Joshua 4:11-24 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is Joshua 4:11-24. We’ll include verse 10 in here too. Let’s go!
Joshua 4:10-18 (NIV)
10 Now the priests who carried the ark remained standing in the middle of the Jordan until everything the LORD had commanded Joshua was done by the people, just as Moses had directed Joshua. The people hurried over,
11 and as soon as all of them had crossed, the ark of the LORD and the priests came to the other side while the people watched.
12 The men of Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over, armed, in front of the Israelites, as Moses had directed them.
13 About forty thousand armed for battle crossed over before the LORD to the plains of Jericho for war.
14 That day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they revered him all the days of his life, just as they had revered Moses.
15 Then the LORD said to Joshua,
16 “Command the priests carrying the ark of the Testimony to come up out of the Jordan.”
17 So Joshua commanded the priests, “Come up out of the Jordan.”
18 And the priests came up out of the river carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD. No sooner had they set their feet on the dry ground than the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and ran at flood stage as before.
On verses 10-18: If I was one of the priests carrying the ark, and I had to remain standing in the middle of the Jordan River while everyone else is passing through, I would probably be more than a little nervous, thinking, “Can we go over already? What if the river collapses on us and washes us away?” But the priests stayed until all 40,000 Israelites crossed over the Jordan River (v13). It wasn’t until all the soldiers crossed over that God gave the command for the priests to come out of the Jordan (v13-17), and the moment the priests stepped foot on the other side of the Jordan River the river waters returned to flood stage as before (v18).
What can we learn from this? While waiting for God to command our next step, we might be tempted to get anxious and nervous. Sometimes we’ll feel like going when God says, “Not yet”. But rest assured, God’s timing is perfect. His provision is never too early and never too late. He will make sure His people are protected and taken care of.
Also, notice that as a result of this miracle, just as God had planned earlier (Joshua 3:7), the Israelites revered Joshua the same way they revered Moses. What can we learn from this? God is faithful to keep His promises.
Joshua 4:19-24 (NIV)
19 On the tenth day of the first month the people went up from the Jordan and camped at Gilgal on the eastern border of Jericho.
20 And Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken out of the Jordan.
21 He said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their fathers, ‘What do these stones mean?’
22 tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’
23 For the LORD your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The LORD your God did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over.
24 He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God.”
On verses 19-24: Joshua explains to the Israelites that God did the incredible miracle of allowing them to cross the Jordan River on dry ground for two reasons: (1) so that the world would know that God is real and powerful (v24a) and (2) so that His people would trust Him (v24b) and realize that the same God who helped their ancestors in the past is helping them today (v23b).
Likewise, there is always a meaning behind every miracle. Every miracle God does has a lesson behind it that God wants us to learn. So when God does a miracle in your life, don’t just rejoice and don’t just keep going with life. Just as Joshua raised the question, “What do these stones mean?” (v21), ask the Holy Spirit to show you the meaning behind the miracle. For God gives you a miracle not just for show, but to teach you something about who He is.
Heavenly Father, thank You that there is a meaning behind every miracle. Thank You that You are faithful to keep Your promises, and trustworthy to take care of us. Thank You that Your provision always comes at the perfect time, never too early and never too late. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
