In the book of Joshua, we learned how, “it came to pass, when the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD were come up out of the midst of Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet were lifted up unto the dry land, that the waters of Jordan returned unto their place, and flowed over all his banks, as they did before”, and in chapter four and verse nineteen of the book of Joshua, we learn how, “the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month” where we read,
And the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month,
and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho.
The verse reads, “And the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and the people came up” which means “and the human beings from Israel arose and ascended” “out of Jordan” or “from 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)” “on the tenth day” which means “upon the tenth sunrise to sunset” “of the first month” or “pertaining to the primary and foremost month of the year”. Joshua or the writer shared how the human beings from Israel ascended from the “Jordan” river upon the “tenth” sunrise to sunset belonging to the “first month”.
The verse continues, “… and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho.” Joshua added the words, “and encamped” or “and pitched their tents or camped” “in Gilgal” whose name means “a wheel or rolling and was the first site of an Israelite camp west of the Jordan, east of Jericho, here Samuel was judge, and Saul was made king. It was later used for illicit worship”, “in the east border” or “within the eastern extremity or outskirt” “of Jericho” which means “belonging to 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 children of Israel set up camp in “Gilgal” which was located in the eastern extremity belonging to “Jericho”.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we discover the time when the children of Israel crossed the “Jordan” river was “the tenth day of the first month”. Afterward they set up camp in “Gilgal” which is located on the eastern outskirt of “Jericho”. Technically the people of Israel had entered into the promise land, and now they were to prepare to take the territories promised to them. In like manner, God has a plan to bring salvation to everyone who will receive His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days. When we yield to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us so we know when to move and when to camp in preparation for God’s perfect will and purpose for our lives.
Next time we learn how, “those twelve stones, which they took out of Jordan, did Joshua pitch in Gilgal”, 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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