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

In Joshua’s day, God did not simply remove the obstacle and then invite His people to move forward. He required both the priests and the nation to trust Him at every stage of the process. The instructions were carefully designed to test and strengthen faith.

The priests carrying the ark were commanded to step first into the shallow overflow waters of the Jordan. At flood stage, the river had spread beyond its banks, making crossing seem impossible. Yet God did not stop the water before they moved. The priests had to advance toward the obstacle in obedience, trusting that the Lord would act as He had promised. Only after they stepped into the water would the river cease flowing and the riverbed become dry. Their obedience came before the miracle. Faith was demonstrated not by standing safely on the shore and waiting for visible proof, but by moving forward on the basis of God’s word.

The challenge did not end there. After entering the riverbed, the priests were instructed to walk all the way to the middle and stand still with the ark. The ark represented the presence, authority, and guidance of God among His people. While the priests remained in place, the entire nation was to pass by them and continue across to the opposite bank. Thousands of Israelites would walk past the visible symbol of God’s presence and keep moving forward until they reached the other side.

This required another expression of faith. The people could not remain gathered around the ark in the middle of the riverbed. They had to continue on the path God had opened for them. The priests stayed behind while the nation moved ahead. In a sense, the people were called to trust the Lord even when they could no longer see fresh evidence of His activity. The river remained stopped because God was at work, but the people still had to keep walking. Their confidence rested not in what they could immediately observe but in the reliability of God’s promise.

Believers often face similar moments. Sometimes God’s guidance is unmistakable at the beginning of a journey, yet the path ahead requires continued trust when visible signs seem absent. Faith is not sustained by constant displays of divine power but by confidence in God’s character and word. The Lord calls His people to follow the path He has established, to move forward in obedience, and to trust that His presence remains with them even when it is not dramatically displayed. He is never absent from the work He begins, and He remains faithful to bring His people safely through every obstacle according to His perfect timing and purpose.

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