OUR LORD WHO HELD BACK THE JORDAN RIVER

Continuing with yesterday's study from Joshua 3 verses 9 - 14, let's look at  Joshua 3 verse 15 - 17 and Joshua 4 verses 1 - 2.  The section of text reads like this;

Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan,  while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. 

So the people crossed over opposite Jericho.The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.

Onto Joshua 4 ;

When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua,  “Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe,

The previous study looked at the step of faith that was needed to cross the river and we continue with this passage that describes the actual crossing as the flooded river dried up and all the people of Israel were able to cross to the Canaan side.

The water upstream is described as "piling up" in a heap some distance away as its flow was held back and downstream to the Dead Sea, the river dried up and so Israel was able to cross on dry land while those carrying the ark of the covenant stood in the dried river bed.

This presence and covenant of the Lord with His people was a shield and protector of Israel that restrained the destruction of the flood from harming them as they crossed over.

When they had crossed, another set of twelve were chosen with one from each tribe to mark the spot of crossing with stones.

A representative from each tribe participated in the carrying of the ark into Canaan and a representative from each tribe again participated in the placement of commemorative markers.

Bless the Lord who makes provision for us to cross over to Canaan and who commemorates our successes as we makes steps in obedience in Him.

Amen.