From the Sea to the River

The Israelites’ Exodus journey is bookended by two miraculous and unimaginable crossings. They began their journey towards the promised land with the Sea of Reeds before them and the chasing Egyptian army behind them. On that day, God showed His marvellous and gracious hand to the Israelites, as He parted the waters, allowed the Hebrews to pass through, and drowned the pursuing army, filling the people with awe at His power.

Forty years later, as Israel was about to enter the land promised to them, they once again faced a body of water. During the peak season, the Jordan River could be as wide as 100 feet and several feet deep. Yet, when Israel was about to cross, God once more stopped the waters in a heap, allowing His people not only to pass through and conquer the promised land, but also to experience His grace first-hand, something the present generation may not have witnessed during the first crossing.

The Preparation

Early in the morning, Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and camped near the Jordan River, preparing to cross over. After three days, the officers moved throughout the camp with specific instructions for the people. They were told that when they saw the ark of the covenant of the Lord being carried by the Levitical priests, they were to follow it so they would know the way to go, as they had never passed that way before. However, they were also commanded to maintain a distance of about two thousand cubits from the ark and not to go near it.

This instruction to keep a distance from the ark was perhaps rooted in reverence and order. The elders feared the Lord and wanted the people to understand the sacredness of His presence represented by the ark. It was also a precaution to ensure no one would touch the ark, as God had strictly warned that doing so would result in death. Interestingly, at the moment of crossing, the people would have had to pass by the ark as they crossed the Jordan River.

God, the way maker, went before them, stopping the river’s flow and leading them safely across. Just as He made a way for Israel through the waters, He has made a way for us through His Son, Jesus Christ, to reach Him. Yet, today, many leaders continue to impose unnecessary barriers between the people and God. Though God desires to draw near to His people and has made them righteous through the righteousness of His Son, some leaders insist on maintaining distance, warning of God’s wrath and claiming exclusive authority to approach Him. In doing so, they mislead the masses into thinking they must rely on human intermediaries, rather than embracing the direct access to God that Christ has made possible.

Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you.” – Joshua 3:5 (NIV)

The people were often instructed to consecrate themselves in preparation to receive something holy from above. It was a way of setting themselves apart—dedicating the day entirely to God and preparing their hearts to encounter His presence. Consecration signified readiness to stand before the Lord in reverence and purity. This raises an important question: Should the forgiven children of God consecrate themselves only on specific occasions, or are they called to live in a state of continual consecration?

“For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.” – John 17:19 (NIV)

During His final moments with the disciples, Jesus reminded them that it is through His righteousness that we are made holy. If we believe our connection with God is limited to Sundays or special days, then consecration would appear necessary only on those occasions. However, if we desire to walk with God daily, then our consecration must be ongoing. Through Christ, we are empowered to live sanctified lives every day, not just on appointed days. True consecration is not occasional, but constant, as we draw near to Him through the righteousness of His Son.

The Crossing

As the Israelites prepared to cross the Jordan River, Joshua commanded the priests to take up the ark of the covenant and go ahead of the people. Joshua then gathered the Israelites and told them that the living God was among them and would surely drive out the nations ahead. At the time of crossing, the Jordan was in flood stage, yet as soon as the priests’ feet touched the water, the flow stopped and stood in a heap far upstream at a place called Adam. The waters flowing toward the Dead Sea were completely cut off, allowing the people to cross into Jericho on dry ground.

The priests remained standing in the middle of the riverbed with the ark until the entire nation had passed safely. This miraculous event not only demonstrated God’s power but also His faithfulness in leading His people. God also told Joshua that this miraculous crossing would serve as a confirmation of his leadership, just as He had affirmed Moses before him.

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 3:17 (NIV)

The ark went ahead of the people, symbolising that God was the one making the way—He was their waymaker then, just as He is for us today. Following God’s path requires us to let go of habits or places that offer false comfort. Through His Son, Jesus Christ, God has already provided the way and granted us direct access to His heart. Are we daily consecrating ourselves through the blood of Jesus and walking in His way, or are we merely waiting for our “anointed leaders” to announce a “season of crossing” to act?

A Memorial

After the entire nation of Israel had crossed the Jordan River, the Lord instructed Joshua to appoint twelve men, one from each tribe, to collect twelve stones from the riverbed where the priests stood with the ark. These stones were to be set up as a memorial at their camp to serve as a lasting sign. When future generations asked about the stones, the people were to recall how God stopped the Jordan’s waters, allowing Israel to cross on dry ground, just as He had done at the Sea of Reeds.

..“In the future when your descendants ask their parents, ‘What do these stones mean?’ – Joshua 4:21 (NIV)

The memorial stones were to be a testimony to future generations and to all nations—that the hand of the Lord is mighty, and that the people of Israel should always fear and honour Him. A memorial is meant to help us remember what God has done—His faithfulness, power, and presence—especially for future generations who did not witness those acts firsthand. However, the danger lies in stopping at the memorial instead of continuing to seek the God behind it. When we begin to revere the symbol more than the source, memorials can easily become idols.

Turning Provisions to Idols

The Ark of the Covenant, once the sacred symbol of God’s presence among His people, was eventually treated like a magical object. The Israelites brought the ark into battle against the Philistines, assuming its presence guaranteed victory (1 Samuel 4). Yet they were defeated, and the ark was captured—because they revered the object but had abandoned the God who sanctified it. Likewise, the bronze serpent, originally commanded by God for healing in the wilderness, became an object of worship and had to be destroyed by King Hezekiah centuries later (2 Kings 18:4).

Wells and altars built by the patriarchs, intended as expressions of faith and remembrance, were later venerated by their descendants who clung to the place more than to the God who had once met them there. Physical locations have also been idolised. Mount Gerizim became a centre of worship for the Samaritans. Today, Jerusalem has taken on the moniker of the Holy Land, drawing tourists to a country in the Middle East to seek God, who is already present in their hearts.

Throughout history, what God intended as a means to draw people closer to Him has often been turned into an object of worship. God gave us prophets, signs, memorials, and sacred elements to point to Himself, yet mankind has repeatedly turned these provisions into idols. It echoes the parable of the tenants: when God sent His Son, thinking, “Surely they will listen,” we instead responded, “This is the Son; let us make Him an idol,” using Him as an object of veneration rather than the way to the Father.

Yes, tragically, even Jesus has been turned into an idol when people claim to revere Him but neglect His words, His example, and His call to obedience. Religion itself has become an idol as traditions are replacing the relationship with God. Even the empty tomb, though a powerful sign of Christ’s resurrection, has become an idol as the focus shifts from the risen Saviour to the physical site. Memorials must always point us to God, not replace Him. Every story, symbol, and tradition must lead us deeper into obedience and relationship with the Lord. If not, even the Greatest Gift can become an idol in the hearts of people.

The Israelites obeyed Joshua’s command, and the twelve stones were placed at Gilgal. The priests remained in the river until all the Lord’s instructions were completed. Once everyone had crossed, Joshua commanded the priests to come out, and as soon as they stepped onto dry land, the waters returned to flood stage. That day, the Lord exalted Joshua in the eyes of the people, and they revered him as they had revered Moses.

From the Sea to the River, God’s guiding hand continually led the Israelites, a rebellious nation, all the way to the promised land. When the surrounding Amorite and Canaanite kings heard about these miraculous crossings, their hearts melted in fear, and they lost all courage.

Discussion Questions

Why were the people instructed to keep a distance from the ark as they marched toward the Jordan River?
Why were the people required to consecrate themselves before crossing the Jordan River?
How can we ensure that the memorials, symbols, and even blessings God gives us do not become idols that replace our relationship with Him?