In the book of Joshua, we learned how, “it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overflows all his banks all the time of harvest,) That the waters which 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 salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho”, and in chapter three and verse seventeen of the book of Joshua, we learn how, “the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan” where we read,
And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.
The verse reads, “And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and the priests” which means “and the spiritual leaders, chiefs and officials” “that bare the ark” or “who lifted up and carried the box or chest” “of the covenant” which means “pertaining to the alliance, pledge and agreement” “of the LORD” or “belonging to Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God” “stood firm on dry ground” which means “made a stand and remained upon land that was arid and dry” “in the midst of Jordan” or “within the middle of the Jordan whose name means descender and was the river of Palestine running from the roots of Anti-Lebanon to the Dead Sea a distance of approximately 200 miles (320 km)”. Joshua or the writer shared how the spiritual leaders who lifted up and carried Jehovah God’s “ark of the covenant” remained standing upon land that was arid and dry within the middle of the “Jordan” river.
The verse goes on to say, “… and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.” Joshua continued with with the words, “and all the Israelites” or “and each, every, the whole and everyone of the Israelites whose name means God prevails and was the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob” “passed over” which means “traversed and crossed” “on dry ground” or “upon the land in the middle of the river that was dry”, “until all the people” which means “till each, every and the whole amount of the human beings of Israel” “were passed clean over” or “were crossed completely over” “Jordan” whose name means “descender” and was the river of Palestine running from the roots of Anti-Lebanon to the Dead Sea a distance of approximately 200 miles (320 km). Joshua or the writer said every one of the people of Israel completely crossed the “Jordan” river on the land that was dry.
When we think through the words in this verse, we learn how Jehovah God was working on behalf of the people of Israel. The land beneath the “waters” of the Jordan river were “dry”, and every one of the people of Israel crossed upon the ground and entered the promise land. God’s provision was miraculous, and He did these things in a demonstrative display of His provision and protection for His people. God wants the same type of relationship with us through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when He raised Him from the dead after three days, He made the way through faith and trust in Him to be forgiven of our sins, granted everlasting life and provided with His Holy Spirit who will lead, guide and perform marvelous works in our lives as we live with a purpose and resolve to serve Him.
Next time we begin a new chapter and see what happened, “when all the people were clean passed over Jordan”, 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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