sermons by IVOR POWELL

JOSHUA AND THE PROMISE

THAT STOPPED A RIVER

"And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is

among you... it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of

the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the Lord, the Lord of

all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of

Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from

above; and they shall stand upon an heap" (Josh. 3:10-13).

This obscure story in the book of Joshua has become one of the

most challenged of all the Bible incidents. It describes how the

waters of the flooded Jordan river were held back to provide a safe

and dry crossing as the children of Israel entered Canaan. The old

giants disagree in their interpretation of the account. Some deny its

accuracy, stating it never happened. Others supply details suggesting

the phenomenon was caused by an earthquake. Christians believe

it was a miracle, the fulfillment of a very important promise.

The Significant Promise... Illustrated

It should be remembered that on that significant day much more

was at stake than the crossing of a river. A new leader had arrived

to take charge of the nation, and inevitably, some people would

challenge his authority. Believing Moses was the ultimate in statesmanship,

they would be reluctant to obey his successor. God had

said, "As I was with Moses, so will I be with thee," but something

more was needed. Israel had to be convinced that God meant what He

said The crossing of the Jordan was the first test to be undertaken.

When the Hebrews left Egypt, God assisted the Exodus by dividing

the Red Sea (see Ex. 14:21-22). If God were to fulfill the promise

made to Joshua, then it would be necessary to repeat His action.

When the children of Israel saw the miraculous drying of the river,

they remembered what God had promised, and their respect for

Joshua increased.

The Special Power... Influencing

"The waters which came down from above stood and rose up

upon an heap very far from the city of Adam, that is beside Zaretan:

and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt

sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against

Jericho" (Josh. 3:16). How could this sensational event occur? Many

insist that this was no miracle since the event can be explained as a

natural phenomenon. They point out that on December 8, 1267, an

earthquake caused the high banks of the Jordan to collapse near Tell

ed-Damiyeh, damming the river for about 10 hours. On July 11,

1927, another earthquake near the same location blocked the river for

21 hours. Of course these stoppages did not occur during flood season.

Admittedly, God could have employed natural causes such as an

earthquake and a landslide, but the timing would have still made it a

miraculous intervention. Does the biblical text allow for such an

interpretation of this event? Considering all the factors involved, it

seems best to view this occurrence as a "special act of God brought

about in a way unknown to man" (The Bible Knowledge Commentary

on the Old Thstnmen~ p. 335, Walvoord and Zuck, Victor Books).

Joshua said the event took place when the river Jordan was overflowing

its banks. Only a cataclysmic event could have held back raging

flood waters, and this became obvious to the people who might have

discredited Joshua's authority.

The Stony ....... Indicating

The priests who walked by faith into the river were to be commended

for their action. Men of lesser stature might have feared

death by drowning. Nothing happened until the feet of the priests

were actually in the water. "And as. .. the feet of the priests..

were dipped in the brim of the water... that the waters which came

down from above, stood and rose up upon an heap" (Josh. 3:15,16).

"Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things

not seen" (Heb. 11:1). It is the key which unlocks the treasure house

of heaven. The ten lepers cleansed by the Savior only experienced

deliverance when they also walked by faith. "And it came to pass,

that, as they went, they were cleansed" (Luke 17:14). Joshua erected

two memorial pillars of stone, one in the bed of the river and the

other on its bank. They were meant to remind the people they were

leaving a carnal wilderness experience to seek a new, triumphant

life in God's land of milk and honey.

Got any rivers you think are uncrossable?

Got any mountains you can't tunnel through?

God specializes in things thought impossible;

He can do things no other can do.