Joshua 3:15, commentary and pictures

At harvest time the Jordan overflowed all its banks, swollen and impetuous so that crossing at the fords was impossible by ordinary means, but the moment the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brim of the water the current was cut off from above and left a dry path for Israel to cross on dry ground. The ark carried at God's command contained the law of God and was the symbol of the divine presence going before the host, with Christ going before it and angels remaining with the priests as they stood in the middle of the channel until the whole host had passed, after which the Jordan rolled on again in its overflow as before. The staying of the waters proved them subject to the same power that had opened the Red Sea forty years before and descended on Sinai amid fire and smoke and thunder. The crossing increased Israel's faith and was memorialized by stones from where the priests' feet stood erected at Gilgal, while its memory later filled Jericho with wonder, alarm and terror as Israel marched around it, and revived on the banks near Bethabara gave thrilling interest to John's message and stirred expectation of what God would again do. The power was not in the ark itself, for its sacredness came only from the law within it and its presence brings prosperity only as that law is obeyed, and God still tries the confidence of His servants by calling them to advance with their feet touching flooded waters where the work looks impossible, opening the way and bringing them into a large place as they move forward in faith, cheerful obedience, humility and earnest prayer.

The Flooded Jordan Crossed

The crossing took place at harvest time, when the Jordan overflowed all its banks. Swollen by melting mountain snows, the river ran swollen and impetuous, so that passage at the usual fords was impossible by ordinary means and only divine help could open the way. God willed the passage to be miraculous rather than an ordinary crossing.

The moment the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, the current was suddenly driven back and cut off from above. The riverbed was left dry, opening a safe path on dry ground for Israel to follow.

The ark of the covenant, which contained the law of God and was regarded as a symbol of God's presence among His people, went before the hosts of Israel into the promised land at God's command. Christ went before the ark and the waters were cut off before Him, and Christ and angels remained with the ark and the priests in the riverbed until all Israel had crossed.

The priests with the ark stood in the middle of the channel while the Hebrew host passed over on dry land until the whole host had crossed. As soon as they came up out of the river with the ark and stood on dry land, God removed His mighty hand and the Jordan rolled on as before in its overflow, rushing down its own channel like a mighty cataract.

Power Seen and Remembered

The flooded river yielded to the same power that had opened the Red Sea forty years before, proving the waters of the Jordan were subject to that power. Many of the new generation had passed through the Red Sea as children and now passed over the Jordan as men of war fully equipped for battle. It was the work of the Mighty One who descended upon Sinai amid fire and smoke and thunder and who parted the Red Sea. The crossing greatly increased the faith of Israel. Stones taken from the riverbed where the priests' feet had stood were erected as a monument at Gilgal to remember that Israel passed over Jordan on dry land. It was a wonder and a glorious triumph that gave fresh hope and courage whenever it was remembered.

God had just prepared this passage through the Jordan shortly before the siege of Jericho, and with the parting of the Red Sea it was remembered in Jericho. Watchmen, rulers, priests and people watched the host of Israel and its daily procession with the ark around their city. The memory filled them with wonder, alarm, awe and terror, and they did not know what further wonders God might work for Israel. So they kept the gates of the city closely shut and set mighty warriors to guard each gate. The staying of the Jordan happened not far from Bethabara beyond Jordan, just below where John was baptizing. The memory of that crossing was revived among the crowds thronging the banks and gave thrilling interest to John's message. It stirred hearts with the thought that He who had wrought so wonderfully in ages past would again manifest His power for Israel's deliverance. With Jericho nearby, the place stirred the whole nation with expectation of what God would again do and of what the Messiah would do if He had actually come to earth.

The miraculous passage took place immediately before the renewal of the covenant by circumcision, the observance of the Passover, the appearance of the Captain of the Lord's host, the command to keep from the accursed thing, and the overthrow of Jericho. The opening of the Jordan stands with bringing Israel out of Egypt, delivering them from oppression, dividing the Red Sea so they passed through on dry land while Pharaoh's pursuing army perished, proclaiming the law from Sinai, and choosing them as His people. It stands also as a manifestation of His power to save like the storm He later sent that destroyed the Philistine host. These were blessings so great that Israel could never have repaid them even by their best service, yet they failed utterly and finally refused God's best gift in Jesus Christ.

Obedience and Faith Required

The power that parted the flooded Jordan was not in the ark itself, for it was the law of God alone that gave the ark its sacredness. Its presence brings prosperity only as that law is obeyed, and Israel's strength lay not in the wooden chest but in obedience to the law contained and kept within it, which represents God Himself. That crossing was a wonder and a glorious triumph connected with bearing the ark before the people into the river, leaving a safe path for that vast company, and it was remembered together with the easy conquest of Jericho when the ark was borne. Yet Israel afterward recalled that triumph as if the mere presence of the ark had caused victory, and thought that bringing it into battle would guarantee triumph over enemies.

God does not always make everything plain beforehand, but tries the confidence of His servants by bringing them into strait and trying places. There duty requires advance while their feet are touching the waters of Jordan at flood stage and the work looks impossible for lack of means. At such times they are to move forward in faith and earnest prayer, and God will reveal His salvation and open the way before them. He will prosper the effort and sustain every laborer who obeys His command to go into all the world with the message, and bring them out into a large place.

God still brings about His purpose for His people to possess and establish His work in places where it will have influence at a time when rivers of difficulty are full and overflowing their banks. Bringing His designs to pass in such a time requires faith and cheerful obedience, walking and working by faith. It calls for striving by godly conduct, humility, prayers and earnest efforts to bring others to appreciate the good work God has established among them.