Crossing the Jordan - The Book of Joshua

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 the Jordan.

That the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above,

and they shall stand upon a heap.

Joshua 3.13

Dear God, as the sun greets my face today,

I realize that hope fills the sky.

Like Joshua in the children of Israel, I declare that today is the day I will cross over

into my promised land.

Regardless of the obstacles in front of me, I can feel the Spirit of God with me.

As I place your presence before me, Lord, the mighty waters of obstacles must part and

make way for me to cross over into my promised land.

As my feet touch the grounds of my promise, I will set up touchstones that remind me of

all the miracles you have done on my behalf.

My war cry of victory will be heard all over the world, as you elevate my life to be

a symbol of your love and power to those who believe.

I declare that I am strong and courageous, by decree that I am unmoved as I prepare

to fight and take what belongs to me and my family.

The time is now.

My moment of expansion and victory has come.

In Jesus' name, amen.

Thank you for praying with us today.

You know your time with God by listening to today's Bible Story, brought to you by Bible

in a year.com.

Click the link of the description to grow closer to God.

There you'll find daily prayers, Bible plans, sleep stories, and so much more, all on the

Pray.com app.

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Crossing the Jordan.

In our last story we learned about Joshua's spies infiltrating the city of Jericho.

The spies were eventually discovered, but then saved by a prostitute named Rahab.

She informed the spies of Israel that all of Jericho was terrified of Israel.

And that they all knew the Lord would give Israel the land.

Filled with hope, the spies returned with good news.

Now we learn about the people of Israel venturing forward into new beginnings.

God's mighty hand would be shown once again, inspired by the book of Joshua.

Hello I'm Jack Graham with today's episode of the Bible in a year podcast.

But before we begin, I want to let you know about a unique e-book that yours to download

absolutely free today is called Breaking Free from Stress.

And my prayer is that it will help you conquer the daily task and pressures and burdens

that bring stress in your life.

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In our previous episode, God reaffirmed his promise and presence to Joshua and charged

him to be courageous.

Joshua prepared the people to cross over into the promised land, but first he sent spies

to scout the city of Jericho.

There we met a prostitute by the name of Rahab who told the men that the whole city was terrified

of Israel and more importantly of their God.

She also protected the spies from Jericho's king and as a result gained grace in God's

eyes.

Favor that would reverberate through the millennia through her own bloodline.

Today we'll join the Israelites as they prepare to brave the raging river Jordan before

them.

It is a crossing that would be impossible where it not for the most high God who goes with

his people.

And in this reading we'll see his power reveal once again to the wonder of Israel.

Let's listen now to today's story.

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This is Rathi W. K here from a really good cry.

I absolutely love getting outside, whether it's a quick walk or a mindful few steps between

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I've noticed that with extra space, my foot muscles get to work building strength.

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Hope filled the skies as the sun rose above the mountain range.

A newness of life and vitality could be felt among the camp.

Smiles and laughter could be heard for miles.

Home had become a distant thought to the people of Israel.

They had grown up wandering the wilderness.

Their parents were the ones who came out of Egypt and experienced the mighty acts of

God.

Now they were the ones to inherit all the Lord had promised them.

Joshua led the people out of Shitton and they traveled to the coast of the Jordan River.

The river was raging before them.

Deep rushing waters boomed and shook the earth.

The Jordan was truly treacherous.

But Joshua and the leaders of Israel looked at it with smiles on their faces.

They faced the rapids with a quiet confidence.

If Israel knew anything, it was that water was no obstacle for God.

After three days Joshua and the officers of Israel led the people down to the water to

camp.

They scanned the river and spoke amongst themselves as if analyzing where they would build a bridge.

Instead they turned to the people and commanded, the ark of the covenant shall go before us.

Wherever it goes, you shall go also, but keep your distance and do not come near it.

How they would cross the river was still a mystery to the people.

But they were excited nonetheless.

Joshua began climbing a rock nearby to speak to the people.

He stood up high with the waters at his back so all the people could see him.

Joshua was not like Moses.

Moses was a shepherd and carried his staff.

Joshua was a soldier and his sword never left his side.

Joshua's strength as a warrior and leader captured the people's attention.

Joshua raised his voice towards the children of Israel.

With a booming voice carried by the waters, Joshua yelled, prepare yourselves.

For tomorrow you will behold the wonders of God.

The people cheered and Joshua nodded to the priests to go fetch the ark of the covenant.

It was time to put the wilderness behind them.

Joshua could feel the spirit of God giving him confidence to lead.

God spoke to him, saying, today the people will know that I am with you as I was with Moses.

Joshua nodded and led the people to stand at the shoreline of the river.

They stood still, watching the waters rage before them.

All were silent, waiting, and the only sounds were that of the flowing river.

This passed, and Joshua stood tall once again for all to hear him and say, here, you

shall truly know the living God is with us.

And as Joshua was speaking, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant came from among the

people.

They parted to keep their distance and watched as the priests walked towards the banks of

the river.

Only the priests began to walk into the water.

As their feet sank into the river, the waters began to spill apart before them.

With each step the water moved.

Mist flew into the air as the Jordan bowed before the mighty hand of God.

As the red seas once parted, the Jordan divided to make way for freed captives.

The people were still silent, in awe of the majesty unfolding before them.

The wind from the waters blew their hair back, and tears filled their eyes.

It was the most beautiful moment they had ever seen.

The priests walked forward, carrying the written promises of God on their shoulders.

The priests strode proudly, and their hearts wailed up within them.

One by one the nation of Israel crossed the Jordan into the promised land.

The priests stood in the midst of the waters on dry ground.

The people crossed to the other side safely.

God instructed every leader from each of the twelve tribes of Israel to carry a stone from

one side to the other.

They would build a memorial to him and his faithfulness, so each man did according to what

God had said.

The priests exited the waters, and the river went back to its place.

And there, in the midst of all the people, Joshua built a memorial out of the twelve stones.

This served as a reminder to all those who would ever question or forget the power of God.

They gazed upon it, and God spoke to them through Joshua, saying,

When your children ask of these stones, their fathers shall tell them that the Lord

dried up the water of the Jordan as he did the Red Sea.

These stones serve as a mausoleum to the entire earth, that the Lord is mighty,

and to be feared for all eternity.

The crowd cheered and washed it, their hearts filled with gladness.

This was truly a victory unlike any other.

All was well, yet the struggle had just begun.

Miles away, word of this miracle spread like wildfire.

The people dwelling in the land of Canaan caught word of the mighty acts of God.

They trembled, and fear gripped their minds in hearts.

They knew the inevitable end. God would give Israel their land.

Yet some would not go quietly.

They were preparing for war.

All the men of Israel, who were not already circumcised,

cut themselves before God.

They remembered the covenant of Abraham, and sought to identify themselves as the promised

people of God. Though bloody and painful, it was an act of devotion.

The people celebrated Passover in shouts of joy and laughter echoed across the valley,

reaching the ears of their enemies. Danger was near, and war was coming.

You know what I could really go for right now?

Literally anything that comes in a McDonald's carton,

wrapper, or bag, or a McDonald's cup.

Yes, any of those items you do it.

We've got your cravings covered. Now stop in for the flaky filet of fish,

the crispy snack wrap, or a large fries for just $2.99.

Limited time only, price and participation may vary.

Cannot be combined with any other offer.

Tired of the 9-5 grind, looking for something different that's flexible,

fulfilling, and pays well? How do you like to get paid to work out?

Now you can, with ISSA, the global leader in personal fitness certification.

There's a huge demand for certified personal trainers right now.

And once you get ISSA certified, they guarantee you'll get a job.

Trainers can make as much as $100 an hour.

Yes, I said $100 an hour.

And with ISSA, you can be certified in as little as six weeks.

You do everything at your own pace, and 100% online.

Pursue your passion in specializations like yoga, nutrition, or strength training.

Get certified and live your life on your terms.

Work at a gym, start your own business, or a side hustle.

Whatever works for you, just don't wait.

Get your free personal training evaluation kit today.

Get certified in as little as six weeks.

And ISSA guarantees you'll get a job.

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Let's talk about modern home shopping.

It's sort of become a fun side hobby, right?

Scrolling listings at night, dreaming about kitchens you've never seen,

or backyards you haven't even stepped foot in.

All from the comforts of pretty much anywhere.

Redfin knows a lot of people like you want to own,

but are stuck in this browsing mode loop.

That's where Redfin flips the script.

With listings that update within minutes,

and tours you can book right from the Redfin app,

you can see your dream home the moment it appears.

Now liking a listing is easy, but actually landing it,

that's where Redfin comes in.

Redfin has over 2200 agents with local expertise.

And Redfin agents close twice as many deals as other agents.

That means they want to help you win, not just window shop.

Redfin is built to help you go from just looking to wait.

This could actually be home,

so become the newest neighbor on the block.

Visit redfin.com to start finding and start owning.

That's redfin.com.

This is Radee de Blueke from a really good cry.

I absolutely love getting outside,

whether it's a quick walk or a mindful few steps between meetings,

or even a longer run to just clear my head.

But the one thing that can really ruin that for me

is shoes that just don't feel right.

That's why I started wearing ultra running.

With the ultra-fear, every step feels comfortable, balanced and strong.

Like my feet can finally move freely.

What really stood out to me was the roomy toe box.

My toes actually now have room to spread out,

which makes movement feel more natural and comfortable.

And when your feet aren't crammed, you feel more balanced,

like every step has a strong stable foundation.

I've noticed that with extra space,

my foot muscles get to work building strength,

so I can actually move with more confidence.

Ultra fits and moves with you no matter your pace or your goals.

Beginner or marathon runner,

they've really become my go-to for any kind of running or training.

And I always feel like my feet can do exactly what they're meant to do.

Feel the difference by visiting ultrarunning.com

and use my code cry10 for 10% off.

That's ultra-al-t-r-a running.com.

Experience ultra and stay out there.

We open today's story with a crowd of people

filled with hope and anticipation.

This generation of Israelites has known no other home

but the wilderness, no way of life but that of a no-man.

But now at last God's promise to His people

was coming to fulfillment.

They were going to receive their long-awaited home,

the Promised Land.

So it was moving time.

But as they approached the raging river,

it was clear to them that there would be no human way to pass through.

There was no boat to take them over.

There was no way across.

Israel had phased impassable waters before.

Only this time did you notice what was different?

The only rumbling was that of waters rushing by,

not a fearful people who turned on their leader

and questioned God's ability to save them.

They did trust in God.

After all, what was a raging river to the one who parted the seas?

God tells Joshua that He's about to show the people just how mighty He is.

It will give the people confidence not only in God

but in the leader, Joshua, whom God had chosen.

When Moses faced the red sea,

God went as a cloud of smoke and pillar of fire.

But now the physical symbol of God's presence was the ark of the covenant.

This holiest of symbols was not to be touched,

only the Levite priest could carry it.

It was yet another reminder that God was with them,

but not fully approachable by the people.

One day this would all change,

as God Himself came to dwell among men in the person of His Son, Jesus.

That day had not yet come,

so the people were told to keep their distance,

but to keep a watchful eye.

God was about to show them His power.

Listen to how Joshua 317 recounts what happens next.

Now the priest bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord

stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan,

and all Israel was passing over on dry ground

until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan.

The people walked right across on dry ground into the Promised Land,

a great miracle.

Time and again, we see this in God's word.

What appears to be impossible to human minds is accomplished

with a word or just a step of faith when God is on the move.

Whatever it is you may be facing today,

whatever river that seems uncrossable

or obstacle that seems impassable.

If God is calling you to do it, then obey Him,

and take that first step and cross over

in the miracle working power of God.

As the leaders of each tribe crossed,

they carried with them a stone,

according to God's command,

from one side of the river to the other.

And when they were safely on the other side,

they built a memorial with these stones.

This would be a perpetual reminder

for generations to come of God's great might and faithfulness to His people.

The Israelites further showed their devotion to their God

as the men in camp who were not yet circumcised,

cut off their forescans and remembrance of the covenant with Abraham.

The people that observed Passover,

remembering God's deliverance of them from Egypt,

the night when this whole journey began.

All seemed well, but there were still battles to fight,

and we're going to learn about these battles the next time.

Dear God, thank you for today's passage,

which reminds us that there is no obstacle

that you cannot overcome.

Help us, O God, to take steps of faith and trust you

in going through what you lead us through.

In Jesus' name, amen.

Thank you for listening to today's Bible and a Year podcast.

Before we go, I want to let you know about a unique e-book

that yours to download absolutely free today.

It's called Breaking Free from Stress.

And my prayer is that it will help you conquer the daily task

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Download your free copy of Breaking Free from Stress today

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This is Radeja Blueke from a really good cry.

I absolutely love being outdoors even if it's just stepping outside

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