. When we yield our lives to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and help us step by step to “follow” Him with our journeys and future in His hands.
Next time we learn how Joshua told the people to, “sanctify yourselves”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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