Joshua 3:3-4 – Don’t Lose Sight of God – Bible study

Joshua 3:3-4 Dont Lose Sight of God These words were spoken by Joshua as the Israelites sat on the east side of the River Jordan, waiting to cross. Joshua told the people to stay about 2,000 cubits (a little over 1/2 mile) from the Ark. Most think that was due to the fact that the Ark was holy and it was not wise for an unholy people to get too close, but Joshuas own explanation seems to say that he was not as concerned about the people getting too close as he was about them getting too far away. His words warned them that they did not know the way and reminded them they had never passed that direction. The distance he told them to stay would keep the wandering Jews in sight of the Ark so they would always know which direction they needed to go. The Jews must have been both excited and concerned at the prospect of the crossing. 1. There would be excitement because on the other side was their Promised Land. It would be a land full of milk and honey, a land in which they would plow, plant, and produce. After wandering their whole life, the prospect of settling down must have been very appealing. 2. But it must have been concerning as well. They knew the land land was occupied. Well they remembered the description that the ten spies had brought to their parents years ago. It was a land with walled cities and inhabited by giants! It is not difficult to imagine how both joy and fear might have filled them as they looked down on the river from the hills which ran parallel to it. The Jews had no doubt crossed other rivers in their sojourning, but crossing the Jordan was unique for several reasons: I. Crossing Jordan was a concern because the time was dangerous. A. It was harvest time and the Bible gives a detail about the Jordan. Jos 3:15 for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest. 1. There are difficulties and dangers to crossing a river any time, but much more so when the river is flooded. 2. Even today flood waters are dangerous. a. In an article dated June 26, 2016, the Weather Channel reported 234 deaths in the US in the preceding 18 months. That was up from the average of 82 deaths per year and made death by flooding the 2nd most deadly weather-related event. https://weather.com/storms/severe/news/flood-deaths-united-states- near-200 b. The National Weather Service have a slogan, "Turn Around; Dont Drown." 3. Yet, the people were standing at the river and they had to cross. a. Waiting for the river to go down would do no good for it was spring. The Jordan was fed from the melting snows in the mountains. It would be weeks or months for that to run its course and they needed to do battle during that time of the year. b. It was just a dangerous time to cross the Jordan. B. Crossing into 2018 is a dangerous time. 1. We do not want to be negative or to look where dangers do not exist, but these are difficult times in which to live. 2. Violence is increasing. a. In an article dated July 26, 2016, CNN (not my favorite news source) was published entitled, "Violent Crime Rising in US Cities, study finds." (1) The CNN article opened with this paragraph: Violent crime is on the rise so far this year (2016) in major cities across the US compared to the number of homicides, rapes, robberies, assaults and shootings that occurred in the same cities by this point in 2015, a new report has found. http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/25/politics/violent-crime-report-us- cities-homicides-rapes/index.html (2) Another article, published about the same time, added to the title, "and nobody knows why." (a) I can answer that. (b) It is a sign of the last days. (3) On November 6, 2017, The Business Insider (UK version) printed an article entitled, "There have been 307 mass shootings in the US so far in 2017." That was almost 2 months ago and just after the church shooting at Texas with 26 killed. http://www.businessinsider.com/how-many-mass-shootings-in-america- las-vegas-shooting-2017-10?op=1 b. Due to the church shooting in Texas on November 5, our church will be publishing and distributing a new policyprobably in Januaryto give our people guidance on what to do if an killer attack occurs during church. (1) If we had a show of guns this morning, I believe some would be surprised. (2) To be honest, I am not sure but what there are more guns in our church this morning than there would have been in the days of the wild east. (3) Crossing into 2018 is a dangerous time. c. Two weeks ago, Andrea was taking care of another persons house while they were away and she was started when a stranger walked up to her on the back porch to ask what seemed to be a foolish question. (1) They had no car. (2) It was a female teenager all alone. (3) Andrea was afraid to leave, afraid for the houses sake and for her sake. (4) I was at the church, got a phone call that she needed an escort, but decided before I went, I needed to have a weapon. So I went and got one. (5) Crossing into 2018 is a dangerous time. d. Wait a minute. What kind of times are these when these thoughts are on your mind? They are dangerous times. e. Kathy has a scanner that allows her to hear the call outs at the fire and police station. A few weeks ago, the police were called for a girl who had not arrived home from the school bus. The mother wanted a search commenced. As it turned out, the young girl had fallen, skinned her knee, and was slowly limping home; but the mothers first instinct was that she had been abducted. (1) Lord, help us in these dangerous times! (2) Crossing into 2018 is a dangerous time. 3. Diseases are on the rise. a. Medical News Today published an article in June, 2012, entitled Autoimmune Disease Rates Increasing. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/246960.php b. In 2015 STDs were on the rise. c. For the last 20 or 30 years, it seems we are finding new diseases – Legionnaires Disease, Mad Cow Disease, Lyme Tick Disease. I remember when AIDS was a new disease. 4. Perversion on the rise. If I was single and wanted to date, before I would go anywhere with anyone I would want to see their birthday certificate and a pictorial album going back to preschool. C. I am not advocating fear or panic, but we are crossing a river and it is a dangerous time. 1. We, like the Jews, have God and we are going to make it; but as the Jews sat on the east side of the Jordan River, looking across, they had reason for some concern. 2. As we sit on this side of 2018 preparing to cross, we too have some reason for concern. II. Crossing Jordan was a concern because there responsibility would change. A. The Jordan River separated the land that was not theirs from land that was. 1. For more than 40 years, the Israelites had wondered as pilgrims in a foreign land. 2. The short end of that means they had no responsibilities on the east side of Jordan. a. They had no responsibility in producing. They did not have to plow it, plant it, or pluck it. All they had to do was pick up their manna every morning. b. They had no responsibility in protection. God was literally a wall of fire about them. The remainder of the land might be over-run but they would not. c. They did not even have to sew cloths or worry about swollen feet. (1) Listen to what Moses said as he prepared them to enter the Promised Land. Deut 8:4 Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years. (2) I am sure but what they never got sick. 3. They had enjoyed the blessings of a land without any responsibilities at all. B. But all of that was about to change when they crossed the river. Jos 5:12 And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year. 1. They crossed the River Jordan, had their Passover, and suddenly, the manna stopped! 2. Now they have to provide for themselves. Now they have responsibility. C. Someone might ask, "Why did they want to cross the river? Why not stay on the east side and let everyone else 1. Because it is the plan of God for His people to take responsibility and work. 2. God does not want His children to be free-loaders. 3. God loves us and helps us to provide for ourselves, but God created work and He intends that His children take responsibility for the blessing they enjoy. D. How does this relate to us? I hope as we cross into 2018, some will realize this church is yours and you need to get involved in growing it, leading it, and keeping it. 1. This church is ours, is it not? Sometimes the children ask, "What does Brother Hall do with all that money we give him?" But you, adults, know this is no more my church than it is yours, right? 2. And we have a wonderful church. a. We probably have one of the highest participation rates of any church. b. Our people give to support the work, to support missions, to support our family, to support projects, and to support building a new building. 3. But, friend, there are still a lot of people are enjoying the blessings without sharing the responsibilities. a. Should you tithe? Absolutely, but that is not primarily what I am thinking about. b. This church needs some more faithful families, some that will make it to all three services. c. This church needs some more serving families, teaching, encouraging, cleaning, decorating, weed eating, showing up for workdays. (1) Does that mean you might have to grow up some? (2) Probably. If you are going to serve Christ you need to set an example for others to follow in dress, in speech, in attitude, and in habits. d. This church needs some more door knockers and friend inviters. (1) Most churches reflect the pastor. That was fine when I was 20, 30, even 40 to 50, but we need some young families serving in this church and bringing others young families to Christ and to church. (2) We need some folk in their 20s and 30s telling other people in their 20s and 30s who Jesus is! E. The children of Israel were crossing a river and on the other side lay responsibility. F. You and I are crossing into a New Year. What responsibilities are you going to shoulder for Jesus? III. Crossing the Jordan was a concern because there was fighting on the other side. A. On the other side of the River Jordan, there were seven nations that Israel would have to fight. 1. They would not be fighting one nation. No, there were seven nations on the other side of the river. 2. They would not be fighting them one-at-a-time either. No. They would fight them all at once. 3. Neither would these be ill-equipped and untrained armies. While Israel had been protected by God, these nations had been fighting and warring to stay secured. 4. And these nations would certainly have something to fight for, would they not? They all knew that it would either be seven nations left standing or just one Jewish nation when the dust all settled. 5. Yes. Israel should be concerned, not afraid but concerned. There was war on the other side of that river and it would begin as soon as their feet touched the dry groundif not before. B. As you and I cross into 2018, there are enemies on the other side. 1. Perhaps not seven-enemy nations, but I know you have at least three: the world, the flesh, and the devil. 2. These three are going to come at you with all the strength they have. 3. Might I also predict that they will all jump on you at the same time? 4. No mercy. No quarter. 5. One or all three of these has been on your hot and heavy in 2017, have they not? 6. Dont expect them to quit. Expect them to intensify. 7. Should you be afraid? No, but you should be concerned. IV. Now, lets notice the advice God gave to the children of Israel as they looked over the River Jordan. Joshua 3: Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. A. I will paraphrase it. 1. So what it the advice? Dont lose sight of God. 2. The times might be tough, the responsibilities might be great, the enemies might be lined up against you; but you keep God in sight. 3. You might not know what is going to happen on the other side of the River Jordan, but God does. 4. You may not can handle what is going to happen on the other side of the River Jordan, but God can. 5. You might be facing obstacles that you cannot conquer but God is not. B. And what advice is God giving to us as we cross into 2018? 1. It is the same. Dont lose sight of God. 2. And the reasons are the same. You have not been this way before. a. You might not know what is going to happen, but God does. b. You may not can handle what is going to happen next year, but God can. c. You might be facing obstacles that you cannot conquer in 2018, but God is not. Keep God in sight. Dont lose sight of God because I promise you, on the other side, you are going to find out you need Him a lot more than you think God needs you!