Then Joshua told the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you." Then Joshua told the people,Joshua addressed Israel as they camped at the Jordan River, facing the land God had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Moses had died east of the Jordan, and the Lord had appointed Joshua to lead the nation forward. Like Moses, Joshua stood as God’s servant before the people; yet his leadership also foreshadows Christ, who leads His people into the fullness of God’s promised inheritance. Jos 1:10-11 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people:… “Consecrate yourselves, Joshua commanded the people to set themselves apart for the Lord before they witnessed His work. Consecration involved repentance, cleansing, and readiness to obey God’s commands. Israel could not treat the approaching display of divine power as an ordinary event. The holy God who had redeemed them from Egypt would go before them, and His people were called to respond with reverence and faith. God’s people remain set apart for holy living because He is holy. Lev 11:44-45 For I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves… for tomorrow The crossing of the Jordan would occur according to God’s appointed time. Israel had waited forty years in the wilderness because of unbelief, but the next day would begin a new stage in the fulfillment of God’s covenant promise. Joshua’s command required the people to prepare before they saw how God would act. Jos 7:13 Get up and consecrate the people, saying,… the LORD will do wonders among you.” The Lord would stop the flooded Jordan River so that Israel could cross on dry ground, displaying His presence and power as He had done at the Red Sea. The miracle would confirm Joshua’s leadership, strengthen Israel’s faith, and declare that the living God was with them as they entered Canaan. God’s wonders revealed His covenant faithfulness and anticipated the greater saving work accomplished through Jesus Christ, whose resurrection secures the inheritance of all who belong to Him. Psa 77:14 You are the God who works wonders; You display Your strength… Persons / Places / Events 1. JoshuaThe leader of the Israelites after Moses, tasked with leading them into the Promised Land. He is a central figure in the book of Joshua, known for his faithfulness and obedience to God. 2. The Israelites The people of God, descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who are on the brink of entering the Promised Land after wandering in the desert for 40 years. 3. Consecration A process of making oneself holy or set apart for God's purposes. In the context of Joshua 3:5, it involves spiritual preparation for witnessing God's miraculous works. 4. The LORD (Yahweh) The covenant name of God, who is about to perform miraculous deeds to demonstrate His power and faithfulness to His promises. 5. The Promised Land The land of Canaan, promised by God to the descendants of Abraham, a symbol of God's faithfulness and the fulfillment of His promises. Teaching Points The Call to HolinessConsecration is a call to holiness and purity, setting ourselves apart for God's purposes. It involves both spiritual and moral preparation. Expectancy of God's Work Joshua's instruction to consecrate themselves was in anticipation of God's wonders. We should live with expectancy, preparing our hearts for God's work in our lives. Obedience Precedes Miracles The Israelites' obedience in consecrating themselves was a prerequisite for witnessing God's miraculous acts. Our obedience to God's commands often precedes His blessings and interventions. Personal and Communal Preparation Consecration was both an individual and communal act for the Israelites. Similarly, our spiritual preparation should involve personal devotion and communal worship and accountability. Bible Study Questions 1. What does it mean to consecrate yourself in today's context, and how can you apply this in your daily life?2. How does the concept of consecration in Joshua 3:5 relate to the New Testament call to holiness found in 1 Peter 1:15-16? 3. In what ways can you prepare your heart and life to witness God's wonders, both personally and within your community? 4. Reflect on a time when obedience to God preceded a significant blessing or intervention in your life. How did that experience shape your faith? 5. How can the church today encourage both personal and communal consecration in anticipation of God's work among us? Connections to Other Scriptures Exodus 19:10-11Before God gave the Ten Commandments, the Israelites were instructed to consecrate themselves, highlighting the importance of preparation before encountering God's presence. Leviticus 20:7-8 God commands His people to consecrate themselves and be holy, for He is the LORD who sanctifies them, emphasizing the ongoing call to holiness. 1 Peter 1:15-16 Peter calls believers to be holy in all their conduct, reflecting the call to consecration and holiness found throughout Scripture. People Adam, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashite, Girgashites, Hittites, Hivite, Hivites, Israelites, Jebusites, Joshua, Levites, PerizzitesPlaces Adam, Jericho, Jordan River, Salt Sea, Sea of the Arabah, Shittim, ZarethanTopics Amazing, Consecrate, Hallow, Holy, Joshua, Midst, Morrow, Sanctify, Tomorrow, To-morrow, Wonder, Wonders, Works, YourselvesDictionary of Bible Themes Joshua 3:5 5784 amazement Library 'The Waters Saw Thee; they were Afraid''And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you. 6. And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people. 7. And the Lord said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee. 8 And thou shalt command the priests that bear … Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture The Meeting Hereafter. Adam and Zaretan, Joshua 3 The New Leaders Commission The Charge to the Soldier of the Lord Stones Crying Out Some Miscellaneous Matters Belonging to the Country About Jericho. Joshua Links Joshua 3:5 NIVJoshua 3:5 NLT Joshua 3:5 ESV Joshua 3:5 NASB Joshua 3:5 KJV Joshua 3:5 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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