Fighting For The Good Land

Lesson Three

Israel Chose God At The Jordan River

MEMORY VERSE: Joshua 4:21b-22, 23a What do these stones mean? You shall let your children know, saying. On dry ground Israel crossed over this Jordan. For Jehovah your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you crossed over...
BONUS VERSE: Joshua 4:24 That all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of Jehovah, that It is mighty; that you may fear Jehovah your God always.
  1. Crossing the Jordan River and its significance-Joshua chapters 2-4
    1. After hearing the good report of the two spies, Israel was now ready to enter and possess the land that Jehovah was giving them - Joshua 2:23-24; Joshua 3:1-17
      1. The Priests rose up bearing the ark and went before the people
      2. When they reached the Jordan River Joshua gave Jehovah's charge to the people
      3. As the Priests' feet touched the brink of Jordan, the waters were blocked a great way off, at the city of Adam, and the river bed was dry so the people could pass over; Jehovah dried up the waters of Jordan and they crossed over
    2. Jehovah told Joshua to set up a memorial (remembrance) of their crossing the Jordan - Joshua 4:1-24
      1. One man from each tribe was charged by Joshua to take a stone out of the Jordan from the place the Priests were standing, to be set up as a memorial of their crossing and the beginning of their new life in the promised land, Canaan
      2. This was a sign to all of the coming generations of the children of Israel
      3. Then Joshua set up twelve stones in the Jordan River, which became a memorial ending their life of wandering in the Wilderness
      4. All the peoples of the earth knew that the hand of Jehovah was mighty and that He was with Israel

APPLICATION:

  1. By crossing the Jordan River and setting up the stones as a memorial, Israel chose and obeyed God to begin a new life in the good land.
  2. Today, we also can choose and obey God every day and He will be with us.