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06Jos003.mp3
Commentary
Joshua 3
Similar to the parting of the Red Sea, God did manifest His mighty handiwork through the word of Joshua to the People. They crossed the river Jordan on dry ground as the already overflowing waters stood in a heap on either side of the long line of People as they passed. It is interesting that God would choose to use this miracle to establish Joshua's credibility in the sight of all the People. It is also noteworthy that God would magnify His chosen leaders as a sort of validation of His hand on the Chosen Leader. This sort of thing authenticates the Presence of God and that He will carry out all that He said He would. This enables the People to see that what Joshua says as the words of God, it is truth, and must be taken heed to.
God said that Joshua would be equal to Moses as the leader of the People. This must mean that Joshua, too, will speak face to face, mouth to mouth with God and that every word would be accurate and directly from God to Moses... now Joshua. The People are not left without a leader to guide them the rest of the way into the land of plenty. In fact, Jericho is just on the other shore of the Jordan. When the People passed over, they were right up against the walled city, Jericho. God's word declared that He will overthrow the inhabitants of the land, naming every tribe specifically. The rules are laid out, the proclamation of success is spoken. Now the People will follow specific instructions for each encounter.
The mighty hand of God will have a variety of different tactics for defeating the enemy, many of which have never even been imagined before. The result will leave the remaining nations breathless in awe and fear of God, as the People will take their place in the land. The current inhabitants are right to be afraid. After all, the People of God are coming to drive them out. In many cases, there will be none left alive to tell the stories to future generations. No matter, God can make His name known in any way He chooses.
It should be esteemed as unexplainable, even by scientists, that the parting of the Jordan river, and the parting of the Red Sea did not have any global impact. My mind can imagine countless effects that such an event would have as a result of the water changing as significantly as it has, and in such a short time. There was no flooding up or down river. There was no drought during this time of crossing. The People were great in number, and the crossing didn't happen in a few short hours. I would have to assume that it took a week or two for everyone to cross over, and during that time the water stood in a heap on either side of the crossing procession.
Imagine what other miracles God performed, and without any adverse natural disasters as a result of His miraculous doings. I can give examples here, but the point is that while God did declare that He will make His name known, and that He would establish His authority through the appointed leaders, He doesn't brag about how this and that didn't happen, and how this and that did. The People, and all the world done all the bragging. God declared it. It came to pass. The People rejoiced. The world stood in awe, and told the story from generation to generation.
Friday, February 19, 2010 11:23am
