Joshua 3:1 - Meaning and Application

Rahab, when she told the spies how the Red Sea had dried up (Joshua 2:10), showed that this news had frightened the Canaanites more than anything else. It also suggests that people on the far side of the Jordan expected that river to give way in the same way. We do not know whether Israel expected this, but God often did things for them that they did not foresee (Isaiah 64:3).

Here we are told that they came to the Jordan and camped there (Joshua 3:1). They had not yet been told how they would cross, and they had no ordinary means to get over it. Still, they moved forward in faith, because they had already been told they would pass over it (Joshua 1:11). We must keep moving in the path of duty even when we see trouble ahead, trusting God to help us when we reach it. Let us go as far as we can, and depend on God’s power for what we cannot do ourselves.

Joshua led them on this march, and special notice is given to his early rising, as it is on other occasions too (Joshua 6:12; Joshua 7:16; Joshua 8:10). This shows that he did not love comfort, but cared deeply about his work and was willing to put effort into it. Those who want to do great things must rise early. “Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty.” Joshua set a good example for the officers under him. He taught them to rise early and to give steady attention to the work of their office.

The people were also told to follow the ark. Officers went through the camp to give these instructions (verse 2), so every Israelite would know both what to do and what to trust. They were to trust the ark to lead them, which meant trusting God himself, since the ark was the sign of his presence. It seems the pillar of cloud and fire had been removed, unless it now hovered over the ark and gave them a double guide. In either case, honor was given to the ark, and protection was given to that honor.

It is called here the ark of the covenant of the Lord their God. What stronger encouragement could they have than this, that the Lord was their God, bound to them in covenant? Here was the ark of the covenant, and if God is ours, we need not fear any evil. He was near them, present with them, and went before them. What could go wrong for people so guided and guarded? In the past, the ark was carried in the middle of the camp, but now it went before them to search out a resting place for them (Numbers 10:33), and, in a way, to give them formal possession of the promised land.

Inside the ark were the tablets of the law, and above it was the mercy seat. This shows that God’s law and grace ruling in the heart are the surest signs of his presence and favor. Those who want to be led to the heavenly Canaan must take God’s law as their guide, “If you want to enter life, keep the commandments,” and keep the great sacrifice for sin, that is, Christ’s death that turns away wrath, in view, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

They could also depend on the priests and Levites, the tribe set apart for sacred service, who were appointed to carry the ark before them. The work of ministers is to hold out the word of life and to care for the ordinances that show God’s presence and carry his power and grace. In this, they must go before God’s people on the way to heaven.

The people themselves had to follow the ark: “Remove from your place and go after it.” They were to do this as people who were determined never to leave it. Wherever God’s ordinances are, there we must be. If they move, we must move after them. They were also to follow as people fully satisfied that the ark would lead them in the best way to the best end. So we too should say, “Lord, I will follow you wherever you go.” Their whole concern was to watch the movements of the ark and follow it with simple trust. In the same way, we must walk according to the rule of the word and the Spirit’s direction in everything, and then peace will be upon us, as it was then upon the Israel of God. They were to follow the priests only as far as the priests carried the ark. So we must follow our ministers only as they follow Christ.

In following the ark, they were also to keep their distance (verse 4). None of them was to come within about a thousand yards of it. This showed their deep reverence for the sign of God’s presence, so that closeness would not lead to disrespect. This command to keep back fit that earlier time of darkness, bondage, and fear. But now, through Christ, we come near with boldness.

It also made clear that the ark could protect itself. It did not need armed men to guard it, but instead guarded the people who followed it. What a bold challenge to the enemy it was, leaving all its friends half a mile behind, except for the unarmed priests who carried it. Yet it was fully able to keep itself safe and to keep safe those who followed it.

This distance also made the ark easier to see for those who were to be led by it, so they could know the way they must go, as if it were marked out before them. If they had been allowed to crowd around it, they would have surrounded it, and only those nearest to it would have seen it. But with the ark set out ahead of them, all could see it, and all could be encouraged by the sight. There was good reason for this, since “you have not passed this way before.” That had been true of all their wilderness journey, but it was especially true here, at the Jordan.

While we are in this world, we must expect unusual events and prepare for paths we have never traveled before. That is even more true when we leave this life. Our path through the valley of the shadow of death is one we have not gone before, and that makes it more frightening. Yet if we have God’s presence with us, we need not fear. That presence will give us strength for work we have never done before.

They were also told to set themselves apart and prepare to wait on the ark, and there was good reason for that: “Tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you” (verse 5). Joshua speaks greatly of God’s works. He does wonders, and for that reason he is to be worshiped, admired, and trusted. Joshua also seems closely aware of God’s plans, since he could tell ahead of time what God would do and when.

This shows what preparation we must make if we want to receive God’s glory and his gifts of grace. We must sanctify ourselves, that is, set ourselves apart for God and cleanse ourselves from sin. We must do this when we are to attend the ark and when God is about to do wonders among us. We must set aside other concerns, give ourselves to God’s honor, and wash ourselves from all uncleanness of body and spirit. Israel was now entering the holy land, and so they had to sanctify themselves.

God was about to give them remarkable signs of his favor. So they needed to prepare their hearts by meditation and prayer, watching closely for what he was doing. In that way, they could give God the glory and also find comfort in his work.

The priests were told to take up the ark and carry it in front of the people (Joshua 3:6). Normally, this was the work of the Levites, the tribe set apart for special religious service (Numbers 4:15). But on this great occasion, the priests themselves were ordered to do it. They obeyed at once, and they did not feel lowered by the task. They went before the people, and they did not think of themselves as being put at risk. The ark they carried was both their honor and their protection.

We may think of Moses’ prayer when the ark set out, “Rise up, Lord, and let your enemies be scattered” (Numbers 10:35). This also teaches rulers to encourage ministers in their work and use their authority to support true religion. Ministers, for their part, must learn to lead the way in God’s path and not draw back when danger is near. They should expect to face the strongest attacks, but they know in whom they have trusted.