Here’s the promise: “And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan. And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, Come hither, and hear the words of the LORD your God. And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites. Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan … and it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap “ Joshua 3:8-11 and 13

Here’s the fulfillment: “And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people; and as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,) that the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho. And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm ON DRY GROUND in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.” Joshua 3:14-17

A miracle, indeed!

But where did this “passage” occur?

It seems to me that the Old Testament is purposely “vague” on the answer to this question! “Very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan …” Though two locations are given, they are hardly prominent!

But wherever … that “crossing” occurred!

At the very place where God “magnified” Joshua, as discussed in the last two Lessons I have written. “On that day the LORD magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.” Joshua 4:14, spoken specifically at this great “crossing.”

Now … let’s mentally go to the New Testament. To another “Joshua!” (The Names Joshua and Jesus are identical in meaning, both having a Hebrew background, essentially the same “root” word!)

Let’s go to the Jordan, with Jesus.

In John chapter 1, John the Baptist is at the Jordan.

Baptizing those who have repented.

Our Lord comes there, to be baptized. “Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness.” Matthew 3:15

And John (finally) did Baptist Jesus!

Amen!

But … where was John baptizing, on the Jordan, actually “in” the Jordan?

“These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.” John 1:28, King James Version. (I must say KJV because all the so-called “newer” Bibles change that word “Bethabara.” And my Lesson today hinges on it remaining the same!)

So … what does Bethabara mean? The place of “crossing!” More literally, the “house” of “crossing!”

Wow!

I believe we are being told that Jesus was baptized at the exact place where Israel crossed the Jordan River. At “the place of such a great crossing!”

In Hebrew, “Bethabara” blends the noun “beth” (“bayith) meaning “house” and “abar,” a verb meaning “to cross over,” or “to pass over!” (In fact, it is the great “Passover” verb of Exodus!)

Jesus and Joshua closely identified … once again.

But here’s my question today.

Was Jesus “magnified” that day? the day He went to the “crossing” place?

As was Joshua?

John the Baptist writes: “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bare record that THIS IS THE SON OF GOD.” John 1:32-34

That’s being “magnified,” all right!

“THIS IS THE SON OF GOD!”

Now, here’s Matthew’s account: “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: and lo a voice from heaven, saying, THIS IS MY BELOVED SON, IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED.” Matthew 3:16-17

Jesus is our greater Joshua!

Hallelujah!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

There’s more, tomorrow, Lord willing!

 

This Lesson is a continuation of yesterday’s thought. The schedule Friday was jam-packed, hardly an hour to spare. But the Lord granted safety in all the miles traveled!

“And the LORD said unto Joshua, THIS DAY WILL I BEGIN TO MAGNIFY THEE in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.” Joshua 3:7

I have found nineteen times the King James Version of Scripture used the word “magnify.” And another 21 times it employs “magnified,” past tense.

And I believe, based on my research, this is one of only two times in all the Bible God is said to magnify a specific man, by name! (Solomon is the other man whom God “magnified.” According to 1st Chronicles 29:25 and 2nd Chronicles 1:1.)

By the way, we need to be familiar with Joshua 4:14 too. “On that day THE LORD MAGNIFIED JOSHUA in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.” God keeping His Word, as always.

God magnifies Himself in Ezekiel 38:23, when God and her allies attack Israel. God overturning them with great Power. “Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD.” And rightly so.

Wow!

And furthermore, singularly, God magnifies His Word, a Living Entity for sure! “I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for THOU HAST MAGNIFIED THY WORD above all thy name.” Psalm 138:2

Wow, again!

Many are said to “magnify themselves,” some even “against the Lord!” But invariably they will ALL be judged, brought low by the Almighty! I found a half-dozen examples of such wickedness, such pride.

And the very Theme of Scripture, in many ways, is: “O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.” Time and time again, particularly in the Psalms. I’ve used Psalm 34:3 here, as an example.

But, back to Joshua … WHY did God so specifically magnify that great servant?

His sincerity?

His love for God’s Word?

HIs place in divine history, as Moses’ successor?

His being such a clear “type” or “symbol” of Jesus?

His godly living?

We really do not know.

Perhaps “all of the above,” as they say.

Anyway, let each of us seek God’s Hand on our lives!

Jabez came close to asking God to “magnify” him! “And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me!” 1st Chronicles 4:10

Oh … the rest of that verse … “And God GRANTED him that which he requested.”

What thought a single verse of Scripture can excite …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

It is 4:30 am here in my motel room.

And I am putting the “finishing touches” on the first little job of the day … packing to fly home this morning. From the Revival Meeting here in Manhattan, Kansas. At the Harvest Baptist Church, where the Lord has allowed me to preach verse by verse through another amazing chapter of Scripture!

Today’s Lesson Text will be Joshua 3:7. “And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day will I BEGIN TO MAGNIFY thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.” I am captivated by this sentence, Holy Spirit inspired as it is!

God “magnifying” a man!

I am currently running Bible references about this verb, “to magnify.” However, I have run out of time! Therefore, this Article will be continued later today … or if things become “impossible,” tomorrow morning.

Did God “magnify” anyone else in the Bible?

Does God Himself wish to be “magnified?”

Is anyone said to sinfully “magnify” himself, herself?

All kinds of thoughts (and questions) are flooding my heart!

Well, as I said, I will complete the Lesson later.

Meanwhile, I ask for your prayers as I travel today.

A two hour drive from here to the Kansas City Airport.

A two hour flight then to Atlanta.

An hour layover there.

Then a short trip home on a little twelve row airplane.

We live in a amazing world!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Just one verse this morning, Joshua 3:5, where God’s people were commanded: “And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you.”

And of course, we now know that among those “wonders” was the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River, by a whole nation, into the Promised Land. The last verse in Joshua 3 reports: “And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of (the river) Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over ON DRY GROUND, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.” I believe it!

The noun used for “wonders” (things like that “crossing”) is “pala” in Hebrew, meaning something like “marvelous, extraordinary, surpassing!” It can even mean “hard,” five times in the Bible anyway.

Yes, our God is THAT great!

But back to my thought (our verse) today … “Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you.”

God will do something great, in fact it’s plural, “wonders.” (Sounds like a Promise, doesn’t it? From our faithful, never-failing God!)

But … nonetheless … the people still were required a bit of effort!

“Sanctify yourselves!”

The verb here is “qadash,” meaning “dedicate, purify, prepare,” and is grammatically a “Hithpael imperative!” That’s the Hebrew “reflexive” form, something the Jews had to do for themselves! The “imperative” qualification means a “command” has been given, a “mandate” from the Lord.

Once more now, but this time applying it to our lives here and now. “Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you.”

God is still a wonder-working Heavenly Father!

He just might do “wonders” in our future days, according to his Grace and Mercy and Faithfulness! (Jeremiah writes of the Lord’s Mercy … “His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:23)

God can do it!

Question is … will we sanctify ourselves?

Will I live a “clean life” … thus expediting God’s Wonders?

Will I “dedicate” myself to Jesus … in order to better enjoy those “Wonders?”

Will I “separate myself” from some (however small) iniquity or sin … to better appreciate God’s Wonders? Maybe even to discern them!

“And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you.”

Maybe we as Preachers should ask our people again and again to so “Sanctify themselves!”

How?

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1st John 1:9

James is a “rough” Preacher, but still tells the truth. “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.” Then he adds, still speaking to Christians:  “Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” James 4:8, one single verse.

Jesus was aware of this Bible Principle. He stayed clean so His people would be able to stay clean! Here’s our Lord praying to His Father: “And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.”

Wow!

I feel like I should give an “invitation” after all that!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

“Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you.”

 

Joshua 3:1-3 reads, in part: “And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over. And it came to pass AFTER THREE DAYS, that the officers went through the host; and they commanded the people, saying …”

The “chronology” of the Book of Joshua is intriguing! Puzzling to some scholars, in fact.

Remember Joshua 1:10-11 please. “Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for WITHIN THREE DAYS ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the Lord your God giveth you to possess it.”

(The three days involved with the spies, all of Joshua chapter 2, could have been enveloped into the “three days” of chapter 1, verse 11 … just shown above.)

Still, it looks like (to me anyway) that we have two three-day periods of time! The first three days, getting the people ready (supplies, “victuals,” food, etc.) to enter Canaan. Then the second three days subsequently transpired, after which Israel’s leaders (“officers”) informed the population of precise marching instructions as they entered the Land!

A total of six days, mind you.

Then … on the seventh day … the crossing of the Jordan River, miraculously so! “And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for TOMORROW the LORD will do wonders among you.” Joshua 3:5

Get this now, a “pattern” may be forming.

Six days … then a miracle! “And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,) that the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho. And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.” Joshua 3:15-17, yes a clear suspension of the laws of nature! A supernatural event!

Wow!

Then, sequentially, the book of Joshua tells us the story of the “Fall of Jericho!”

But what preceded the Fall of Jericho?

Six days, a literal six-day block of time!

“And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.” Joshua 6:3 … six days of marching around the “doomed” city.

Then after that six day period … another miracle!

The Walls of Jericho … came tumbling down!!!

Get it?

See the pattern?

Six days … then crossing the Jordan, involving an obvious Act of God! (Actually two “three-day” units of time, totaling six days!)

Then immediately … six more days … followed by a seventh … when Jericho imploded, its walls!

What poetic symmetry!

Sounds like an Editor, a Master Writer, is composing this marvelous history of Israel, this Book of Joshua. Indeed, there is! And He is God the Holy Spirit!

The Bible is beautiful, even numerically!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell