Learning From the Spiritual Practices of Joshua 3

Imagine you’re traveling through vast deserts, steep mountains, and rocky paths, leading millions of people — young and old — to new lands immediately after the death of your faithful and experienced leader.

In Joshua 3, Joshua was leading the Israelites out of the wilderness and into the Promised Land. Only a month and three days removed from the death of Moses (Deuteronomy 34:5) — Israel’s leader for the last 40 years — Joshua needed to heavily rely on the Lord as he began his first journey with the Israelites as the new Moses. Would the people listen to Joshua? Would they trust him? Would they heed his commands? I don’t know what Joshua was thinking, but I know these would be my worries.

In chapter one, the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying, “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:7-9). Encouraged by the Lord’s words, Joshua took up his God-given leadership position, and Israel followed (Joshua 1:16-17).

At the start of chapter three, the Israelites arrived at the banks of the Jordan, but it was flood season, and the river was visibly uncrossable (Joshua 3:15). This means the river was likely well over its usual 100-foot width and 10-foot depth. How could Joshua lead millions of Israelites, with young children, mothers, and the elderly, across such waters? Not to mention all their belongings and animals.

Heeding Joshua’s command (Joshua 1:11), the people camped on the banks of the Jordan for three days, likely watching the river flow by, questioning how they were supposed to reach the Promised Land if they must travel through such treacherous waters. After these three days, Joshua sent officers who “went throughout the camp, giving orders to the people: ‘When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it’” (Joshua 3:2-3).

Then Joshua did something incredible. Standing in front of the Israelites, he told them, “And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the Lord — the Lord of all the earth — set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap” (Joshua 3:13). The Israelites had just spent three days watching as the rushing floodwaters of the Jordan swept by their camp. And although many may have heard stories of the parting of the Red Sea, such a miracle surely seemed far off in the face of this new challenge. But Joshua had such faith that he told them God’s work before it even happened. He didn’t need to see; he knew God’s faithfulness.

“Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground” (Joshua 3:15-17).

Joshua began this chapter with many obstacles. He had recently lost his mentor, was then charged with leading millions of Israelites, and was quickly confronted with an uncrossable river that separated them from the land they had spent 40 years waiting for. But Joshua did not let these challenges prevent him from being the leader the Lord had called him to be, and he quickly saw the fruits of his devotion and reliance on God. What an assurance it is to follow a God who delivers on His promises!

We can learn multiple lessons from Joshua’s actions in chapter three. Although he was new to his position, he quickly proved himself to be a strong leader who was visibly in tune with the Lord’s will. But how did he become such a leader?

First, Joshua had faith in God. Even in a seemingly hopeless situation, he had faith. He did not take God’s promises lightly, but he depended on them. Joshua told the Israelites exactly how they would cross the Jordan before they even got there. He knew God would deliver them.

Second, Joshua was in the word. In chapter one, God instructed Joshua to “[k]eep this Book of the Law on your lips. Meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:8). Joshua was being guided and directed by God, so we can assume he was in the word studying God and His works, and certainly remembering the great things God had done for Israel in his lifetime and the lifetime of Moses. From parting the Red Sea, to leading Isreal by a pillar of fire and raining manna from Heaven — the Lord was constantly showing that He was with Israel. Because Joshua knew God’s deliverance in the past, he could rest in the certainty of God’s deliverance in the present.

Lastly, Joshua’s ears were open to God. Because of his knowledge of the word and his faith that God would act on His promises, Joshua was open and ready to hear the commands and encouragements of the Lord. Because of Joshua’s posture of submission, God was able to clearly communicate to him, revealing His plans to Joshua so that he could confidently and faithfully lead Israel into the Lord’s promises.

So how does this story about Joshua apply to us? Joshua was a living example of godly leadership. At his roots, he was faithful to the Lord and grounded in His word. To be good leaders and followers of Jesus, we must be committed in our faith and reading of the Bible. We will not be prepared to hear what God is laying out for us if we are blinded by a lack of faith and understanding of God’s character. If we are not in a constant pursuit of learning about God and what He has done, we won’t be prepared for what He is putting in our lives now. The Lord gave us His word so we could understand Him. What a gracious gift! We don’t need to guess or figure it out on our own — it’s right here!

Because of Joshua’s faithfulness, commitment to the scriptures, and readiness to hear God, he was able to face impossible circumstances with confidence. He was able to lead God’s people with unwavering faith. In our lives, we must look to Jesus, who is the fulfillment of the Ark, and has cleared the way to victory, drying up the river of impossibility. We can rest in the assurance of God’s promise and power, for the same God who worked these miracles for Israel is the same God we worship today.

“No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them” (Joshua 1:5-6).

AUTHOR

Caily Shriver

Caily Shriver serves as an intern at Family Research Council.

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