Joshua Leads the Israelites Across the Jordan River
Crossing the Jordan River, Ely Cathedral Section of a stained glass window in Ely Cathedral, depicting the people of Israel crossing the Jordan into the promised land: While all Israel were crossing over on dry ground, the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, until the entire nation finished crossing over the Jordan. Photo by Steve Day, flickr CCL
Meditation
Sunday, Ordinary 31, Proper 26 centered on what God did for all people. In the Old Testament lesson, God told Joshua that he would make Joshua a great man, able to lead the Children of Israel across the Jordan River into the Promised Land. Despite the fact that Joshua would be perceived as a great man, the actual work would be God’s doing.
The Psalmist recognized the work of God in the Exodus and the Israelite’s accessing the land flowing with milk and honey. Every verse was a tribute to what God had done.
The New Testament epistle to the Thessalonians addressed Paul’s concern that people would misinterpret things. Paul noted what he had taught them—how God had done so much for them.
Jesus indicted those Jews, who set up extra things to do, while they didn’t do what they said to do. The hypocrisy exasperated him and he specified the ways that the Pharisees had failed their followers. When God had done so much and been gracious, the Pharisees were requiring extra work for people that God didn’t need them to do. Their religiosity was superficial and inauthentic. Their focus was on themselves instead of what God had done for people. The words, ‘teacher’ and ‘master’ which should have been reserved for Christ alone, were bandied about by them—they took credit for what God had done.
True faith was about humbling oneself before God and he would lift them up to greatness, like he did Joshua.
We have the same issues. We could be like the Pharisees, whose self-interest dominated whatever they did and misdirected people. Or, we could be like the humble Joshua, who was faithful and willing to be obedient. Then God used his openness to become a great leader. We can be open to the Lord working in our lives.
Thanks be to God.
All Scriptures printed below are in King James Version for copyright purposes. However, clicking on the verse locations will take you to Biblegateway.com where the text is linked to more contemporary versions.
Click on the Scriptures for links to biblegateway.com, where many translations of the same text enhance the understanding the readings, which come from the (RCL) Revised Common Lectionary – Daily Lectionary
Readings. I add a Daily Prayer to bless you with God’s Favor.
Enjoy the Daily Encouragement and Bible Study and may you be inspired to be your best self for Ordinary 31, Proper 26.
Ordinary 31, Proper 26
Faith Is the Victory — ThisisRedz
God’s Victory in Crossing Jordan
This stained glass window by Edward Burne Jones is in St Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh. It shows Joshua and the people of Israel crossing the Jordan into the Promised Land. The Ark of the Covenant stands on the dry waterbed so that they can cross over. It is an image of God’s victory and triumph. Photo by Fr Lawrence Lew, OP, flickr CCL
Prayer: Almighty God, Open my eyes that I might see. Open my mind that I might understand. Open my heart that I might make your words a part of me. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight. Amen
Ordinary 31, Proper 26
He Leadeth Me – The London Fox Singers
Ordinary 31, Proper 26
Bible Readings
http://legacy.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua%203:7-17;Psalm%20107:1-7,%2033-37;1%20Thessalonians%202:9-13;Matthew%2023:1-12&version=KJV;ERV;GNT;NCV;NIV
(multiple versions)
Sunday, Ordinary 31, Proper 26
Daily Bible Verses to Memorize for Meditating
King James Version (KJV)
107 O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Ordinary 31, Proper 26
If My People Shall Humble Themselves and Pray – Jimmy Owens
Single Bible Study chapter to study
King James Version (KJV)
7 And the Lord said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.
8 And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan.
Jordan River, Scott Gunn, flickr CCL
9 And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, Come hither, and hear the words of the Lord your God.
10 And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites.
11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan.
Ark of the Covenant, Westminster College, Cambridge Stained glass in the chapel of Westminster College, Cambridge. The glass is by Douglas Strachan and dates from 1921. Photo by Steve Day, flickr CCL
12 Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man.
13 And 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.
14 And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the Ark of the Covenant before the people;
The Ark of the Covenant, Alan Sheffield, flickr CCL
15 And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,)
16 That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city 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.
Joshua passing the River Jordan with the Ark of the Covenant by Benjamin West, 1800 Wikipedia CCL
17 And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.
OBSERVE:
Take a moment and write three observations of the verses. What strikes you? An observation is an observable fact from the Word.
1.
2.
3.
INTERPRETATION:
What do you interpret these verses to mean for you today?
APPLY:
Today, I learned _____________________________________and apply it to my life.
Prayer of Encouragement
Almighty God, thank you for your faithfulness that led your people out of Egypt and to the Promised Land. Help us to be like Joshua and be open and humble so that you can work in our lives to make us great leaders for your sake. In Jesus name, Amen
Ordinary 31, Proper 26 Music
Open the Eyes of My Heart Lord – K. Lancaster and The Acappella Company
Ordinary 31, Proper 26 Humor
From the Fishes Point of View
©Jeff Larson, Used by permission
Forever – Chris Tomlin
I hope you found a chance to encounter your Creator and experience the Love of God and the joy of Christ in Ordinary 31, Proper 26.
Conclusion
Sunday, Ordinary 31, Proper 26 celebrated the many ways that God worked in the lives of his people. God promised Joshua that he would be a great leader and that God would be responsible for seeing it come to pass. Then he gave Joshua a task to prove the very promise of greatness. Joshua was to call upon the priests to carry the Ark of the Covenant into the middle of the Jordan River, during the time of the rainy season when the Jordan often flooded its banks. Yet, when the priests stepped into the Jordan River, the waters pulled back and the entire Israelite people walked on dry ground to go to the land that God had promised to give them.
When people were faithful God worked things together for their good. Joshua led them into the final leg of the land that he had promised the Patriarchs that he would give them.
God calls on us to be faithful and open to be used by God for great things, like he was able to guide Joshua to be.
Go out and be ready for God to do mighty things in your life—for the glory of God.*
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*If you do not know the Lord as your personal Savior and you are seeking, please contact me. A genuine and simple prayer, asking God into your heart for the forgiveness of your sins will also do.
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