Joshua 3 and 4

WHO? Joshua, the priests, the people of Israel, and God

WHAT? crossing the Jordan River - God divides the water and leads His people; notice that this is almost like a second “exodus” very similar to the exodus from Egypt - consecrating the people, the date it happens, the parting of the water, God leading the people with a visual (the cloud/fire from Egypt, the ark here in Joshua) - connecting the previous generation to the current one

WHERE? The Jordan River, between Shittim and Gilgal/Jericho

WHEN? The first month, crossing on the 10th day

WHY? To go into the Promised Land

HOW? By God’s design, leading, power, and might


Some notes:

(3:1-2) These events probably happened while the spies were in Jericho, with the crossing happening after they returned.

(3:3) The ark signifies the presence of God.  This is faith requiring action.  Saving faith is active, obedient faith

(3:4) 2000 cubits is about 3000 feet or 1000 yards (1 cubit=1.5 feet); The people are to treat the things of God with reverence and respect.  God is the One leading them and showing them the way.  Everyone needs to be able to see that so they need to be able to see the ark.

(3:5) Consecrate yourselves - eliminate sinful practices, wash themselves, put on clean clothes “to make holy” - see Genesis 35:2-3 and Exodus 19:10-11.  This is a holy event.  Compare this attitude to the attitude of the previous generation in Numbers 14:1-10.  The previous generation let fear and the past hold them back from obedience.  This generation is all in, with faith that God can do exactly what He says.  Their faith leads to immediate obedience - active, saving faith.

(3:8) Jesus began His earthly ministry with baptism in the Jordan (Matthew 3).  Just as the priests here symbolically open the way for Israel to enter the Promised Land, Jesus fully and finally removes the barrier between God and man - sin.

(3:10) “By this you will know” - not just intellectually, but by experience; the living God - see 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10; the people groups listed are descendants of Ham, Noah’s son

(3:11) “the Lord of all the earth” - He is sovereign in all things.

(3:12) Joshua is choosing men to get the memorial stones

(3:13) Only Joshua and Caleb had seen (or at least remembered) the parting of the Red Sea 40 years earlier.  Everyone except them who was 20 years old and up at that time has dies (Numbers 14:29).  Everyone besides Joshua and Caleb are no more than 59 years old.  They witness a similar miracle to help them know that God will make a way for them.  

(3:14) This verse picks up the action from verse 6

(3:15) The Jordan River overflows its banks in the first month (during harvest).  This means that it is flood season and the river is more than its usual 60-90 feet wide.

(3:16) Adam is about 15-16 miles north.  Imagine what the Canaanites who saw this thought.

(3:17) Note that they crossed on DRY ground, not mud or wet sand.  This is the miracle God has given them, as He did with the Red Sea.

(4:2) These men were chosen earlier (3:12) and represent all of Israel.

(4:3) They will set up a memorial to remember to focus on God’s power and faithfulness rather than the obstacles they will face.

(4:6) The children must be taught to love the Lord.  See also Deuteronomy 4:9 and 6:6-7

(4:7) God’s power and His faithfulness are to be remembered and shared with future generations.  This is also seen in the celebration of the Passover and, later, in the celebration of communion (the Lord’s supper).

(4:9) This is a separate memorial that Joshua sets up in the river.  “To this day” implies to the day of the writing.

(4:13) Thousand could actually be a contingent or unspecified number

(4:14) God is leading the people and He is with His chosen “second in command” - this fulfills the promise in 3:7.

(4:19) See Exodus 12:3 - this is the day the Passover lamb is chosen, the day of the first Passover; Gilgal is about 1 mile from Jericho

(4:21) We must not only remember, but teach future generations.  We need memorials in our lives so that we can remember and so that we can teach future generations.  Things like “Joshua baskets”, journals, story times, catechisms, pictures, teaching times, etc. can help us with this. 

(4:23) Notice that the Lord is doing all the action here.  This action identifies the current generation with the previous one.  

(4:24) Notice the “so that” phrases.  God works for HIS glory.  Everything is about Him.  See Jeremiah 10:7, Psalm 128:1-4, Deuteronomy 5:28-29


(We answered the questions while we discussed, so the answers are scattered in the notes above.)


Applications:  Two big applications from this passage - follow God wherever He leads and teach the children (yours and others around you) to do the same


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