Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri. This lesson treatment is published in the July 2020 issue of Christian Standard + The Lookout. (Subscribe to our print edition.)
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Lesson Aim: Be strong and courageous; God is faithful to keep all his promises.
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By Mark Scott
Proverbs 13:12 says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life” (English Standard Version). Israel had longed for the Promised Land for years. Their hearts were sick for their real home. Their desire was about to be fulfilled. All they had to do was cross the Jordan River—at flood stage.
Joshua’s leadership was firmly in place (chapter 1). Israel’s spies had been successful in their scouting mission—aided by Rahab (chapter 2). Now Israel was ready to move toward the Jordan River (chapter 3). Israel was to follow the Levitical priests who were carrying the ark of the covenant.
The Promised Land Entered (3:1-17)
The progression of the text is that God spoke to Joshua, then Joshua spoke to the Israelites, and then Israel crossed the Jordan. To bolster Joshua’s leadership clout in the eyes of Israel, God promised that he would exalt (magnify or make great) him as he had done with Moses. This was accomplished by crossing the Jordan River (Joshua 4:14). God’s promise of his presence always reassured his leaders.
Joshua passed on God’s message to the Israelites. He beckoned them to come and listen (“hear” from the Hebrew word, shema). He promised that they would discern the presence of the living God by how he drove out the seven “ites” who occupied the land flowing with milk and honey. Joshua’s words were emphatic. He said God would certainly drive out these nations. When the Hebrew language wants to strongly emphasize something, it piles up the same word. That is what happened here. Literally, “In driving out, I will drive out” these peoples. Israel did not have to worry about it getting done. God would do it.
The rock crew (one man from each of the twelve tribes, Joshua 4:2-10) would assist the priests in this crossing. While the priests bearing the ark of the covenant stood in the water allowing Israel to cross, the rock crew was to select stones to build a memorial to commemorate this historic moment. The people broke camp and the event happened as promised. Reminiscent of the Israelites’ departure from Egypt—and perhaps close to where Elisha would later strike the Jordan (Exodus 15:8; Psalm 78:13; 2 Kings 2:8), the river dried up so the people could cross into the Promised Land.
The Jordan River flows from the Sea of Galilee in the north (which is 654 feet below sea level) south for 70 miles to the Dead Sea (1,300 feet below sea level). The change in elevation is significant—especially with the river at flood stage. We know that the crossing was opposite Jericho. If Adam near Zarethan can be rightly identified, then the waters heaped up 15 miles north. That breadth would actually be needed for the thousands of Israelites to cross over. (See Mark Ziese’s College Press NIV Commentary: Joshua, 113-115 for the logistics of this event.) Two earthquakes at different times dammed up the Jordan River (once on December 8, 1267, for 10 hours and once on July 11, 1927, for 21 hours), but what is described in this Scripture seems miraculous. The Bible Knowledge Commentary (John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck) suggests that through this event “God was glorified, Joshua was exalted, Israel was encouraged, and the Canaanites were terrified.”
The Promised Land Secured (21:43-45; 23:1-5)
Crossing the Jordan River did not secure the land. There was a healthy tension between God “giving” Israel the land and Israel having to “take” the land. Divine sovereignty and human responsibility have to work in harmony. Many battles had to be fought. And while not every enemy had been defeated completely, Israel secured the land. The first part of this text took place following the allotment of the land and before the eastern tribes (Reuben, Gad, and one-half the tribe of Manasseh) headed to their home.
God gave Israel the land and fulfilled his promise to their ancestors (fathers). In addition, he gave them rest on every side. God did this in pieces (Deuteronomy 7:22), but not one of his good promises (words) failed (was cast down). After a long time (10 to 20 years), Joshua gave his farewell speech to his people. He reminded them of what God had done for them and of what they had yet to do. The land from the Jordan River on the east to the Great Sea on the west was to be Israel’s land. The Promised Land was a gift from a God who kept his promises.
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Lesson study ©2019, Christian Standard Media. Print and digital subscribers are permitted to make one print copy per week of lesson material for personal use. Lesson based on the scope and sequence, ©2019 by Christian Standard Media. Scripture quotations are from the New International Version, ©2011, unless otherwise indicated.
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