passing the ark

Joshua 3:16-17 (JDV)

Joshua 3:16 and the water flowing downstream stood still, rising up in a mass that extended as far as Adam, a city next to Zarethan. The water flowing downstream into the Sea of the Arabah – the Dead Sea – was completely cut off, and the people crossed opposite Jericho.
Joshua 3:17 The priests carrying the ark of Yahveh’s covenant stood firmly on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel crossed on dry ground until the entire nation had finished crossing the Jordan.

passing the ark

Notice what God wanted the priests to do, and how that would challenge the people. First, the priests would have to walk into the water in the shallow overflow area, and the water would respond to this act of faith by stopping its stream, leaving the riverbed dry.

Then, the priests with the ark were to walk all the way to the middle of the riverbed and stop. Then the people were to walk the same path and pass them, following on until they reached the other side. Once all the people had completed the route, the priests could resume. This was another challenge because it entailed passing on after the ark (symbolizing the presence of God) had stopped. Would they have the faith to take the path even when there was no physical evidence of God’s presence?

LORD, give us the courage to follow your prescribed path, and wait on you to manifest your presence when you see fit.