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The Israelites were now to pass
over the river Jordan, and Joshua told them all to be ready the next
day. How could they go through? The river was wide, and there
was no bridge, nor any ships to carry them over. God knew how.
He had brought them through the Red Sea, and He could bring them over the
river Jordan too. God told Joshua to command the priests to take up
the ark, and to go before the people. When the priests came to the
river, and their feet were dipped into the water, then the waters divided,
and stood up like a wall; and the priests, with the ark, went through
first, and the people followed on dry ground. When they had all
passed over, Joshua called twelve men, one of every tribe, and told them
each to take a stone from Jordan, from the place where the priests' feet
stood upon dry ground, when the waters divided. These twelve stones
Joshua get up in Gilgal, that when, in future times, the Israelites'
children should ask, "What are these stones?" their parents
might tell them the wonderful story of God's bringing His people through
the river on dry ground. How
powerful God is, and how kind to His own people! He took care of
Israel for many long years; when they were in Egypt, and when they were in
the wilderness; and, at last, we read that He brought them safely to
Canaan. And God promises to
take care of His people now. He gives them all that He thinks right;
He helps them to fight against their sinful hearts, and Satan, who tempts
them so often; and, at last, He brings them to the heavenly Canaan above. This
world is like the wilderness; it is full of sorrow and pain, and between
it and Heaven there is a river which God's people must pass, that is death.
But they need not fear; for God promises to be with them there. The
ark, which the priests carried, was the type of Christ, and it went over
Jordan with the Israelites. And when we come to die, if we are the
servants of Christ, He will be with us; He will bring us safely through,
and land us in the happy Canaan above.
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