Waters Rising Up as a Heap - Joshua 3:16

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,)”, and in chapter three and verse sixteen of the book of Joshua, we learn how, “the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap” where we read,

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.

The verse reads, “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:” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “that the waters” which means “that the flowing waters” “which came down from above” or “that descended from the higher part and upper ground” “stood and rose up” which means “took a stand and arose” “upon an heap” or “on a pile or mound” “very far from the city Adam” which means “exceedingly distant and extended separate and apart from the place of waking, guarded place and town belonging to Adam whose name means red”, “that is beside Zairean” or “that exists alongside Zairean whose name means their distress which is a place in the Jordan valley where the river parted for Israel to pass over for the conquest of Canaan”. Joshua or the writer shared how the “waters” within the Jordan river that descended from the upper region arose like a mound exceedingly distant from the town known as “Adam” which is next to “Zairean”. 

 

The verse continues, “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.” Joshua added with the words, “and those that came down” or “and the waters that descended” “toward the seas” which means “in the direction of the great bodies of water” “of the plain” or “belonging to the desert wilderness”, “even the salt sea” which means “indeed and also the pulverized and dissolved salty large body of water”, “failed” or “were completed and come to an end”, “and were cut off” which means “and were eliminated and taken away”: “and the people passed over” or “and the human beings from Israel crossed” “right against Jericho” which means “straight forward and in front of Jericho whose name means its moon and was a city five miles (8 km) west of the Jordan and seven miles (11.5 km) north of the Dead Sea and the first city conquered by the Israelites upon entering the promised land of Canaan”. Joshua or the writer shared how the waters from the “Jordan” river descended to the great body of waters of the desert wilderness which is known as the pulverized salty large body of water, or the Dead Sea, came to an end and were taken away, and the “people of Israel” straightforwardly crossed beside “Jericho”. 

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn how the “waters” within the Jordan river were halted in mounds on both sides so the people of Israel could cross over to the promise land. God’s plan step by step was coming to pass, and when He gives instructions, those to whom He gives them do best when they obey. God sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and He raised Him from the dead after three days so when we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and direct us according to His perfect will and purpose for our lives. 

Next time 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”, 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".