Joshua 5
RileyJoshua 5:1-15
THE PRIESTS AND THE PARTING WATERSJoshua, Chapters 3, 4 and 5.“And, Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the Children of Israel, and lodged there before they Passed over” (Joshua 3:1).THE man upon whom responsibility rests seldom sleeps late. He is not conforming his conduct nor limiting his labors to an eight-hour scheme. Such time-observers are never leaders!The spies had made their report! The time to strike had come! Valuable time was not to be lost. Joshua, the true captain, is astir. “And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host: And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord, your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it” (Joshua 3:2-3).
They were now carrying his commands to the people; and the ark, that marvelous symbol, comes into prominence.THE OF THE ARKIt was the symbol of Divine leadership. For a full discussion of the Ark, we refer the reader to Volume II, Old Testament, page 259.
There we discussed its construction and content, its greater spiritual suggestions, and its service and successes. It was between the cherubim, and above the lid enclosing its sacred contents, that the Shekinah glory appeared—the symbol of God’s actual presence.By a study of the chapter above referred to, it will be seen that the ark “rested” in the center of the camp, and in an ordinary march was carried at the middle of the procession. Here it takes the place of the van, for it was to be followed, not attended. Then shall ye “go after it”.What man dare go to war without the recognition of Divine leadership? If God go before, who fears to follow?The space between it and Israel, of two thousand cubits by measure, was essential to the certainty of direction. Had it been in the rear, some other leadership would have been required.
Had it been in the center, only the very few, within twenty feet of it, could behold the Divine symbol; but at a distance of two thousand cubits, every Israelite would behold and follow.God is always careful to make his leadership clear. The man who walks in darkness walks there because he has refused to turn his eyes toward the light, and his feet into the path “that shineth more and more unto the perfect day”.This distance also suggested sacred respect.
The ark contained Aaron’s rod that budded—the symbol of the miraculous power of Jehovah; a pot of manna —symbol of His willingness and ability to provide sustenance to His own; and the tables of the law—a silent voice, more eloquent than thunders, and one that clearly marks the path of righteousness before men’s feet; but, above all, the Shekinah glory—evidence of His own presence.The Ark was a holy thing. It occupied central place in the Holy of Holies and represented the Divine personality in miracle working power, sustaining grace and in righteous guidance. If Moses warned the people against touching any part of the mountain in which God had appeared, lest His holiness flash judgment against their unremitted sins, how necessary that proper distance be put between an unclean people and a perfectly holy God present with the ark. Reverence becomes even the symbol of the Divine presence, and the Shekinah glory was more than symbol. It was the visible expression of personality.This ark signified the successes to be expected.In times past, victory had always attended its presence. “If God be for us, who can be against us”? If God is with us, who dare confront us?
When Joshua encouraged the people, saying, “Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the Lord will do wonders among you”, he put his trust in that Divine presence, signified by the Ark, which was to go before them, and before which the waters of the Jordan would part, the walls of Jericho would fall, and the land of Canaan would surrender. Is there any amazement that the waters of the Jordan part at the presence of the Ark?
Once before those waters have parted, and the rod that the Ark now contains was stretched out over them. At the sight of it they receded. How much more, now, when to the rod is added the pot of manna, the tables of the Law, and the Shekinah glory? Will not the same presence that rolls back the Jordan at a time when its terrific current raced to the Dead Sea, assure success against Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and the Jebusites? Who can fight against God? What army can live when once He has frowned at the same? What walled city can stand when He has spoken against it, and what people dare oppose Him? THROUGH THE ARKThe ark opened passage to promised possessions.
When “the feet of the priests that bare the Ark were dipped in the brim of the water, * * the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap”. How marvelous! “And the priests that bare the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan” (Joshua 3:17).Jehovah is not equal to little miracles only. A man might have dried up the Jordan at certain seasons, but not in the time of the harvest, when its banks were overflowing. That is God’s opportunity! That is the time when He elects to prove His power. Our God doeth wondrously!
He undertakes the impossible and proves that with Him “all things are possible”. Mountains and rivers and oceans are not barriers across the path of the men who follow God.
Faith causes the first to be removed, causes the second to break and bank up, and causes the third to either vanish or yield to a victor.In that passage was included every Israelite. “And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over Jordan”. God doesn’t save a little select company alone. God’s provision of salvation is always adequate, and if any fail it will not be God’s fault.“If by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.“Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life” (Romans 5:12; Romans 5:18).No true believer can perish.That passage was to be properly memorialized.“Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man,“And command ye them, saying, Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the priests? feet stood firm, twelve stones, and ye shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place, where ye shall lodge this night.“Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the Children of Israel, out of every tribe a man: And Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the Ark of the Lord your God into the midst of Jordan, and take you up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the Children of Israel:“That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones?“Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the Children of Israel for ever.“And the Children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, as the Lord spake unto Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the Children of Israel, and carried them over with them unto the place where they lodged, and laid them down there.“And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the Ark of the Covenant stood: and they are there unto this day.“For the priests which bare the Ark stood in the midst of Jordan, until every thing was finished that the Lord commanded Joshua to speak unto the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua: and the people hasted and passed over” (Joshua 4:2-10).Twelve men, representatives of the twelve tribes; twelve men, types of the twelve Apostles; twelve, the use of God’s favorite numeral! Twelve stones, each speaking of a tribe, but all bearing their testimony to God’s interest in every descendant of Israel; and twelve stones that would silently speak to generation after generation through thousands of years, and tell the story of Divine deliverance and of redemption in grace.THE The twelve men represented the twelve tribes. God never forgets any people or fails in His promises to any. There was a distinct difference in these tribes, and some of them were of more worthy sires than others, but grace was manifested alike to them all. Fortunately for weak men, “God is no respecter of persons”. If He has any favorites they are those who need Him most. Christ condemned Pharisees, but received sinners. It matters not to what tribe you belong, you are within the plan of grace and the pale of mercy.The twelve stones signified the complete salvation. They referred not alone to the successful passage of Jordan, but to the circumstance that all were brought over.
At other points you will find recorded deaths and various disasters. Not here! People came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month. There is not the record of the loss of one. What an occasion for memorial! No wonder Jehovah said,“When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones?“Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.“For the Lord your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red sea, which He dried up from before us, until we were gone over:“That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the Lord your God for ever” (Joshua 4:21-24).Circumcision signified their complete separation.
Chapter five is almost entirely given to the repetition of this ceremony. The phrase, “Circumcise again the Children of Israel the second time”, does not refer to a second circumcision for the same individuals.
One circumcision sufficed. One baptism suffices. One salvation is all that will ever be needed. But “the second time” referred to the fact that the first circumcision was not experienced by this new generation, and they must come to God as their fathers came. God has no new way of access to His presence, and will adopt no novel plans in the execution of His program. Neither will He consent that the unwilling be excused, or that His commands be compromised. His salvation is for all the people. His significant ceremonies are also for all.
It was “when they had done circumcising all the people, that they abode in their places in the camp, till they were whale”. It was when all had been obedient that the reproach of Egypt was taken away. It was when all had been obedient that they were fed on “the old corn of the land” and the fruit of the conquered country. It was when all had been obedient that the “captain of the host of the Lord” appeared and manifested more fully both the Divine presence and God’s perfect holiness.