Jordan dried, and Jericho cracked

Joshua Chapters 3 – 6

- The crossing of the Red Sea would be a distant memory for most of the Israelites except for Caleb and Joshua. The others would have died in the wilderness during the 40-year wandering because of the punishment of rebellion and unbelief.

- Joshua and all of Israel came to the Jordan and camped there across from Jericho. Did the people of Jericho know they were there? Could they have been blind? Did GOD just give them another three-day reprieve? The answer to any of these questions is, I don’t know, but the people of Jericho stayed put, didn’t move, didn’t run, didn’t attack, they did … nothing.

- This was the flood season for the Jordan river after all, perhaps the people of Jericho thought, “they can’t cross, we have time.”

- When were young, time never goes by fast enough, later in life when we are busy with education, work, family, hobbies, career, etc., we just can’t find the time, oh we tell ourselves we’ll get to this or that eventually? There is a song called "If Tomorrow Never Comes.”

- GOD tells Joshua he will use this event to begin to exalt Joshua as a leader in the eyes of Israel this day.

- The Priests that carried the Ark of the covenant entered the Jordan river and when only the soles of their feet where in the water (they did not go in very far) the water stop flowing and waters from above that point stood up as a heap very far away by the city of Adam.  

- GOD’s timing is perfect, they crossed the Jordan River during worst time of the year to attempt a crossing, during flood stage. The text states in Joshua 3:15 now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest.

- Remember this, nothing in all of creation can stop GOD from bringing you through to the other side. Just listen to GOD, obey what he has told you and step in, trusting he will do what he promised.

- The people of Israel set up a stone memorial to the crossing as directed by the LORD, as a teaching point for next generation.

- Not until the LORD told Joshua to command the priests to come out of the Jordan and their feet were on dry ground did the waters flow again and it overflowed its banks as it did before they had crossed.

- Something to keep in mind unless you make a point of sharing the things the LORD has brought you through with others and the next generation, people will look back and say I see nothing to prove that anything special has happened here.  So be intentional, share what GOD has done for you, give him the glory.

- In Chapter 5 it says that when all the people of the land heard what had just happened, their hearts melted.

- Next Joshua used the advantage of surprise to attack the city of Jericho …. Nope, that’s not what happened.

- Next GOD told Joshua to make flint knives and circumcise all the males because none of the people that survived the forty-year wanderings had been circumcised as part of the Abrahamic covenant.

- It says they remained camped at Gibeath-haaraloth which means hill of the foreskins. (that's quite a memorial)

- Go ahead google how long it usually takes a grown man to heal from a circumcision, its not a fast process and you’re not gonna feel like fighting battles any time soon.

- Also, while they are there and somewhat incapacitated, they observed their first Passover in Canaan, literally and figuratively, GOD’s timing is impeccable.

- Joshua also has a run-in with the Commander of the LORD’s Army and his sword is drawn, ready in his hand. They have an interesting conversation and Joshua asks him if he’s for them or for Jericho and he says, no. No? He tells Joshua to take off his shoes because he is standing on holy ground, who does that sound like?

- Israel was in a vulnerable spot after the circumcision, I believe Joshua recognized the possibility of attack and was scouting out Jericho, it says he was by Jericho when he came across the Commander of the LORD’s army. 

- My thought is regardless of if it was men or adversarial sons of GOD that were planning to do anything, if the creator of the universe, all powerful GOD is standing there with sword drawn, no matter who or what you are planning, you’re going to turn around and leave, while you can, period. GOD is standing there keeping the peace.

- Now the people of Jericho had time while Israel healed from their circumcision and the did exactly ……. nothing again.

- Now comes the part of the story you’re very familiar with, early every morning they would march around the city, armed, with priests carrying the Ark of the covenant and seven priests blowing trumpets and after circling the city once they would return to camp and spent the night.

- Imagine what Jericho’s army was doing on the wall, following them, every day for six days. It would become a spectacle, people who were not part of the Jericho’s army would want to see this odd, amazing site. Who fights a war like this? Who sieges a city like this?

- Keep in mind every night Israel went back to camp. Anyone who wanted to leave the city, couldn’t they sneak out? The spies had done it, but day after day the people stayed.

- Do not loose sight of this, GOD is merciful above and beyond what you can think or imagine. These people chose to stay, beyond reason and beyond sanity.

- The seventh day was different the Israelites didn’t stop after circling the city the first time. Anyone that was bored and had stop watching was back up on the wall that day, following them around the wall, armed men, and regular nosey citizens. Those crazy Hebrews are stuck in a loop.

- Proof that GOD uses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.

- The people of Jericho had no one to blame, but themselves.

- Rahab and all her father’s household and all that was hers was safe that day.

- Something to remember through this is that nothing will keep GOD from saving or punishing, he is merciful, but sooner than you might expect, time will run out, so don’t let it catch you flat.

- Next Defeat and Deception