INTRODUCTION: The crossing of the Jordan River marks a major change in the lives of the Israelites. They are leaving the wilderness behind and entering into the Promised Land. The Jordan River becomes a type of death to us. It pictures death to self for the believer and a more victorious Christian life. Or, it can picture physical death and our entrance into the eternal land of promise. Are you ready to cross the Jordan?

1. PREPARATION FOR THE CROSSING (Joshua 3:1-6 [1] 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. [2] And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host; [3] 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. [4] Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore. [5] And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you. [6] And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people.
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1. Moving to the Banks of the Jordan (Joshua 3:1And 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.
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2. Commanded To Follow the Ark (Joshua 3:2-4 [2] And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host; [3] 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. [4] Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.
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1. Go after it (Joshua 3:2-3 [2] And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host; [3] 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.
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2. Come not near unto it (Joshua 3:4Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.
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3. Ye have not passed this way heretofore (Joshua 3:4Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.
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3. Sanctified in Preparation for Divine Wonders (Joshua 3:5And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you.
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4. The Ark Placed in Front of the Congregation (Joshua 3:6And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people.
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2. INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE CROSSING (Joshua 3:7-13 [7] And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee. [8] And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan. [9] And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, Come hither, and hear the words of the LORD your God. [10] And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites. [11] Behold, the ark of the covenant of the LORD of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan. [12] Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man. [13] And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the LORD of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap.
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1. Instructions to Joshua (Joshua 3:7-8 [7] And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee. [8] And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan.
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1. The Lord will magnify Joshua in the sight of Israel (Joshua 3:7And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.
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2. Joshua is to command the priests that bear the ark to stand still in the Jordan (Joshua 3:8And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan.
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2. Instructions to the Children of Israel (Joshua 3:9-13 [9] And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, Come hither, and hear the words of the LORD your God. [10] And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites. [11] Behold, the ark of the covenant of the LORD of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan. [12] Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man. [13] And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the LORD of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap.
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1. The people are to come near and hear the words of God (Joshua 3:9And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, Come hither, and hear the words of the LORD your God.
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2. The people will receive a token of God’s presence (Joshua 3:10-11 [10] And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites. [11] Behold, the ark of the covenant of the LORD of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan.
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3. The waters of Jordan will be cut off (Joshua 3:13And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the LORD of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap.
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3. THE ACTUAL CROSSING OF THE JORDAN (Joshua 3:14-17 [14] And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people; [15] And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,) [16] That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho. [17] 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.
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1. The Drying Up of the Jordan (Joshua 3:14-16 [14] And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people; [15] And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,) [16] That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.
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1. When the priests stepped into the water (Joshua 3:14-15 [14] And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people; [15] And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,)
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2. At the time of the flooding (Joshua 3:15And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,)
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3. Drying up a long section of river (Joshua 3:16That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.
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1. From the city Adam: about 15 miles north of Jericho
2. To the salt (Dead) sea: about 5 miles south of Jericho
2. The Passing Over of the Israelites (Joshua 3:17And 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.
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1. The priests stood firm on dry ground.
2. All the Israelites passed over on dry ground.
4. THE SETTING UP OF MEMORIALS (Joshua 4:1-9 [1] And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over Jordan, that the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying, [2] Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man, [3] 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. [4] Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man: [5] 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: [6] 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? [7] 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. [8] 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. [9] 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.
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1. Twelve Stones Taken Out of Jordan (Joshua 4:1-8 [1] And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over Jordan, that the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying, [2] Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man, [3] 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. [4] Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man: [5] 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: [6] 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? [7] 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. [8] 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.
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1. To be carried by twelve chosen men (Joshua 4:1-5 [1] And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over Jordan, that the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying, [2] Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man, [3] 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. [4] Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man: [5] 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:
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1. Men to be chosen from every tribe (Joshua 4:1-2 [1] And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over Jordan, that the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying, [2] Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man,
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2. Twelve stones to be removed from the Jordan and placed in the lodging place of the children of Israel (Joshua 4:3And 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.
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3. Joshua instructs the twelve men (Joshua 4:4-5 [4] Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man: [5] 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:
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2. As a sign to the children (Joshua 4:6-7 [6] 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? [7] 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.
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1. When the children ask questions concerning the stones (Joshua 4:6That 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?
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2. The fathers can tell the story of the crossing of Jordan (Joshua 4:7Then 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.
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3. The instructions obeyed by the twelve (Joshua 4:8And 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.
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2. Twelve Stones Placed in the Midst of the Jordan (Joshua 4:9And 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.
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1. Joshua placed twelve other stones in the Jordan.
2. He placed them in the location where the feet of the priests stood.
5. THE PEOPLE ALL GET ACROSS (Joshua 4:10-13 [10] For the priests which bare the ark stood in the midst of Jordan, until everything 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. [11] And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over, that the ark of the LORD passed over, and the priests, in the presence of the people. [12] And the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh, passed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses spake unto them: [13] About forty thousand prepared for war passed over before the LORD unto battle, to the plains of Jericho.
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1. The Children of Israel (Joshua 4:10-11 [10] For the priests which bare the ark stood in the midst of Jordan, until everything 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. [11] And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over, that the ark of the LORD passed over, and the priests, in the presence of the people.
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1. The priests stood their ground until everyone passed over (Joshua 4:10For the priests which bare the ark stood in the midst of Jordan, until everything 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.
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2. The people hasted to pass over (Joshua 4:10For the priests which bare the ark stood in the midst of Jordan, until everything 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.
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3. The priests passed over with the ark (Joshua 4:11And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over, that the ark of the LORD passed over, and the priests, in the presence of the people.
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2. The Two-and-a-Half Tribes (Joshua 4:12-13 [12] And the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh, passed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses spake unto them: [13] About forty thousand prepared for war passed over before the LORD unto battle, to the plains of Jericho.
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1. They passed over armed before their brethren (Joshua 4:12And the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh, passed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses spake unto them:
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2. They were about 40,000 in number (Joshua 4:13About forty thousand prepared for war passed over before the LORD unto battle, to the plains of Jericho.
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1. This is a drastic decline from the number of soldiers in Numbers 1.
2. The number of the two-and-a-half tribes then would have been about 108,250.
1. Reuben had 46,500 (Numbers 1:20-21 [20] And the children of Reuben, Israel's eldest son, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; [21] Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Reuben, were forty and six thousand and five hundred.
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2. Gad had 45,650 (Numbers 1:24-25 [24] Of the children of Gad, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; [25] Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Gad, were forty and five thousand six hundred and fifty.
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3. Half the tribe of Manasseh would have been 16,100 (Numbers 1:34-35 [34] Of the children of Manasseh, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; [35] Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Manasseh, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred.
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3. This demonstrates that it will be the minority of those who leave Egypt that will actually cross the Jordan. This is true of the Christian life as well. Only a minority of those who are saved by the blood of Christ will make it through the wilderness times and cross the Jordan. Crossing the Jordan is a picture of crossing into the victorious Christian life. Very few will do it.
6. THE PRIESTS COME UP OUT OF JORDAN (Joshua 4:14-18 [14] On that day the LORD magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life. [15] And the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying, [16] Command the priests that bear the ark of the testimony, that they come up out of Jordan. [17] Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, Come ye up out of Jordan. [18] And it came to pass, when the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD were come up out of the midst of Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet were lifted up unto the dry land, that the waters of Jordan returned unto their place, and flowed over all his banks, as they did before.
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1. Joshua is Magnified in the Sight of Israel (Joshua 4:14On that day the LORD magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.
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1. The Lord magnified Joshua in the sight of all the people.
2. The people feared Joshua as they feared Moses.
2. The Priests are Commanded To Come Out (Joshua 4:15-17 [15] And the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying, [16] Command the priests that bear the ark of the testimony, that they come up out of Jordan. [17] Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, Come ye up out of Jordan.
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1. This seems to be a retelling of the events with more detail.
2. This shows that the priests stayed in the Jordan until Joshua commanded them to come out (Joshua 4:16-17 [16] Command the priests that bear the ark of the testimony, that they come up out of Jordan. [17] Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, Come ye up out of Jordan.
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3. The Waters of the Jordan Return (Joshua 4:18And it came to pass, when the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD were come up out of the midst of Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet were lifted up unto the dry land, that the waters of Jordan returned unto their place, and flowed over all his banks, as they did before.
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1. When the soles of the priests’ feet touch the dry land, the waters returned.
2. The waters returned to their overflowing of the banks.
7. THE ARRIVAL OF THE PEOPLE IN GILGAL (Joshua 4:19-24 [19] And the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho. [20] And those twelve stones, which they took out of Jordan, did Joshua pitch in Gilgal. [21] And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones? [22] Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land. [23] 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: [24] 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.
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1. They Set Up Camp (Joshua 4:19And the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho.
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1. The people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month.
2. They encamped in Gilgal.
2. They Set Up the Memorial of Stones (Joshua 4:20-24 [20] And those twelve stones, which they took out of Jordan, did Joshua pitch in Gilgal. [21] And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones? [22] Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land. [23] 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: [24] 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.
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1. The stones placed (Joshua 4:20And those twelve stones, which they took out of Jordan, did Joshua pitch in Gilgal.
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2. The lessons they teach (Joshua 4:21-24 [21] And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones? [22] Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land. [23] 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: [24] 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.
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1. To the children of the Israelites (Joshua 4:21-23 [21] And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones? [22] Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land. [23] 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:
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1. The drying up of the Red Sea
2. The drying up of the Jordan
2. To all the people of the earth (Joshua 4:24That 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.
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CONCLUSION: They are in the Promised Land! Now, all they have to do is conquer it in order to receive their inheritance. In a way, that is what the Christian life is about. The land is ours but we must go and possess our possession (Joshua 1:11Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the LORD your God giveth you to possess it.
See All...; Obadiah 17).