The Lord will do wonders tomorrow

"The Lord will do wonders tomorrow" - Joshua 3:1-7 God honors Joshua and Joshua honors God. Thus, are those who honor Him honored by God. Great indeed are those with whom God is and "whom He recognizes and uses in His service. By dividing the Jordan, they will be convinced that God is with Joshua by bringing them into Canaan, as He was with Moses by bringing them out of Egypt; it was on the banks of the Jordan that God began to magnify Joshua.

I. The spies had already returned to the village, and they were standing by the river.

A. Now the people are heading to enter the promised land, a day of victory.

1. (Joshua 2:10) Rahab, she believes: We have heard that Jehovah caused the waters of the Red Sea to dry up before you when you came out of Egypt.

2. There was reason to fear that the Jordan, that great defense of their country, would not block the way to the Israelites either.

3. They came to the Jordan and rested there before passing it.

4. Although they had not yet been told how they were to cross the river, they marched by faith as they had been told they would pass it. (Joshua 1:11).

5. The detail (3:1) that he got up in the morning, which indicates how little he sought his own comfort.

6. Those who have to carry out large enterprises have to get up early.

7. Thus, he was to depend, in his walk, on the transportation of the Ark, that is of God Himself, of whose presence the Ark was a clear sign and established by God.

8. It is called here the Ark of the Covenant of Jehovah, their God. (Joshua 3:3).

9. Jehovah was their God, a God of covenant with them.

10. Here was the Ark of the Covenant.

11. Previously, the Ark was transported in the center of the campers, but now it went ahead of them, looking for a resting place.

12. Inside the Ark were the tablets of the law and on it was the propitiatory (square sheet of gold, which in the old Law was placed on the Ark of the Testament).

13. They were also to depend on the priests and Levites, appointed to carry the Ark before them.

14. Wherever God's ordinances are, there we must be.

15. Thus, we must always walk according to the standard of the Word and the direction of the Spirit, so there will be peace upon us as there was then upon the people of Israel.

16. They were to follow the priests at the distance they were carrying the Ark, not further on; thus, we should follow the Lord's ministers only in what they follow the Lord.

17. In following the Ark, they were to keep some distance (Joshua 3:4).

18. None of them was to approach the Ark more than a kilometer or so.

19. In this way, they were to express their reverence, so that familiarity would not cause them to degenerate into contempt. (Consider less).

20. Although the Ark defended itself, she was the one protecting them.

21. Thus, it could be seen better, going before all the people: that you may know the way where you are to go.

22. Everyone would have the satisfaction of seeing it and would be encouraged to see it.

23. Because, you have not passed through this path before now.

24. It was not a well-trodden path, especially the Jordan.

25. "To stand before the holy."

26. He was commanded (Joshua 3:5) to sanctify themselves, "for the Lord will do wonders among you tomorrow."

27. Joshua could tell them beforehand what God was going to do and when He was going to do it.

28. How to prepare to receive the discoveries of God's glory and the communications of His grace.

29. "We must sanctify ourselves, separate ourselves from all other concerns," devote ourselves entirely to the honor of God," and "cleanse ourselves from all 'filth' of body and spirit."

30. The priests were commanded to "take the Ark and pass with it before the people."

31. Transporting the Ark was the proper occupation of the Levites (Numbers 4:15) but on this occasion the priests were commissioned to carry it, perhaps because of the change that had been introduced in the order of the march, as well as because of the solemnity of the occasion, since they were the representatives of all the people. (Matthew Henry).

32. Here magistrates are taught to spur (encourage a person to do something, encourage) ministers in the accomplishment of their work. (Matthew Henry).

33. Ministers, for their part, must learn to go ahead in God's way.

34. Being in front, they have to expect to receive the hardest blows, but they also know who they have trusted. Amen.