The Ark of the Covenant Bible Study | The Ark Parts the Jordan River

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JOSHUA 3

The Ark of the Covenant Parts the Jordan River

 

Early in the morning, Joshua and all the children of Israel set out from Shittim and came to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over.


After three days, the officers went throughout the camp, instructing the people:


“When you see the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests, the Levites, carrying it, you shall set out from your place and follow it. Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before.”


Then Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the Ark of the Covenant and pass on before the people.” So they took it up and went before them.


And the LORD said to Joshua, “This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.”


Joshua said to the children of Israel, “By this you shall know that the living God is among you… Behold, the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD of all the earth is crossing over before you into the Jordan.”


“And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the Ark of the LORD… shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, that the waters… shall be cut off, and they shall stand as a heap.”

 

The Miracle at the Jordan

 

Now the Jordan overflows all its banks during harvest. Yet when the priests carrying the Ark came to the river, and their feet touched the water:

 

  • The waters upstream stopped
  • They rose in a heap far away
  • The riverbed became dry ground

 

The priests stood firm in the middle of the Jordan, holding the Ark of the Covenant, while all Israel crossed over on dry ground. About forty thousand armed men crossed over before the LORD to the plains of Jericho.

 

When all had crossed, Joshua commanded the priests to come up out of the Jordan. As soon as their feet reached dry land, the waters returned and flowed as before.

 

The Ark Went Before Them

 

Once again, the Ark of the Covenant went before the people.

This shows:

  • God leads the way
  • His presence prepares the path
  • We are called to follow, not lead

 

You Have Not Passed This Way Before

 

The people were told to keep their eyes on the Ark because they had never gone this way before.

This speaks to us today:

 

When we face the unknown, we follow God’s presence

 

God Makes a Way Where There Is None

 

The Jordan was at flood stage—impossible to cross naturally.

Yet God made a way:

  • The waters stopped
  • The ground became dry
  • The people passed through safely

 

Standing in the Middle

 

The priests stood in the middle of the Jordan holding the Ark until everyone had crossed. This shows:

  • God’s presence remains until the work is complete
  • He sustains us through the entire journey

 

A Picture of Christ

 

This is a beautiful picture of Jesus Christ:

  • He goes before us
  • He makes a way where there is none
  • He brings us safely through

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