18And the priests came up out of the river carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord. No sooner had they set their feet on the dry ground than the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and ran at flood stage as before. - P92
20And Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken out of the Jordan. - P92
21He said to the Israelites, "In the future when your descendants ask their parents, ‘What do these stones mean?’
22tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’
23For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The Lord your God did to the Jordan what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. - P93
24He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God."
1Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the coast heard how the Lord had dried up the Jordan before the Israelites until they had crossed over, their hearts melted in fear and they no longer had the courage to face the Israelites.
- P93
The Lord commands Joshua to tell the priests to come up from the Jordan.
As they do, the waters return to their place. The people camp at Gilgal, whereJoshua sets up the stones taken from the Jordan. He explains their meaningto the Israelites. The Amorite and Canaanite kings hear of what happenedand their hearts melt in fear. - P93
The priests stand firm in the middle of the Jordan until every Israelite has crossed safely. Only when God instructs Joshua do the priests step out, and immediately, the waters return. The crossing of the Jordan marks a pivotal transition in the nation’s history. - P94
Gilgal, where they camp after crossing, symbolizes a fresh beginning—a taste of the promise ahead. Though not yet in full possession of the land, they are closer than ever. This account parallels our salvation journey. - P94
Though we have not yet reached our eternal home, we experience a foretaste of it through the Holy Spirit, who assures us that God is with us. - P94
His faithfulness to us every day strengthens our confidence that He will complete the good work He began in us. - P94
The twelve stones set up at Gilgal serve as a lasting reminder of God‘s faith-fulness and power. Just as crossing the Red Sea marked deliverance fromslavery for the first generation, the crossing of the Jordan River assures thenew generation of God‘s continued presence and promises. These divineacts are not only for Israel‘s encouragement but also serve as a declarationto surrounding nations that the Lord is sovereign. - P94
The fear that falls uponIsrael‘s enemies confirms that Yahweh‘s fame has spread! Our own spiritualmilestones should remind us and testify to others of God‘s greatness.
Every work that God does in our lives is designed both to encourage us andhelp others know Him. - P94
I encourage you to start keeping a record of the moments when God speakslife over you. Write down the Scripture passages, songs, words, and imagesHe uses to bring you comfort and remind you of the truth. Those messageswill become a collection of hope to return to when your heart needs a re-minder of God‘s goodness and faithfulness. - P95
Lord, thank you for the reminders of Your faithfulness in my journey. Help me to remember and recount Your goodness, not just for my own encouragement, but to glorify You and strengthen others. May my life be a monument to Your grace. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P95
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