Go West Young Man Part 2

This week, we continued in our series called "Go West Young Man." We examined the entry into the Promised Land by the Israelites in the book of Joshua. Their physical entry into a physical place is a picture of the spiritual journey we are on.

 

In Joshua 3 we see the crossing of the Jordan River. They were told that they would be able to cross this river that was at flood stage by putting the Ark of the Covenant (Jesus) in front of them and stepping out into the river by faith in God's Word. When they did so, the river backed up and they walked across on dry land!  When we let Jesus lead us and direct our timing, we will always move toward victory and abundance.  Note that they crossed at flood stage.  At that time, the Ark of the Covenant was separated from the Israelites and could not be touched, even by the priests.  Now we have the presence of God in our hearts.  Also, the priests had to step out into the sea (they did not have to do this when they left Egypt—it backed up before they went in).  This was a test to see if they had progressed.

 

The name Jordan means "descender." The river ends in the Salt Sea (a.k.a. The Dead Sea).   The account of the crossing says that the river backed up in a heap all the way back to the town of Adam near Zarethan. Adam represents the original sin — the entry of sin into the world.  This is a picture that we in ourselves “descend” to death in sin.  This needs to be defeated in order for them to cross over. 

 

But, if you look at a map of the area in Joshua's day, you see that Zarethan is slightly upstream from Adam. This is significant because in Hebrew the name Zarethan means "pierced side." It is the pierced side of Jesus and the blood and water that flowed that cut off the flow of sin unto death.  Instead it is replaced with a flow of grace that allows us to enter into His promises without needing to earn them. We cannot enter into the Promised Land by the law.  Until we learn to operate in grace toward ourselves and others, we will never obtain the things in the Promised Land.  Note that it still has to initiate with the faith of man. 

 

The picture is completed when we see Jesus' baptism in Matthew 3. He comes to the Jordan River to be baptized. It is believed that he did so near the town of Bethany on the east side of the river (See John 1:28).  Jesus came from the west and crossed over to the east to be baptized.  He stepped out into the river just as the priests did with the Ark and, now in a spiritual sense, He was cutting off the effect of sin all the way back to Adam!  The Promised Land for us, remember is in our heart.  We have to step out in faith with Jesus in the lead in order to enter the Promised Land.  Then we still have to drive the junk out of our hearts in order to dwell in the Promised Land and eventually enter God’s rest.

 

The next thing God told them to do was to circumcise all the men (ouch!) at a place named “hill of the foreskins.” Noone had been circumcised in the wilderness, so they had to catch everyone up.  This was not some cruel, random command.  They had to go into battle after this.  (He did allow them to remain in camp until they all were healed.)  It was grounded in covenant. It was to serve as a reminder of the promise made to Abraham in Genesis 17.  More importantly it was symbolic in its location and physical result. 

 

Why THAT part of the body? It is because that is the part associated with producing and creating. God wanted His people to remember that, just like a man and woman in marriage, He is committed to us, and we create together. Israel had tried to produce on its own and ended up with 38 extra years in the wilderness. This time was going to be different. They were going to produce in conjunction with God! Now they would win!  God circumcises our hearts now so that we are marked as His by His presence in our hearts (Romans 2:28-29).

 

To listen to the entire sermon go to http://ahwatukeechurch.com/ and click on online media. To learn more about Living Word Ahwatukee, visit http://ahwatukeechurch.com/.

 

To listen to the entire sermon go to http://ahwatukeechurch.com/ and click on online media.  To learn more about Living Word Ahwatukee, visit http://ahwatukeechurch.com/.