THE people of Israel were now close to Canaan; but a deep river ran between the wilderness and Canaan. It was called the Jordan. How were the Israelites to get over it?
Could they go over in boats?
How could wood be got to make boats for so many people?
Could they make a bridge? The people in Canaan would have shot arrows at the Israelites while they were making a bridge.
Could they swim over?
How could the children and the women swim? And how could they take their tents over?
God could help them to get over. How had they got over the Red Sea?
You shall hear what God told Joshua to do.
Joshua rose up early in the morning, and he said to the people, "Look and see where the priests take the ark, and do you follow them; but do not go too near.”
Then Joshua said to the priests, "Take up the ark, and walk on.”
The ark (which was a golden box) was covered with a blue cloth, that none might see it, or see the golden angels on the top. Two long sticks were run through little rings joined in the ark, and the priests held the ends of the sticks.
The priests took up the ark when Joshua bade them. They went to the edge of the water, not knowing what they were to do. They were dressed in white, and their feet were bare.
Joshua called to them, and desired them to stand still. Then he spoke to all the people. "Now," he said, "you will see a great wonder that God is going to do; when the priests put their feet in the water, a dry path shall be made.”
All the people were coming out of their tents; they had got all their things ready for their journey, and were looking at the priests.
Then Joshua desired the priests to put their feet into the water.
As soon as they touched it, the water stood up like a wall on each side, and there was a dry path made through the river. The priests walked along, till they came to the middle of the river; then they stopped, and Joshua said to the people, "Now do you pass over Jordan.”
While the people were crossing, the priests stood quite still in the middle of the river. At last, all the people had got over into the land of Canaan, except twelve men that Joshua had desired to stay on the other side.
Why had Joshua desired them to stay?
Joshua said to them, "See where the priests are standing; there are great stones lying near them; take up twelve great stones, and bring them over with you into Canaan." These twelve men walked through the dry path; each took up a great stone in his arms, and carried it to the other side. Then Joshua said to them, "Put the twelve stones by the side of the river in Canaan.”
Why do you think the stones were to be put there?
It was that the people might never forget this great wonder of making a path in Jordan. God knew that, a long time afterward, little children would see the twelve stones, and would say to their fathers, "What are these stones for?”
Then their fathers would say, "These stones were once at the bottom of the water; but God made a path for us, and we have put the stones here, to keep God's kindness in our minds.”
God is pleased that children should wish to know the meaning of what they see. God wishes little children to know about His goodness, and the wonders He has done.
All the time the twelve men were walking through with the stones, the priests were standing still in the river.
At last Joshua said to the priests, "Come up out of Jordan"; so the priests came up out of the river. As soon as the priests put their feet on the dry land in Canaan, the water rolled back again, and the river looked as it had done before.
How happy the Israelites must now have been I They had wandered forty years in the wilderness, but at last they were safely arrived in Canaan. God had been very good to them, and He would help them to fight against the wicked people of Canaan.
Why did God desire that the people in Canaan should be killed? Because they went on worshipping idols, and doing a great many wicked things, so God chose to punish them.
The King of Jericho saw the Israelites come over the river. He could look at them over his high walls. He was very much frightened, and so were all the people in Jericho. Only Rahab was not frightened; she knew she was safe; she believed in the true God.
The priests put down the ark; all the Israelites set up their tents, and waited outside Jericho. Rahab's red cord could be seen upon her window on the wall.
So the Israelites knew which was her house, and Joshua told them not to hurt the people who were in it.
The gates of Jericho were kept fast shut, that the Israelites might not get in; no one in Jericho went out, and no one came in, but everybody kept inside the town.
Those wicked people would never again walk by the river side; the day of their death was very near. Ah 1 why did not they turn to God before it was too late?
My dear children, the Day of Judgment will come to us all at last. Now is the time to be sorry for our sins, and to ask God for His holy Spirit. If children will go on telling lies, quarreling, and fighting, being bold and disobedient, they will come to a sad end.
But I hope, dear children, that you will love God, and that you will be saved.
Hymn 34
The priests just dip their feet
In Jordan's rapid stream:
The waters quick retreat,
Like walls of silver seem,
Oh, why do Jordan's waters fly,
And leave the stony channel dry?
The priests in Jordan stay,
While Israel's mighty host
With haste pursue their way
To Canaan's pleasant coast,
What power restrains the flowing tide,
While in the deep the priests abide?
Fun long the white-robed band
Wait in the depths below;
But when they reach the land,
Once more the waters flow:
What hand has broke the unseen chain,
That did the water's force restrain?
It is the Lord restrains
The rapid river's side:
It is the Lord unchains
The walls on either side;
It is the Lord Who thus would mark
His love to them who bear His ark.
Child
Oh bless me, Lord, like those
Who in the river stood:
A way for me unclose,
Through this world's dangerous flood;
And lead me with Thy numerous host
From lowest depths to heaven's high coast.