439 – Israel Crosses Jordan

SEMESTER 3

439 – Israel Crosses Jordan

BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE

COURSE: BIBLE SURVEY III LESSON # 39
ISRAEL CROSSES JORDAN

Read Josh. 2:1 through Josh. 3:17.

INTRODUCTION:

1. We might at first wonder, why would the mere crossing of a small river be of sufficient, significance to warrant a lesson?

i. It marks the end of the wilderness trek.
ii. It marks the beginning of Israel as a nation.
iii. It is the first real step of faith taken by the nation as a people.

2. This land (on the other side of Jordan) is what these people left Egypt for.
3. This is the beginning of the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham.

I. THE TIME FRAME

1. This crossing took place about 1404 B.C.
2. It followed 215 years of sojourn by Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and 215 years in Egypt, which was followed by 40 years of wandering in the desert.
3. Now 470 years after the promise was given to Abraham it is to be realized.
4. Their time in this land will be as follows:

i. Twenty-four years in possessing the land under Joshua.
ii. Three hundred thirty years under various judges.
iii. One hundred nineteen years as a unified kingdom under Saul, David and Solomon.
iv. Two hundred and nine more years for Israel (Northern Kingdom) in idolatry under various wicked kings.
v. Three hundred forty-five more years for Judah, the South­ern Kingdom (136 more years than Israel) under somewhat better leadership.
vi. The Northern Kingdom ends in 722 B.C. The Southern Kingdom goes into seventy years of captivity in about 586 B.C.

II. THE MIRACULOUS NATURE OF THIS CROSSING

1. Normally this would be no problem, because Jordan is a small river.
2. But in this case apparently insurmountable problems exist.

i. On the other side of the river the “giants” still exist.
ii. It is now harvest time and the river is overflowing its banks. (Josh. 3:15)

3. No less faith, indeed I expect more, is required to cross this river now, than when they stalled at Kadesh-barnea.
4. The preparations were made by faith which was ministered to them through divine revelation.
5. God performed two miracles making the Jordan passable by these people.

i. He shut up Jericho, so no armies opposed the crossing. (Josh. 6:1)
ii. He stopped the flow of waters, so that the people passed over on dry land, as at the Red Sea. (Josh. 3:13-17)

6. You will notice that they crossed right at the impregnable city of Jericho, with no human resistance. (Josh. 3:16)

III. THE IMPLICATION OF THE CROSSING

1. So long as Israel wandered in the desert they were not really a nation. They were a wandering mass of confused people.
2. When they enter the land, and establish property rights they are a very great nation.
3. In this capacity they became a challenge, and their God a confron­tation to all the wicked nations left in the promised land.