Passing Over the Cross Way

We covered a lot of ground this Sunday, walking through Joshua 3 to 5 in a lesson called Passing Over the Cross Way. The Jordan River is more than a river in this story. It’s a crossing point, a boundary, and a picture of baptism. The Hebrew word abar means “to cross over,” and it shows up 44 times in Joshua.

We started with preparation. God slowed Israel down for three days before the crossing. The Ark went first. The people followed at a distance so everyone could see God lead. And God worked upstream, stopping the water long before Israel saw dry ground.

Then remembrance. Twelve stones from the riverbed set up at Gilgal. Not decoration. A story. For them and for everyone who comes after. Your stones of remembrance matter. Someone needs to hear your story.

Then renewal at Gilgal. God rolled away the reproach of Egypt. The manna stopped. The fruit of the land began. Old life gone. New life started.

And finally, surrender. Joshua meets the Commander of the Lord’s army outside Jericho and learns the real question: not “Is God on my side?” but “Am I on His?” Victory begins with kneeling.

Something to sit with this week:

What part of your past is God trying to roll away that you keep picking back up?