Continue To Conquer

We have been learning how God always has a plan. He had given a plan to Moses for his people. Now the plan was given to Joshua, for there was a new day, a new way. We have seen his journey and how God planned the time to step into the promised land. There were many surprises, but God was so faithful to keep His promises to His people.

Anticipation was in the air after days of waiting before a flooding river, the Jordan. They were about to see miracles. This was a journey of about eight or nine miles a day, walking with a crowd of a million people. There was a definite plan for a definite time and a definite group of people. Many of these truths still apply to us today if we want to see miracles.

We can see miracles in our lives, and God’s process brought miracles for Israel. There are some steps we must follow:

1. KEEP FOCUSED

Joshua 3:2-4 “After three days, the leaders of the people went throughout the camp giving orders to the people, ‘Watch for the priests of the tribe of Levi to lift the ark of the covenant of Yahweh your God. When it starts moving, follow it so you’ll know which way to go, since you’ve never marched this way before.’”

A. Follow the priests and the Ark.

According to God’s law, only the Levites could carry the ark. This is an example of how we are to follow those God has placed over us. This is always His plan.

The Ark of the Covenant was Israel’s most sacred treasure. It was a symbol of God’s presence and power. The Ark was a gold rectangular box with two cherubim (angels) facing each other on the lid. Inside the Ark were the tablets of the Ten Commandments that Moses received from God, a jar of manna (the bread God miraculously sent from heaven during the wilderness wanderings), and Aaron’s staff (the symbol of the high priest’s authority).

B. Follow God’s presence.

We follow the precious Holy Spirit. He continually speaks, guides, teaches, and comforts us.

John 14:26 (Amplified) – “But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you and bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you.”

God’s presence is so real. I could not live without His presence. He is near us all the time. We can dwell in His presence and listen to His voice, and He will speak. In the Old Testament, Jesus is concealed; in the New Testament, Jesus is revealed.

2. SET YOURSELF APART

Joshua 3:5 “Joshua instructed the people, ‘Get yourselves ready! Set yourselves apart for Yahweh!” There is a price to pay as leaders.

A. Time for sanctification.

There are many words to describe what they were to do to set themselves apart and be obedient. “Sanctify yourselves,” implies an inward attitude of purity and an outward washing and ritual purification. Both distance and attitude were important to God as the people followed the ark.

B. Continual sanctification.

Like the Israelites, we need to be sanctified, set apart, and forgiven as we approach our Lord. Sanctification and purification are still a part of our lives today. We need both whole-hearted devotion and heart purity in our worship of God.

2 Corinthians 11:3 “But now I’m afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s clever lies, your thoughts may be corrupted, and you may lose your single-hearted devotion and pure love for Christ.”

We have good news: now our High Priest is Jesus, and we are sanctified through Him.

Hebrews 10:21-22 “And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.”

In our journey, especially as leaders, we face many times that we have to set ourselves apart as we help others set themselves apart. We can go to God without doubting, knowing that He will hear and answer us. Under the new covenant, our hearts and consciences are cleansed completely, not partially or temporarily.

C. Keep becoming more like Christ.

1 John 3:2-3 “Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.”

This life is a process of becoming more like Christ. To keep pure means to keep morally straight, free from the corruption of sin.

3. SEE HIS MIRACLES

Joshua 3:5 “Tomorrow, Yahweh will perform for us great miracles.”

Some scholars are puzzled over the use of the plural word for “miracles” when it was one miracle (parting the river). The plural implied the beginning of a new season of miracles and wonders as they crossed over. God began to speak.

A. The water will roll back.

Joshua 3:13 “The moment the feet of the priests carrying the ark of Yahweh, the Lord of all the earth, touch the water of the Jordan, a great miracle will happen. The water flowing downstream toward you will stop and pile up as if behind a dam.”

Joshua 3:15-16 “The very moment the priests with the ark dipped their feet in the river’s edge, the water coming downstream toward them stopped flowing and piled up in a solid wall as far upstream as Adam, a place near Zarethan. Yahweh completely cut off the flow of the river so that it drained downstream toward the Desert Sea (the Dead Sea). So, the people crossed over opposite Jericho.”

Joshua was expressing to Israel that if God can roll back the waters of a raging river, He can repel the attacking armies of Canaan.

B. I am with you.

“I will be with you as I was with Moses… This day I will begin to exalt you before other nations.” Joshua told the people to come closer and listen to the words of Yahweh. “As you advance into the land, he will drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites.”

We are never left alone to wander (unless we do not listen to His voice). It is not just once; it goes on. At this important moment, God was speaking with instruction, giving peace to His people. What do you need to hear today as you are on your journey? He will say what we need for this day.

C. I will take care of your enemies.

As Yahweh had overthrown the gods of Egypt, so He would overcome the gods of Canaan. We are the priests of God who “stand firm” in the finished work of the cross and resurrection of Christ and who carry the ark of His glory in our hearts.

What are your enemies? It may be fear, finances, and it may appear in many ways. But God will take care of our enemies.

CONCLUSION

We know there were more physical battles to fight. Jericho stood before them, fortified. However, this experience of crossing over was such a memorable experience. God was with them at the end of their wanderings just as He was with them at the beginning.

God again had given them specific instruction on how to cross. The priests and leaders had to be obedient and step into the water. What if they had been afraid to take that first step? Often, God provides no solution to our problems until we trust Him and move ahead with what we know we should do.

The whole nation of Israel was standing on the banks of their promise. Only two, Joshua and Caleb, were there from the beginning. But God still had a people to go forward into His promise. He was ready to do the miraculous that would change the world forever.

REFLECT:

• Are you willing to listen and be obedient to make the next step?

• What is your next step?

• What are the rivers, or obstacles, in your life?

These miracles showed God kept His promises. He will always do the same for you!

Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

CONTINUE TO CONQUER.

(Next Lesson: READY TO CAPTURE)