Commanding the People - Joshua 3:3

In the book of Joshua, the author or Joshua wrote “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 in chapter three and verse three of the book of Joshua, the writer or Joshua shared how, “they commanded the people” where we read,

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.

The verse reads, “And they commanded the people, saying, When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and they commanded the people” which means “and the officers charged and ordered the human beings of Israel both male and female”, “saying” or “uttering, declaring and proclaiming”, “when you see the ark” which means “at the time and moment you, the people of Israel, perceive, discern and observe the box or chest” “of the covenant” or “pertaining to the alliance, pledge, league and treaty” “of the LORD your God” which means “belonging to Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God and the Supreme Deity”. Joshua or the writer shared how the “officers” over Israel charged the “people” by telling them at the time and moment they observe Jehovah God’s chest of alliance” they were to act in the following manner.

 

The verse goes on to say, “… and the priests the Levites bearing it, then you shall remove from your place, and go after it.” Joshua continued with the words, “and the priests” or “and the principals, officers and chief spiritual leaders” “the Levites bearing it” which means “the members of the tribe of Levi whose name means joined to and was, the tribe descended from Levi specially set aside by God for His service, lifting up and carrying the ark of the covenant”, “then you shall remove from your place” or “at that time you, the people of Israel, are to leave and depart from your, the people of Israel’s, location”, “and go after it” which means “and depart, leave, proceed and move following Jehovah’s ark of the covenant”. Joshua or the writer shared how the “officers” also referred to how the “priests and Levites” would lift up and carry the “ark of the covenant” forward, and the people were to follow after them. 

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Joshua or the writer how the “officers” turned their attention toward the people of Israel as they gave them “orders” concerning their movement into the promise land. They were to watch when the “priests the Levites” lifted up and carried Jehovah God’s “ark of the covenant” which represented His presence, and as these spiritual leaders moved, they were leave their location and follow them. Jesus told His disciples, “follow me” (See Matthew 4:19; 8:22; 9:9; 16:24), and He gives that same instruction to us. (See Matthew 16:24) Jesus was sent by His Father God into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when He rose from the grave after three days, He made the way through faith and belief in Him as our “Savior and Lord” to be forgiven of our sins, granted everlasting life and provided with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and help us to know when He is leading us to move or stay in our location. 

Next time the writer or Joshua shares how the officers say, “there shall be a space between you and it”, 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".