Joshua: God who stood still Chapter 3

 📷@astrofalls

I thought I was over with Joshua but am not. So shall we cross a river and follow him? 

His first test of leadership is the crossing of a river called Jordan. Joshua focused on their holy article which is the Ark, the Ark of the Covenant. The ark was described to be half wood and golden chest that had two angels made of gold, bow to one another and each wing on its shoulders spread across each other, bearing the 10 commandments, the holiest article of God. 

Why is Joshua focused on the ark? The ark is a symbol of God's Throne, God's foothold for its people where His presence shall go and be with them wherever they go. 

Who can only carry it? It was the tribe called Levites. The high priests of Israel. The Levites were very special people to God as they were the only ones allowed to serve God day and night and to touch holy things.

Back to the river, Joshua has to set it up. The ark of the covenant first with the first 12 men from 12 tribes of Israel gathering 12 rocks from the river and staying in the water while they wait for the ark of God carried by the Levites. 

The ark must never touch the ground or someone will die and everyone around them even by merely looking at it will pursue them to death. When the ark reached the middle of the river, it stopped flowing, literally cut from the source, and dried up like a desert. Some said that the river by that time was at flood stage so it is nearly impossible to pass. But with God, and the ark was placed safely in the middle, it guaranteed a safe pass to all the people and tribesmen. This symbolized freedom but also an entry to greater heights of faith, physical war, and bloodshed to claim the Promised Land which they just arrived.

AC

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