Year 7, Day 188: Joshua 3

Theological Commentary: Click Here

Here in Joshua 3 we get more transitional relationship building.  God does more to remind the people that He will be with them.  God has the waters of the Jordan River to stand still as the ark and the people pass over it into Canaan.

There are some very interesting dynamics about this story.  First of all, don’t forget that this is not some simple small group crossing the river.  This is a large population of hundreds of thousands of people.  This crossing would take some time.  This is why we are told that the waters back up for a good long way into the preceding town.  The water of the Jordan was still coming from its source, God simply stopped it from coming down until the time of the crossing has passed.  This is a substantial supernatural event.

Second, I’m sure that God is doing more to reinforce Joshua’s mindset.  He’s reminding Joshua that He’s still with Him.  He’s reminding Joshua that He is still in control.  He’s reminding Joshua that His plan is still being followed.  God is going to continue to keep His promises to the Hebrew people.

Third, do you notice that God spoke to Joshua as God spoke to Moses?  This is another important detail, and it goes back to the ending of Deuteronomy.  I think this is part of why Moses could die so peacefully.  Things are continuing on as they had been before Moses died.  God is speaking to Joshua, leading him and guiding him.  The name of the leader may have changed.  The face of the leader certainly got a bit younger.  Nothing else has changed, though.  God is still in control.  God is still communicating with the leader of the Hebrew people.  God is still the primary actor in the story.

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