“‘When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it. Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before.’ And Joshua said to the people, ‘Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.'”
– Joshua 3:3-5
Joshua had the distinct privilege of leading his people across the Jordan. What went before them was the Ark of the Covenant, carrying God’s Word. Indeed, the Lord orders the steps of a good man (Psalm 37:23).
Joshua gave some interesting instructions in this portion of Scripture. He commanded the people not to go near the Ark and stay approximately three thousand feet back. For what purpose? So that the largest group of people trailing could see the Ark, keeping the Lord in their line of sight. Crowding around and blocking its view would shift the focus from their Maker to man. A true case of the blind leading the blind. Unfamiliar crossings require unobstructed concentration (Joshua 1:7).
It is ours to keep our Lord in view as we walk this unfamiliar land. We do this by keeping to His Word. It is a lamp unto our feet and a light to our path. We can crowd it, however, by irreverent interpretation. We obstruct truth and cast a shadow over Christ and His Cross through error. Many then are left looking to creation rather than their faithful Savior. May we then take up the promise and sanctify ourselves, “for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders” among us!
āOur Christian beliefs have been revealed by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in the sacred Scriptures. Everything there is clear-cut and accurate. We dare not be less than accurate in our treatment of anything so precious.ā
– A. W. Tozer
surrendered devotions 