Joshua 3

Israel Camps by the Jordan River

1 Early the next morning, Joshua and the squad dipped out from Shittim and posted up by the Jordan River. They stayed there three days before making a move.

2 After those three days, the leaders went through the camp with instructions.

3 They said, “When you all see the priests carrying the Ark of God’s Covenant, get up and follow them. That is how you will know where to go.”

4 “But keep your distance - stay back about 1,000 yards. Do not get too close. You have never been this way before.”

Joshua Preps the People

5 Then Joshua told the people, “Get yourselves right - clean your hearts. Tomorrow, God is going to do something major among us.”

6 Joshua told the priests, “Pick up the Ark and roll out ahead of the people.” So they grabbed the Ark and stepped out in front.

God Lifts Joshua Up

7 The Lord told Joshua, “Today I am going to start making you look like a real leader in front of everybody - So they know I am with you just like I was with Moses.”

8 “Tell the priests carrying the Ark, ‘When you all get to the edge of the Jordan, stand still in the water.’”

Joshua Speaks to Israel

9 Then Joshua said to the people, “Come close and hear what God’s saying.”

10 He said, “This how you all know God is with you: He about to drive out the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites.”

11 “The Ark of the Lord - the God of all creation - is going ahead of you into the Jordan.”

12 “Pick twelve men - one from each tribe.”

13 “As soon as the priests step into the river with the Ark, The water upstream going to stop flowing and pile up - like a dam.”

God Stops the River

14 So when the people packed up to cross, The priests carrying the Ark stepped out in front.

15 As soon as they touched the edge of the water - And the river was flooding from all the rain -

16 The water stopped upstream like it hit a wall, Piling up near a town called Adam. Downstream, it dried up - straight gone. The people crossed over near Jericho on dry ground.

17 The priests stood firm in the middle of the river, holding the Ark, While the whole nation crossed through - Not one foot touching water.