EXAMINING GOD’S MESSAGE
Joshua 3:1-13

Introduction:     The children of Israel are poised to enter into Canaan Land . They are ready to claim their inheritance in the land of promise. However, before they can enter Canaan, they must first get past one final, major obstacle: the Jordan River (expound the river’s width at harvest time).

I.          INVOLVES A CHALLENGE (VV.3-4)

When it came time for the people to move forward to cross Jordan, God has a message that they needed to hear. In the words they heard, they were challenged to do three very important things. These things were designed to help them follow the Lord better. These are the same things that we need to hear this morning that will help up to follow the Lord better as well.

A.                 To Watch God

The Ark of the Covenant is mentioned some 7 times in chapter 3. The Ark symbolized the presence and power of God. To Israel , it represented God's presence in the midst of His people. When God moved, they were to move. When God stopped they were to do the same.

(Illus: We would do well, when we face times of crisis, or when we need direction in life to learn to be sensitive to the movement of the Lord in and around us. It is a fact that God loves you and that He will show you what He is doing, John 5:19-20. If you will watch Him, He will teach you how to live day by day.)

B.                 To Follow God

Not only were they to watch God, they were to move when He did. When they saw the Ark of the Covenant move, they were challenged to "leave your place, and go after it" They were to pursue God! (Illus: Again, the lesson for the believer is that it isn't enough to know what God is doing, there comes a time when you must "leave you place and go after Him." This may require us to leave our comfort zone! Israel was about to follow the Ark through a river that was over 1 mile wide! That couldn't have been easy, but it was still necessary and right! Following God may not be the easiest thing you will ever do, but it will be the best thing you ever do. If you ever expect to get past your obstacles and enter your Canaan , you must learn to follow God.)

C.                 To Honor God

Notice that the Israelites are told to stay at least 3000 feet behind the Ark. This was so that they could easily see what was happening ahead of them. Another reason is that the Lord wanted no one but the Levites near the Ark. To get too close would have meant death. (Ill. Again, there is a lesson here for us as well. We must never be guilty of treating God like He is one of our buddies. There must always be a holy reverence and a fear of the Lord in our hearts. God help us that we never allow a spirit of familiarity cheapen or walk with the Lord.) Simply put, these three things are most easily accomplished by learning to walk in the Spirit. That is, learning to give control of your life to the Spirit of God and to follow God as He leads through His Word and through prayer. It may not always be easy, but I can promise you that if you will follow, He will certainly lead!

II.         INVOLVES A COMMAND (V.5)

            A.        To Self Assessment

If you and I ever expect to get past the Jordan's that arise in our lives, we are going to have to learn that one of the first things we must do is examine our lives to make sure they are as clean as possible. May the Lord help us to realize that many of the things that happen in our lives that prevent us from walking in Christian victory are the results of our sin and the Lord's chastisement, Heb. 12:6-11.

B.         To Set Apartness

Next, the people were told to "sanctify yourselves." This referred to being sure they were as clean and holy s possible. They were to put away anything that was displeasing to the Lord. They were to examine themselves and get ready for the Lord to do something great for them. Christian, is everything in your life just as the Lord would have it to be? Remember, there is forgiveness in confessing our sins to the Lord - I John 1:9.

III.       INVOLVES A COMMITMENT (VV.9-13)

This message to the Israelites reminded them that getting across the Jordan did not rest on their shoulders, but on the Lord's. It was His plan to get them over and it was His problem. In these verses, He makes them a promise and tells them that He will bring them through in a powerful fashion. God commits Himself to bringing his people across their Jordan ! All that was required of Israel was that they trust God! (Illus: Things have not changed. If God could be trusted in those days to keep His promises, then He can still be trusted today! Often, we are unable to get past the obstacles in our lives because we live a life that exhibits a deep lack of faith in the promises of God! How do I know? Because of the worry and doubt that marks the lives of the people of God.

¨       We worry over tomorrow, yet the Lord has said - (Mat 6:34) "Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."

¨       We worry over material things, yet the Lord has promised - (Phil 4:19) "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."  (Also see Matt. 6:25-33.)

¨      We worry about facing various things in life, yet the Lord has promised - (Heb 13:5) "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

¨      We worry over so many things, yet the Lord tells us that all of our worry is sin and that our duty is to trust Him - (Phil 4:6-7) "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. {7} And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

The bottom line is this: Jesus is all-powerful, He is all-knowing and He is all-present. He knows what you are going through. He knows everything there is to know about it. He even knows more about it than you do! Here is what He says to you: "The just shall life by faith", Rom. 1:17; "Whatsoever is not of faith is sin", Rom 14:23; "Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith", Matt. 8:26.

Conclusion:       What He says to us is that He is the Lord and that He is greater than any problem we have ever or will ever face in life. His desire is that we simply learn to take Him at His Word and trust Him. We need to remember that what the Lord has promised to do, He will do (Rom, 4:21). That is the message; let us take it to heart!