Crossing the Jordan: A Step of Faith (Joshua 3:1-17)
Have you ever faced a moment where something stood in your way, and you didn’t know how you’d get through? That’s exactly what the Israelites faced in Joshua 3. They were finally ready to enter the land God had promised them—but the Jordan River, wide and overflowing, was right in front of them. Here’s what happened and what we can learn from it.
Getting Ready to Move
Early in the morning, Joshua and all the Israelites left their camp and traveled to the Jordan River. They set up camp there and waited. Then the leaders went through the camp giving instructions. The people were told to follow the Ark of the Covenant, which represented God’s presence among them. It was a holy object that reminded them God was leading the way.
They were also told to keep a respectful distance from the Ark and to get ready—because God was about to do something amazing.
Joshua Gives Instructions
Joshua told the people to make themselves ready by setting their hearts on God. This was a way of saying, “Focus on God, because He is about to do something big.”
God also spoke to Joshua and said, “Today I will begin to show the people that I am with you, just as I was with Moses.” Joshua then gave the priests, who were carrying the Ark, a clear command: Step into the river and stand there.
The Miracle at the River
Here’s where it gets incredible. As soon as the priests’ feet touched the edge of the water, something miraculous happened. The water stopped flowing! It piled up in a big heap far upstream, and the rest flowed away, leaving dry ground where the river had been.
Just like when Moses parted the Red Sea, God made a way through what seemed impossible.
The Ark in the Middle
While all the people crossed safely to the other side, the priests stayed in the middle of the riverbed with the Ark. It was a sign that God was right there with them, holding the waters back as they passed.
Once everyone was safely across, the priests came up from the river, and the waters returned to their place.
What This Means for Us
This moment wasn’t just about crossing a river—it was about trust. God had brought the Israelites to this moment, and He showed them He would lead them forward. Even when the path looked blocked, He made a way.
Sometimes we face our own “Jordan Rivers”—big challenges or unknowns. But like the Israelites, we can trust that God goes before us. When we take that step of faith, He will make a way.
Joshua 3:1-17 (WEB)
3:1 Joshua got up early in the morning; and they moved from Shittim and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel. They camped there before they crossed over. 2 After three days, the officers went through the middle of the camp; 3 and they commanded the people, saying, “When you see the ark of the LORD your God’s covenant, and the Levitical priests bearing it, then leave your place and follow it. 4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it of about two thousand cubits by measure—don’t come closer to it—that you may know the way by which you must go; for you have not passed this way before.”5 Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves; for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.”6 Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, “Take up the ark of the covenant, and cross over before the people.” They took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people.7 The LORD said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to magnify you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. 8 You shall command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, saying, ‘When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’ ”9 Joshua said to the children of Israel, “Come here, and hear the words of the LORD your God.” 10 Joshua said, “By this you shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Hivite, the Perizzite, the Girgashite, the Amorite, and the Jebusite out from before you. 11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passes over before you into the Jordan. 12 Now therefore take twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, for every tribe a man. 13 It shall be that when the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of GOD, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, that the waters of the Jordan will be cut off. The waters that come down from above shall stand in one heap.”14 When the people moved from their tents to pass over the Jordan, the priests who bore the ark of the covenant being before the people, 15 and when those who bore the ark had come to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests who bore the ark had dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks all the time of harvest), 16 the waters which came down from above stood, and rose up in one heap a great way off, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan; and those that went down toward the sea of the Arabah, even the Salt Sea, were wholly cut off. Then the people passed over near Jericho. 17 The priests who bore the ark of the LORD’s covenant stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan; and all Israel crossed over on dry ground, until all the nation had passed completely over the Jordan.