Pastor Tony Curtisi
Joshua 3:1-3

This chapter was to become a key passage in Israel’s self-understanding, for it taught them the greatness of God and what He required of His people who would move forward with Him.

First Step: Focus and Follow

Primarily, it meant following God’s presence. The Ark was a simple box 4 ft. long, 2.5 ft. high & 2.5 ft wide. It contained the tablets of stone upon which the finger of God had written the 10 Commandments. It held a pot of manna–which witnessed to God’s gracious provision during the preceding 40 years (Exodus 16:33,34).

The Ark was topped with a gold called the mercy seat over which two statures of the cherubim knelt (Exodus 25:18, 19). Everything about the ark exuded the presence of God.

What this means for us today is the same with one addition: Jesus Christ. We must focus on and follow Jesus, the living Ark of God, who was and is God of God, Light of Light, and Very God of Very God. He is the obedient One who kept God’s Law perfectly. He is the merciful One who makes it all possible for a holy God to show mercy to sinful men.

We must like the Psalmist who could say, “My eyes are continually toward the Lord” (Psalm 25:15).

Second Step: Consecrate or Sanctify Yourself

Here, on the eve of one of the great days in their history, when they would miraculously cross into the Promised Land, the people of Israel sanctified themselves.

Perhaps there was some external ceremonial washing, but whatever they did was essentially internal and spiritual. God’s people examined their lives, purged known sins, resolved to forsake them, and consecrated themselves to God’s Service.

Third Step: Step Out & Stand Still

Focusing on Jesus is good. Sanctifying ourselves is also good. Both are essential.

This is one of the great truths of life: nothing will happen unless we are, by faith willing to get our feet wet. If we are ever going to do anything for God, we must clearly be willing to take the kind of steps that get our feet wet.

But…it is also true that if we are ever going to accomplish anything for God, we must be willing to stand still just as those who stepped into the Jordan–as they awaited the power of God. In their activity of faith, they maintained a brilliant passivity. Their standing still testified to the fact that everything came from God.

Listen to Tony.