Then Joshua told the Israelites, “Come closer and listen to the words of the Lord your God.” (Joshua 3:9)
Joshua 3 recounts the Israelites preparing to cross the Jordan River and enter the Promised Land. This is reminiscent of 40 years earlier when Moses led the people across the Red Sea, as they were escaping from Egypt. This was no small task. There were about 2 million people and the Jordan River was overflowing its banks because it was the harvest season (Josh. 3:15).
We already learned that Moses was the great deliverer and that Joshua had big shoes to fill when he followed Moses. However, the story of Joshua being a faithful deliverer is really the story about God’s deliverance. Joshua proved that he trusted God when he spied out the Promised Land 40 years earlier and gave a good report. He said, “The Lord is with us. Don’t be afraid of them!” (Num. 14:9)
Now a new generation was standing on the banks of the Jordan River, which was overflowing. Undeterred, Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, because the Lord will do wonders among you tomorrow” (Josh. 3:5).
Then, the Lord spoke to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, so they will know that I will be with you just as I was with Moses. Command the priests carrying the ark of the covenant: When you reach the edge of the water, stand in the Jordan” (Josh 3:7-8). The remainder of Joshua 3, recounts that the Jordan River stopped flowing and that the people crossed on dry ground into the Promised Land.
How did Joshua prove that he was a faithful deliverer?
- He trusted God. We know that he had experienced more than 40 years of trusting God.
- He obeyed God. God told him the plan for the crossing: the order of the crossing, where and when to cross.
- He prepared the people. He told them to consecrate themselves, because God would do wonders.
- He gave the people confidence in God’s delivery.
- The people listened to him and miraculously crossed the Jordan on dry ground.
Joshua was a faithful deliverer because he trusted God and obeyed God. Notice that in the five steps above, God is mentioned in the first four. As God directed Joshua, so he directs his people today through the power of the Holy Spirit. The steps are still the same: trust in God’s sovereignty, and obey his commands.