In the book of Joshua, we learned how, “the LORD said unto Joshua, … when you are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, you shall stand still in Jordan. And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, Come here, and hear the words of the LORD your God. And Joshua said, Hereby you shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites”, and in chapter three and verse eleven of the book of Joshua, we learn how Joshua said, “the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passes over before you” where we read,
Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passes over before you into Jordan.
The verse reads, “Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “Behold, the ark of the covenant” which means “lo, look and consider, the box or chest pertaining to the alliance, league and agreement” “of the Lord” or “belonging to Yahweh who is proper name of God” “of all the earth” which means “pertaining to each, every and the whole of the land, territory, region, district and world”. Joshua instructed the “children of Israel” to look and consider how the “ark of the covenant” belonging to Jehovah God who rules and reigns over the entire world does the following.
The verse goes on to say, “… passes over before you into Jordan.” Joshua continued with the words, “passes over before you” or “marches, traverses and crosses in front and in advance of you, the children of Israel” “into Jordan” which means “in the river whose name means descender and was the river of Palestine running from the roots of Anti-Lebanon to the Dead Sea a distance of approximate 200 miles (320 km)”. Joshua told the “children of Israel” that the “ark of the covenant” was to cross the River Jordan in advance and in the presence of them.
When we consider the words in this verse, we learn how Joshua drew the “children of Israel’s” attention to the “ark of the covenant” which represented the presence of Jehovah God. The “ark” was to be carried by the priests to cross the Jordan river in advance of the people of Israel, and because God would go before them, Israel’s best position was just to follow Him. God wants the same for us. He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when He rose from the dead after three days, all who put their faith and trust in Him as their “Savior and Lord” will be forgiven of their sins, granted everlasting life and provided with His Holy Spirit who will guide them into all truth and teach them the value of following the presence of God rather than attempting to lead Him.
Next time Joshua says, “take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel”, 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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