Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Joshua 3
Joshua 3:5Then Joshua said to the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you."
This command highlights the spiritual principle that preparation of the heart is a prerequisite for experiencing God's miraculous work.Joshua 3:7The Lord said to Joshua, "Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.
God explicitly states that this miracle will serve to establish Joshua's authority, showing the people that God is with him just as He was with Moses.Joshua 3:17And the priests who bore 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.
This verse captures the climax of the miracle, with the priests standing firm on dry ground in the middle of the riverbed, a powerful symbol of God's complete control over nature.
Historical & Cultural Context
On the Edge of a Promise
After forty years of wandering in the wilderness, the generation that came out of Egypt has passed away. Now, a new generation stands at Shittim, on the eastern bank of the Jordan River, with their new leader, Joshua. They can see the Promised Land, but between them and their inheritance is the Jordan, overflowing its banks during the harvest season. This natural barrier represents the final, intimidating obstacle before they can claim God's promise.
Following God's Presence into the Unknown
The plan for crossing is not a military strategy but a divine one. God instructs Joshua that the Ark of the Covenant, symbolizing His very presence, will lead the way. The people are commanded to follow at a respectful distance and to consecrate themselves, setting themselves apart for this holy event. This emphasizes that their entry into the land is not by their own strength but by the power and presence of God Himself.
Crossing the Impossible River
After decades of waiting, Israel is finally ready to enter the land God promised them. In Joshua 3, they face their last major hurdle: the Jordan River at its most treacherous flood stage. The chapter unfolds not as a story of human ingenuity, but as a powerful demonstration of God's faithfulness. The scene is set for a miracle that will define a new generation and solidify their trust in both God and their new leader, Joshua.
Preparation and Consecration (Joshua 3:1-6)
1 Then Joshua rose early in the morning and they set out from Shittim. And they came to the Jordan, he and all the people of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over.
2 After three days the officers went through the camp
3 and commanded the people, “As soon as you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall set out from your place and follow it,
4 Yet there shall be a distance between you and it, about 2,000 cubits in length. Do not come near it, in order that you may know the way you shall go, for you have not passed this way before.”
5 Then Joshua said to the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you."
6 And Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on before the people.” So they took up the ark of the covenant and went before the people.
Commentary:
Israel is commanded to prepare spiritually and follow God's presence, symbolized by the Ark, into unknown territory.
Related Verse Analysis
God's Promise to Joshua (Joshua 3:7-8)
7 The Lord said to Joshua, "Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.
8 And as for you, command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, ‘When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’”
Commentary:
God personally assures Joshua that He will use this miracle to confirm his leadership in the eyes of all Israel.
The Sign of the Living God (Joshua 3:9-13)
9 And Joshua said to the people of Israel, "Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God."
10 And Joshua said, "Here is how you shall know that the living God is among you and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Perizzites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, and the Jebusites.
11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is passing over before you into the Jordan.
12 Now therefore take twelve men from the tribes of Israel, from each tribe a man.
13 And when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap."
Commentary:
Joshua announces that the parting of the Jordan will be a clear sign that the living God is among them and will give them victory.
The Miraculous Crossing (Joshua 3:14-17)
14 So when the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people,
15 and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest),
16 the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho.
17 And the priests who bore 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.
Commentary:
The priests' act of faith triggers the miracle, and the Jordan River stops flowing, allowing all of Israel to cross on dry land.
God's Power, Presence, and Promises
Faith Requires Action
The miracle at the Jordan did not happen while the Israelites waited safely on the bank. It was triggered the moment the priests' feet, carrying the Ark, stepped into the dangerous, flooding water. This teaches that faith is active obedience to God's word, not passive, even when circumstances look intimidating.
The Holiness of God's Presence
The Ark of the Covenant symbolized God's throne on earth, and the command for the people to keep a distance of 2,000 cubits (about half a mile) was a powerful lesson in reverence. It showed that God was leading them and was accessible, but He is also holy and must be approached with awe and respect.
God Makes a Way
Just as God parted the Red Sea for the previous generation, He parts the Jordan River for the new one. This event served as a crucial link between the past and the present, demonstrating that the same God who rescued them from Egypt was now with them to bring them into the Promised Land. It proves that no physical obstacle can stop God's promises from being fulfilled.
Divine Confirmation of Leadership
God explicitly used this very public and undeniable miracle to establish Joshua's authority. By showing that His presence was with Joshua just as it was with Moses, God unified the nation behind their new leader. This gave the people the confidence they needed to follow Joshua into the military campaigns that lay ahead.
Stepping into Your Promised Land
The Jordan River represents any challenge that seems too big to handle alone, like a difficult decision, a broken relationship, or a daunting new venture. Joshua 3 teaches that you don't cross these rivers with your own strength. You cross by fixing your eyes on God's presence and taking that first, obedient step of faith (Joshua 3:15), trusting that He will make the way clear as you move forward.
Consecration today isn't about ritual purity, but about intentionally setting yourself apart for God's purposes. As seen in Joshua 3:5, it means quieting the noise of the world to focus on Him through prayer, removing known sin from your life, and aligning your heart with His will. It's about creating the spiritual space needed to hear His voice and see His wonders clearly.
This verse is a powerful reminder that you can't navigate new territory using old maps. When you face something you've never experienced, it requires a deeper level of trust and dependence on God. It means paying closer attention to the guidance in His Word and being more sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit, rather than relying solely on your own wisdom or past successes.
God's Presence Makes the Way
Joshua 3 declares that God's presence goes before His people to conquer what seems unconquerable. The parting of the Jordan was a divine sign that the God who makes promises is faithful to fulfill them, not merely a miracle of convenience. It confirmed His chosen leader and fortified the faith of a new generation. The message is both powerful and personal: when we follow God's lead into the unknown, He opens a path where none exists.
What This Means for Us Today
The crossing of the Jordan is an invitation to trust God at the edge of our own impossibilities. Just as the priests had to step into the water first, we are called to move forward in faith, believing that God will meet us in our obedience. This chapter invites us to leave the wilderness of our past behind and step onto the 'dry ground' He provides for our future.
- What 'first step' into the water is God asking you to take right now?
- How can you better fix your eyes on God's presence instead of the 'flooded river' of your circumstances?
- Who in your life needs to hear your story of how God made a way for you in the past?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
This chapter details the mission of the two spies into Jericho, setting the stage for the first military conquest after crossing the river.
Immediately following the crossing, this chapter describes the creation of a stone memorial to ensure future generations would remember God's mighty act at the Jordan.
Connections Across Scripture
This chapter recounts the parting of the Red Sea, the defining miracle for the previous generation, which the Jordan crossing directly mirrors in theme and power.
The prophet Elijah strikes the Jordan with his cloak and the waters part, showing a similar theme of God's power over water through His chosen servant.
This chapter celebrates heroes of the faith who acted on God's promises without seeing the full outcome, much like the priests who stepped into the Jordan.
Discussion Questions
- The priests had to step into the flooding river before it parted. What does this teach us about the relationship between faith and action in our own lives?
- God told the people to keep a significant distance from the Ark of the Covenant. Why was this reverence for God's presence so important then, and how can we cultivate a similar sense of awe for God today?
- This miracle was designed to show Israel that the same God who was with Moses was now with Joshua. Why is it so important for us to remember God's faithfulness in the past as we face challenges in the present?
Glossary
places
Jordan River
The major river forming the eastern border of the Promised Land, which the Israelites had to cross to enter Canaan.
Shittim
The final campsite of the Israelites on the east side of the Jordan River before they entered the Promised Land.
Jericho
A heavily fortified Canaanite city that was the Israelites' first military target after crossing the Jordan.