Joshua – Lesson 19
The second part of this salvation from Egypt, which was separated in time for the Israelites, is the exodus by power. This took place at the Red Sea where God demonstrated His mighty power on behalf of those He was delivering from Egypt. This represents in type, the new birth. Now think about this: the birth is not the work of the child, but the work of the mother who labors to bring the child into the new life. In the same way, the new birth spiritually, is the work of God Himself as the Holy Spirit brings the person from death to eternal life.
Further, it was God who caused the destruction of the Egyptian army at the Red Sea, so there was no longer a chance of the Israelites being recaptured by the enemy!!! This shows us that Jesus has defeated the enemy, Satan, and those that God has given to Jesus, the elect, cannot be recaptured by Satan.
The Israelites had a barren desert before them and this was just the beginning. It was a place to learn to depend on God for everything. They had passed through the “from” stage. When they came to the Jordan River, they entered the second stage, or the “into” stage. This is the second aspect of the work Jesus did on the cross.
It is here that God has made it possible for us to participate in death to sin, to the world. and to self. It is to enter into the abundant life. Jordan speaks of the entrance to a life of conquering; the road that leads to the possessing of the inheritance that is promised in Jesus.
So Jesus has not only brought us out of Egypt, but He has opened the way for us to enter the overcoming life. But as we shall see, there is a decision to be made by each of us as to whether we will cross the Jordan and fight the battles that are required of the believer.
Exodus and Entrance
The Red Sea exodus and the Jordan entrance are complementary in their spiritual significance. Let’s notice.
· Psalm 114:1-8, When Israel came out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of foreign tongue, 2 Judah became God's sanctuary, Israel his dominion. 3 The sea looked and fled, the Jordan turned back; 4 the mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs. 5 Why was it, O sea, that you fled, O Jordan, that you turned back, 6 you mountains, that you skipped like rams, you hills, like lambs? 7 Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, 8 who turned the rock into a pool, the hard rock into springs of water.
Notice that the Red Sea and the Jordan are listed as separate events but here we see them recorded as if they immediately followed each other. In each case it was the presence of God that brought these miracles.
The crossing of the Jordan was more than a mere repetition of the crossing of the Red Sea. The opening of the Red Sea provided a way out of Egypt while the opening of the waters of the Jordan provided a way into Canaan.
Now spiritually speaking, these two miraculous events present two separate aspects of the Christian experience. The one speaks of going out, the other of going in. The older generation made an exit from the bondage of Egypt, but now the younger generation was about to enter the Promised Land. The older generation did not have to fight their way out of Egypt, but in order to possess the land of Canaan, the younger generation will have battles to fight before they could take possession of their promised land. It was with one mighty miracle that the Red Sea swallowed up the Egyptian army. But the conquest of Canaan would require many battles.
In type, the crossing of the Red Sea pictures for us what Jesus did for us on the cross when He brought us out of bondage to Satan and sin. We had no part in accomplishing that. But we do bear responsibility to obey and follow our leader as we enter into spiritual warfare, seeking to possess our spiritual promised land. The battle belongs to Jesus but we are His army of believers and we are required, by faith, to follow Him.
The older generation faced a barren wilderness after they left Egypt. The new generation under Joshua has a goal of fighting for the land of milk and honey
When we first come out of our spiritual Egypt we are faced with a sort of spiritual desert. This is a place where we first learn to know God and His ability to provide for us. Following this we enter into the Jordan experience and pass over into the land of promise.
Now you remember the way God parted the Red Sea? Well, the method He used to open the Red Sea was quite different from the method He used to open the Jordan River. At the Sea, Moses stretched out his hand and the Lord caused the waters to go back. He brought a strong wind which parted the waters and provided a safe path for His people.
At the Jordan River neither a wind nor a staff were used. God used the Ark of the Covenant to open the way for the Israelites. In both places, however, divine power was necessary. It was used differently in each case, yet it was indispensable. At the Red Sea God freed His people from slavery. At the Jordan He gave them entrance into a land where their possessions lay. The entrance into the Jordan River can be likened to what Jesus did when He ascended to heaven after He had completed His work here on earth of freeing His people from sin.
In the Old Testament we have an illustration of Jesus’ ascension in the battle with Amalek where Moses ascended the mountain to pray while Joshua descended into the valley to fight. The spiritual lesson is that while we fight in the valley Jesus prays for us in heaven.
Do you find it interesting that in order to ascend to heaven and sit at the right hand of the Father, Jesus had to pass through the domain of the prince of the power of the air. Jesus broke the power of Satan at the cross and demonstrated that victory in ascending to heaven. Ephesians 1:19 takes on new meaning when viewed from this angle:
· Ephesians 1:17-21, I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
He triumphed over Satan when He passed through the “power of the air”.
The Ark of the Covenant
The Ark of the Covenant played a major part in Israel’s history in the desert and also later on in the land. The Ark, like everything else in the Tabernacle, had spiritual significance. It was the most important piece of furniture in the Tabernacle and represented the presence of God. But it was more than that because it typified the Person of Jesus.
First, the Ark contained the two tablets of stone on which the God had written the Law. These spoke of the holiness of God.
Second, on top of the Ark was a cover made of gold called the mercy seat. This again represents Jesus who was sent by God to be our propitiation---mercy seat---due to the presence of the sprinkled blood.
· Romans 3:22-26, There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished- 26 he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time,
This is complex language but it means that God sent His Son to be the One through whose shed blood God was able to reveal His mercy and grace to us. Notice verse 26 which explains why He did this.
Just as the Israelites were to keep their attention focused on the Ark as the great entrance was about to be made into Canaan, so we are to keep our spiritual eyes fixed on Jesus.
· Hebrews 12:2, Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.
This is basic for our whole Christian life. We must keep our eyes on Him not only to see Him but to follow Him. This is what the Israelites were instructed to do with regard to the Ark which typifies Jesus.
The people of Israel, when they came out of Egypt, were told to stand still just before they crossed the Red Sea. They were to wait and see the salvation of the Lord. Then, after God had saved them they were to start walking on the basis of that salvation. Theirs was a physical salvation at the Red Sea, but the lesson for us is a spiritual one. After we see the salvation of the Lord then we are to walk accordingly.
At the Jordan the people were to pause for three days. Then the Ark was to move and they were to follow it. At the Red Sea the angel of the Lord, together with the cloud, stood behind them to protect them from the enemy, The Egyptian army followed after them but was not able to reach them. The Israelites were not to fight the Egyptians nor to protect themselves in any way. Their deliverance was entirely from God.
The situation concerning the Ark was different. It went before them into the danger spot and stood in the midst of the river. There was no threat from the enemy from behind. All the threat was before them. Their fighting was ahead of them. So this is the reason that we should keep our eyes on Jesus because our enemy is ahead of us.
· John 10:4, When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.
He followed this:
· John 10:27-28, My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.
God promises to see us through the spiritual warfare that lies ahead of us. Nothing can separate us from Him. What a great assurance!!!
All the power necessary for the battles that were ahead was already provided. However, the power must be accepted and acted upon in order for it to have any impact. They must exercise their faith in the God of the Ark if they were to be victorious.