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Joshua 3:1-17
Stephen M. Caswell © 1999
The Pathfinders
During World War II the Air Force had a special squadron known as the " Pathfinders.
"It was made up of the best pilots in the air force.
The pathfinders were sent in before the main force of bombers to mark the targets.
They had special incendiary bombs that set alight the target so the squadrons would know where to drop the bombs.
They were not distracted by the anti aircraft fire or the night fighters sent to get them.
They were men full of courage that could be counted on to fulfil their mission.
They risked their lives so that the other pilots could make their missions successful.
In the same way Israel was to learn that God would go before them into Canaan.
He would march before them and drive out their enemy.
They just had to follow the Lord.
Last Sunday we observed the mission of the two spies sent to Jericho.
We saw how Rahab was saved through faith in God.
After the spies returned to Joshua they gave a full report of their mission.
We read this account in *Joshua 2:23-24.*
/So the two men returned, descended from the mountain, and crossed over; and they came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all that had befallen them.
And they said to Joshua, "Truly the LORD has delivered all the land into our hands, for indeed all the inhabitants of the country are fainthearted because of us."// /
After hearing the report, Joshua acted immediately.
*Joshua 3:1 says:* /And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over./
Early the next morning Joshua and the people moved from Shittim to the Jordan River.
This was a distance of about 10 miles.
It probably took them most of the day to move two million people this far.
Joshua and the people now camped there beside the river.
He knew they had to cross the Jordan but had no idea how it would be accomplished.
Joshua is to be commended for acting so quickly and confidently.
His leadership displayed true faith in God and what He had said.
Now the people are camped by the Jordan, he gives further commands.
*Joshua 3:2 *says: And/ it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host; /
After */three days/* Joshua sent the officers of the people through the camp with instructions on the river crossing.
/Why did he take so long?
Why didn't he issue orders to move out the next day?
/I believe that God didn't tell him immediately what to do.
I believe that God let the people look at the flooded river for three days to show them that humanly speaking the situation was impossible.
God wanted the people of Israel to recognise their need for him to act on their behalf.
After three days God told Joshua what to do and he relayed the command to the people through his officers.
*/ /*
*/God's first command to Israel was /* I.
Follow The Lord
* *
*Joshua 3:3* says: /and they commanded the people, saying, "When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it./
They were to follow the ark of the covenant into Canaan.
/ Why were they commanded to do this?/ /What did the ark of the covenant represent?
/God's presence rested above the mercy seat between the cherubim.
Previously they had followed the pillar of cloud and fire, but now God wanted them to follow the ark of the covenant.
This was an important command and to be obeyed.
God would go before His people and this would be seen through the ark.
The ark of the covenant is mentioned by name or inferred to 14 times in chapter 3. The point the author makes here is twofold.
God goes before His people and He dwells with His People.
*/God gave the people two instructions on following the Him.
/*
Firstly they needed Reverence
*Joshua 3:4a *says: /Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, /
/ /
The people were not to come near the ark of the covenant, but had to stay about 1000 yards away from it.
/Why was this command given?
Wouldn't it have been better to follow closely?/
The children of Israel needed to remain at a distance*/ because the Lord is holy.
/*They were not to treat His presence among them with flippancy.
God asked them to treat Him with */reverence/* and */respect./*
The high priest could come into His presence only once a year and then only after he had made the appropriate sacrifices for sin.
The Israelites must not take His presence among them for granted.
Application
As believers we have been given tremendous privileges.
We have access to God's throne of grace when we pray.
We are indwelt by God's Spirit.
He has revealed so much to us in His word.
He has revealed Who He is, how we should live and what awaits us in heaven.
We enjoy fellowship with His people.
We celebrate the Lord's supper and remember all that He has done for us.
*/But sometimes/* I fear that we take for granted the grace that God has given us.
We allow unconfessed sin to remain in our lives.
We take for granted God's presence with us and His answers to our prayers.
/Do you give God the reverence he deserves?
Do you remember that He is a holy God who hates sin?/ Let us reverence our God as we ought.
Secondly they needed Reliance
*Joshua 3:4b* /that you may know the way by which ye must go: for you have not passed this way before.//
/
The children of Israel had not gone this way before.
It was all new territory for them.
But God knew the */lay of the land/*.
He knew the way that they should take.
If they followed His leadership they could not lose.
/Who could be a better leader than God Himself? /The one who knew the land, who knew their enemies and would lead them to victory.
God wanted them to rely upon Him for guidance and all that they might need.
On their own they were no match for the people of Canaan.
But with God leading them and enabling them they could not lose.
Illustration of Going Through A Minefield
In wartime a soldier must be very careful to follow his commanding officers.
They know more about the enemies movements and traps then he does.
When the army advances through a confined area like a mountain pass or valley, the enemy often places traps or mines there.
At these times the commander of the division will send demolition experts ahead to disarm the mines.
The rest of the division can then pass safely through.
However they must be careful to follow in the path of the demolition squad so that they don't get hurt.
If they step outside the prepared path they will get hurt.
Israel had not been this way before.
But their Commander in chief was God and He knew the right path to take.
They had to follow Him.
Application
*Proverbs 3:5-7 says this:* /Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
// /
The same is true today.
God knows the future.
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