The Strangers Come

When the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carried the ark of the covenant ahead of the people. Now the Jordan overflows its banks throughout harvest season. But as soon as the priests carrying the ark reached the Jordan, their feet touched the water at its edge and the water flowing downstream stood still, rising up in a mass that extended as far as Adam, a city next to Zareth. The water flowing downstream into the Sea of Arabah ( the Dead Sea) was completely cut off, and the people crossed opposite Jericho. Joshua 3:14-16

Now, if the inhabitants of Jericho were in fear before, just because they had heard the rumour about the God of Israel, imagine why they were like now that they watched, first hand, His miraculous power. What fear and dread they would be experiencing.

The large crowd of Israelites came and camped by the river in flood. Three days later they picked up a strange box and went to stand in a flooded river. That would have been strange enough. But, suddenly the water stopped flowing, the river dried up and the people all walk through without an incident. What God thought so much of a group of people that they performed tricks for them? Why these people must be so powerful to command the assistance of their God!

How were they going to stand against such a mighty force? In pure bluster their leader refuses to surrender so they watch for seven days as another strange thing occurs. This army that had come against them behaves like no other before them. They walk around the wall, silently and camp, each day, saying absolutely nothing. How weird! What magic was this? How do you deal with an enemy that does not appear to want to fight?

Imagine how God would want to lead His people now? What amazing things would we see? Let's ask Him to lead! Amen!