EXPLORE THE TEXT

Dry Ground (Josh. 3:14-17)

Application Point:

We can be sure that God never fails to provide perfectly for His people during their time of need.

14 When the people broke camp to cross the Jordan,
the priests carried the ark of the covenant ahead of the people.
15 Now the Jordan overflows its banks throughout the harvest season.
But as soon as the priests carrying the ark reached the Jordan,
their feet touched the water at its edge
16 and the water flowing downstream stood still,
rising up in a mass that extended as far as Adam, a city next to Zarethan.
The water flowing downstream into the Sea of the Arabah-the Dead Sea-
was completely cut off, and the people crossed opposite Jericho.
17 The priests carrying the ark of the Lord’s covenant stood firmly on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan,
while all Israel crossed on dry ground until the entire nation had finished crossing the Jordan.

Review:

Review Joshua’s role in Exodus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
Note that God called him to lead Israel in Joshua 1 and now we pick up on his first steps in leading the people across the Jordan River and into the promised land.

Ask:

Discuss how the Jordan River presented a barrier to Israel reaching the promised land.

Recap:

Stress the significance of the timing of this river crossing:

This event happened in the spring when the Jordan River was in its flood stage.
Typically, the Jordan was not difficult to cross.
Throughout most of the year, the Jordan was anywhere from three to ten feet deep and ninety to a hundred feet wide.
However, its being at flood stage means that the water was overflowing its banks, which also means that the depth and width of the river were significantly deeper and wider than normal. .

With these conditions, the river appeared to be impossible to cross.
These circumstances highlight just how amazing this miracle was. (PSG, p. 31)

Reflect:

Nothing is impossible with God.
Discuss the meaning of the phrase and its significance in these verses.

(v. 14)

In both events the Lord miraculously separated waters and allowed His people to cross on dry ground.
In both instances the waters “heaped up” (Ex. 15:8;
“rising up in a mass,” Josh. 3:16),
as God’s people overcame a tremendous obstacle.
And the primary purpose of each crossing
was to bring glory to God and to affirm the man God had chosen to lead Israel (Ex. 14:31; Josh. 3:7-13).