Movement

Joshua moved a mighty nation through the River Jordan. This would only have been accomplished via a number of symbiotic events inducing hope in an almost impossible vision and commanding a forceful thrust able to accomplish their goal.

It is key at the end of Joshua 1 that the people saw Joshua as powerful as Moses, hence giving their allegiance to him. The first event occurring here is that of obedience. The people simply chose to obey thus making it easier for Joshua to lead them according to the dictates of the Lord. The second event is that of communion. This was no individualistic bunch of robot obeying a dominant general. They were a family, a Godly community submitted to authority. It was through their expression of this koinonia (fellowship) that a fluid passage would occur. This kingdom community thus would consecrate themselves together as the law demand and participate in cultic worship at the leading of the priests, enabling them to maintaining unified fellowship.

Another event is that of the supernatural hand of God. This was a two edged sword that had both direct and indirect effects in the Israelite’s victory. Directly, they experienced miracles such as the parting of the Jordan, thus allowing them to boldly forge their way towards Jericho. Indirectly these miracles generated fear in the enemy’s camp immobilizing them and greatly contributing to their defeat. A final event observed in the movement of the Israelites is that of order. Having the ark precede them carried by the priests (probably in conjunction with procession regulations as revealed in Numbers) as they embarked in to the Jordan. The import of this is that order is intrinsic to victory. Godly order. As the Israelites followed God’s prescribed order, the waters of the flooded Jordan abated, allowing an entire nation to cross in a relatively short amount of time.

God’s words to Joshua initiating the Jericho march are probably the most significant. “The time has come for you to lead the people, the Israelites into the promised land” (Joshua 1:2). This event is timing. For us as believers we also need to understand that the time has come to fulfill God’s destiny for our lives. 2 Corinthians 6 indicates that the time to fulfill God’s salvific commission is now. Not tomorrow, not next year, but now.

Thus be motivated by these events occurring in the book of Joshua. Obedience, Godly community of the saints, submission to Godly authority, a spirit filled life, and God’s timing are but a few keys that you will need to fulfill your destiny, participating as a co-labourer with Christ himself in the fields of harvest.