Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan.
—Joshua 3:17
“Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests' feet stood firmly, and bring them over with you and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight.”
—Joshua 4:3b
For the priests bearing the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan until everything was finished that the Lord commanded Joshua to tell the people, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua.
—Joshua 4:10
It is encouraging to think about how many times events highlighted in Scripture demonstrate trust and obedience in the face of waters: river and sea and flood and storm.
Of course, the list begins with the Lord parting and gathering waters to provide dry land. And then it goes on to include Noah and the flood; the parting of the sea by Egypt and the Jordan by Canaan, book-ending the period of instruction and training in the wilderness; Jonah's failed attempt to escape obedience by sea; Elijah crossing and Elisha recrossing the Jordan; Jesus and His disciples on the Sea of Galilee, more than once; Paul's shipwreck in the Mediterranean.
These events all occurred in the face of pagan cultures that tried to make idols out of the facets and forces of nature; they witness to the power of the One who created those things and is above them.
They were also training and instruction for the Lord's people. In addition to being told to walk right into a river at flood stage—only to see its waters part before them—those bearing the Ark were instructed to stand in the middle while Israel crossed. And then continue to stand there while representatives of the tribes returned to collect stones. They remained there “until everything was finished”. That had to be enough time for them to become tired (if not actually bored), but they didn't become “weary of doing” the task that they had been given.
All these events were witness and training and instruction in their time, as well as reminders in our time.
Despite the Flood
The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.
—Psalm 29:10
The sea is his, for he made it,
and his hands formed the dry land.
—Psalm 95:5
Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan.
—Joshua 3:17
“Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests' feet stood firmly, and bring them over with you and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight.”
—Joshua 4:3b
For the priests bearing the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan until everything was finished that the Lord commanded Joshua to tell the people, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua.
—Joshua 4:10
It is encouraging to think about how many times events highlighted in Scripture demonstrate trust and obedience in the face of waters: river and sea and flood and storm.
Of course, the list begins with the Lord parting and gathering waters to provide dry land. And then it goes on to include Noah and the flood; the parting of the sea by Egypt and the Jordan by Canaan, book-ending the period of instruction and training in the wilderness; Jonah's failed attempt to escape obedience by sea; Elijah crossing and Elisha recrossing the Jordan; Jesus and His disciples on the Sea of Galilee, more than once; Paul's shipwreck in the Mediterranean.
These events all occurred in the face of pagan cultures that tried to make idols out of the facets and forces of nature; they witness to the power of the One who created those things and is above them.
They were also training and instruction for the Lord's people. In addition to being told to walk right into a river at flood stage—only to see its waters part before them—those bearing the Ark were instructed to stand in the middle while Israel crossed. And then continue to stand there while representatives of the tribes returned to collect stones. They remained there “until everything was finished”. That had to be enough time for them to become tired (if not actually bored), but they didn't become “weary of doing” the task that they had been given.
All these events were witness and training and instruction in their time, as well as reminders in our time.