Chapter 3:1-9
“And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel.”
Israel were about to cross the Jordan and enter Canaan at last. However, they must lodge there for three days to prepare themselves for so solemn and wonderful an event. Those three days speak of death and resurrection. We cannot follow the Lord in the energy of mere human nature. They were about to tread a path hitherto untrodden, and they needed to think deeply on these things.
The Ark of God—borne by the priests—was first to pass down into the waters of death, and the people were to follow it. However, there was to be a space between them and it, about 2,000 cubits, and they were not to come near unto it. As Christians we rejoice to give the Lord Jesus Christ His full place, for in all things He must have the preeminence (Col. 1:18).
“That ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.” No one but the Lord Jesus could pass through death and then rise above its power; but He has led the way for us. It is a new way altogether and we but follow Him, who is the firstfruits of the resurrection.
Both the Red Sea and the Jordan speak of the death of Christ. However, the Red Sea is more His death for us, or redemption, while the Jordan figures our death with Him. In grace too wonderful to tell, He associates us with Himself in His death and resurrection and makes us sit together in Him in heavenly places.
It was harvest time and the people could immediately enjoy the ripe rich fruits of Canaan when they entered the land. So for us the full rich fruit of our place in heaven in Christ the risen One is ours to enjoy as soon as we enter there by faith now.
We are “planted together” with Christ in the likeness of His death, and we are united to Him in His life. Because He lives, we live also. We are “saved by His life” (Rom. 5:10). Again we read, “Ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3). Christ our Ark has brought His people clean through the river of death into the promised land. In Christ, the believer is, as it were, on the far side of Jordan, and at rest in Canaan. Well might the Apostle say, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3).
The Lord told Joshua: “This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel.” When we see in Joshua a type of the Lord Jesus, leading His people in the power of the Spirit into their heavenly portion, when we see the exceeding riches of His grace by which He has associated us with Himself as His bride, how we delight to magnify and exalt Him. Surely He is worthy of our homage and our praise!
ML-03/27/1977