Introduction: How do you approach problems in your life?
Have you ever thought about “consecrating” yourself as a
solution to a problem? We will follow the Israelites as they
are about to begin the conquest of the land promised to
them. Their first hurdle is crossing a river at flood stage.
The second hurdle is conquering a walled city. What would
you do to overcome these serious obstacles? Let’s jump into
our study of Joshua to see how they prepared to overcome
these problems!
I. The Jordan Crossing
A. Read Joshua 3:1 and Joshua 3:15. How big an
obstacle is the Jordan River? (It was at flood
level because it was overflowing its banks.)
1. Recall that Joshua sent out spies to assess
the conquest of Jericho. How do you think the
people of Jericho felt about the Jordan
flooding? (I think it gave them confidence
they were safe for now.)
2. The Israelites were by the Jordan for three
days. They saw it was at flood level. How do
you think they felt about crossing it?
B. Read Joshua 3:2-5. If you were entering into war,
would you have members of your clergy go first in
enemy territory?
1. What do you think the people felt about this
plan? What did they feel about the ark going
ahead of them?
C. Note again Joshua 3:5. Would it occur to you that
you should consecrate (sanctify) yourself in
facing these obstacles? Or would you be checking
your weapons, sharpening your axe, doing target
practice with your bows, and making your stuff
watertight?
1. Step back a minute and think about this
situation. Why consecrate? Why lead with
clergy and the symbol of the presence of God?
(This all makes sense if this is spiritual
warfare!)
2. Are the practical problems in your life in
reality spiritual warfare?
D. We are still not done with Joshua 3:5. Note the
consecration is tied to the Lord doing “wonders
among you.” If your problems need a miracle to
resolve, does that convince you that the problem
is spiritual?
E. Read Joshua 3:6-8. Did it take more faith to cross
the Jordan than to cross the Red Sea?
1. What differences do you see in the two?
(Crossing away from the enemy as opposed to
toward the enemy.)
2. The Lord could have started earlier or later
to avoid the flooding. Why didn’t He? (To
demonstrate that this was a spiritual rather
than a merely practical solution.)
F. Look again at Joshua 3:7. God says that He is
beginning to “exalt” Joshua. If credit goes to
God, why exalt a person?
1. This is something that I think Christian
leaders wrestle with all the time. Should a
leader enjoy the exaltation that comes from
promoting God? Is it okay to promote God and
you at the same time?
II. Proof of Concept
A. Read Joshua 3:9-13. God is making a point about
their future when they cross the Jordan. What is
it? (The people probably looked at the rushing
flood waters and thought, “This is impossible.”
So God says to them, I will fix this problem and
fix the problems that you will face in defeating
all of the strong peoples who presently live in
the land promised to you.)
B. Read Joshua 3:14-17. Something I read suggested
that when God’s people crossed the Red Sea there
was an earthquake that caused the water to run
into a gap in the ground. This, I was assured,
was a miracle. What about this story shows that it
was not a natural occurrence? (Verse 16 tells us
the water rose up in a “heap” and verse 17 tell us
they crossed over on dry ground! This is
spiritual!)
C. Let’s look more closely at Joshua 3:17. Where,
exactly, were the priests standing? (They were
standing in the “midst” of the dry riverbed.)
1. Where, exactly, were the people? (They were
walking around the priests to cross over the
river.)
a. What is holding the water back? (As
Joshua said in Joshua 3:5 God is doing
“wonders.”)
III. Stone Memorial
A. Read Joshua 4:1-3. What odd task is Joshua giving
to the twelve tribes?
1. Why does he ask for a man from each tribe?
(This is symbolic. This gives responsibility
and credit to each tribe.)
2. Why must the stones come from the area where
the priests stopped with the ark in the middle
of the riverbed? (This is also symbolic. God
held back the water in a show of God’s power.)
B. Read Joshua 4:4-7. What is the purpose of these
stones?
C. Read Joshua 4:8. Where are the stones going? (They
are going to Gilgal, the place where Israel camped
after crossing the Jordan.)
D. Read Joshua 4:9-11. Wait! What is this? Is Joshua
setting up stones on his own in a different place?
(This reveals that Joshua also created a stone
memorial of the crossing in the middle of the
riverbed where the priests and the ark waited
while the Israelites passed by.)
1. Notice that verse 9 says that they are
standing “to this day” in the riverbed. Is
this proof that these stones were actually in
the middle of the Jordan river? (That would
make sense if you piled them in the middle of
a raging river. I have the sense that Joshua
built this memorial to last.)
E. Let’s skip down to Joshua 4:19-21. This answers
the question I asked earlier, “What is the purpose
of these stones?” The answer is “To make your
children ask questions.” Is that the full answer?
(Read Joshua 4:22-24. The full answer is that this
causes a conversation about how God led them over
the Jordan to the promised land. God is the One to
fear. God is the One who brings victory.)
F. Read Joshua 5:1. How did this account affect the
attitude and the fighting spirit of the local
people? (They were fearful and lost their spirit
to fight.)
G. Read 1 Samuel 7:10-12. How is Samuel using the
“Ebenezer” stone? (In the same way as the stone
memorials at the Jordan River, as a memorial to
the victory of God over the Philistines.)
H. Let’s talk about this with regard to your
children. What can you do to apply this lesson of
the stones to your family?
1. What can you do to apply this lesson to you?
(Today we have easy ways to record what God
has done for us. Think about ways that will be
most lasting. My wife and I have an Ebenezer
Stone book that records the times when God
clearly led us, when He clearly intervened,
and when He clearly helped. Looking back
through that book gives us confidence for the
future.)
2. Will you suggest that your children create an
Ebenezer Stone book when they are still young?
I. Friend, if you need a miracle to resolve a problem
you know you are involved in spiritual warfare.
But even in the most simple matters, asking for
God’s direction should be your first response. God
will do wonders for you. And He wants us to
remember that. Will you place your trust in God?
IV. Next week: The Conflict Behind All Conflicts.
Copr. 2025, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. Scripture quotations are
from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard
Version ), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing
ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All
rights reserved. Suggested answers are found within
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link: http://www.GoBible.org. Pray for the guidance of the
Holy Spirit as you study.
