Joshua 3:3-4
Don’t 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 Joshua’s 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; Don’t 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
policy—probably in January—to 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
person’s 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
house’s 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 mother’s 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 20’s and 30’s telling
other people in their 20’s and 30’s 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 ground—if 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. Don’t expect them to quit. Expect them to intensify.
7. Should you be afraid? No, but you should be concerned.
IV. Now, let’s 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? Don’t 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. Don’t 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. Don’t 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!
<OutlineIndex>
<Close Window>
