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Crossing the Jordan - The Book of Joshua · Bible in a Year with Jack Graham

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  Speaker 1: Let us pray. And it shall come to pass as
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  Speaker 1: soon as the soles of the feet of the priests
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  Speaker 1: that bear the ark of the Lord, the Lord of
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  Speaker 1: all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan,
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  Speaker 1: that the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off
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  Speaker 1: from the waters that come down from above, and they
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  Speaker 1: shall stand upon a heap. Joshua 3.13 Dear God, As
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  Speaker 1: the sun greets my face today, I realize that hope
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  Speaker 1: fills the sky. Like Joshua and the children of Israel,
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  Speaker 1: I declare that today is the day I will cross
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  Speaker 1: over into my promised land. Regardless of the obstacles in
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  Speaker 1: front of me, I can feel the Spirit of God
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  Speaker 1: with me. As I place your presence before me, Lord,
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  Speaker 1: the mighty waters of obstacles must part and make way
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  Speaker 1: for me to cross over. into my promised land. As
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  Speaker 1: my feet touch the grounds of my promise, I will
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  Speaker 1: set up touchstones that remind me of all the miracles
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  Speaker 1: you have done on my behalf. My war cry of
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  Speaker 1: victory will be heard all over the world as you
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  Speaker 1: elevate my life to be a symbol of your love
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  Speaker 1: and power to those who believe. I declare that I
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  Speaker 1: am strong and courageous. I decree that I am unmoved
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  Speaker 1: as I prepare to fight and take what belongs to
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  Speaker 1: me and my family. The time is now. My moment
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  Speaker 1: of expansion and victory has come. In Jesus' name. Amen.
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  Speaker 1: Thank you for praying with us today. Continue your time
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  Speaker 1: with God by listening to today's Bible story, brought.
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  Speaker 2: To you Crossing the Jordan In our last story, we
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  Speaker 2: learned about Joshua's spies infiltrating the city of Jericho. The
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  Speaker 2: spies were eventually discovered, but then saved by a prostitute
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  Speaker 2: named Rahah. She informed the spies of Israel that all
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  Speaker 2: of Jericho was terrified of Israel, and that they all
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  Speaker 2: knew the Lord would give Israel the land. Filled with hope,
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  Speaker 2: the spies returned with good news. Now we learn about
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  Speaker 2: the people of Israel venturing forward into new beginnings. God's
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  Speaker 2: mighty hand would be shown once again, inspired by the
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  Speaker 2: book of Joshua.
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  Speaker 3: Hi, I'm Pastor Jack Graham with today's episode of the
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  Speaker 3: Bible in a Year podcast. In our previous episode, God
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  Speaker 3: reaffirmed His promise and presence to Joshua and charged him
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  Speaker 3: to be courageous. Joshua prepared the people to cross over
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  Speaker 3: into the Promised Land, but first he sent spies to
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  Speaker 3: scout the city of Jericho. There we met a prostitute
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  Speaker 3: by the name of Rahab who told the men that
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  Speaker 3: the whole city was terrified of Israel and, more importantly,
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  Speaker 3: of their God. She also protected the spies from Jericho's
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  Speaker 3: king and, as a result, gained grace in God's eyes,
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  Speaker 3: favor that would reverberate through the millennia through her own bloodline. Today,
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  Speaker 3: we'll join the Israelites as they prepare to brave the
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  Speaker 3: raging river Jordan before them. It is a crossing that
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  Speaker 3: would be impossible were it not for the Most High
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  Speaker 3: God who goes with His people. And in this reading,
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  Speaker 3: we'll see His power reveal once again to the wonder
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  Speaker 3: of Israel. Let's listen now to today's story.
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  Speaker 2: Hope filled the skies as the sun rose above the
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  Speaker 2: mountain range. A newness of life and vitality could be
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  Speaker 2: felt among the camp. Smiles and laughter could be heard
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  Speaker 2: for miles. Home had become a distant thought to the
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  Speaker 2: people of Israel. They had grown up wandering the wilderness,
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  Speaker 2: Their parents were the ones who came out of Egypt
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  Speaker 2: and experienced the mighty acts of God. Now they were
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  Speaker 2: the ones to inherit all the Lord had promised them.
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  Speaker 2: Joshua led the people out of Shittim, and they traveled
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  Speaker 2: to the coast of the Jordan River. The river was
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  Speaker 2: raging before them. Deep, rushing waters boomed and shook the earth.
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  Speaker 2: The Jordan was truly treacherous. Yet Joshua and the leaders
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  Speaker 2: of Israel looked at it with smiles on their faces.
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  Speaker 2: They faced the rapids with a quiet confidence. If Israel
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  Speaker 2: knew anything, it was that water was no obstacle for God.
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  Speaker 2: After three days, Joshua and the officers of Israel led
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  Speaker 2: the people down to the water to camp. They scanned
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  Speaker 2: the river and spoke amongst themselves, as if analyzing where
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  Speaker 2: they would build a bridge. Instead, they turned to the
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  Speaker 2: people and commanded, The Ark of the Covenant shall go
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  Speaker 2: before us. Wherever it goes, you shall go also, but
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  Speaker 2: keep your distance and do not come near it. How
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  Speaker 2: they would cross the river was still a mystery to
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  Speaker 2: the people, but they were excited nonetheless. Joshua began climbing
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  Speaker 2: a rock nearby to speak to the people. He stood
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  Speaker 2: up high with the waters at his back so all
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  Speaker 2: the people could see him. Joshua was not like Moses.
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  Speaker 2: Moses was a shepherd and carried his staff. Joshua was
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  Speaker 2: a soldier, and his sword never left his side. Joshua's
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  Speaker 2: strength as a warrior and leader captured the people's attention.
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  Speaker 2: Joshua raised his voice towards the children of Israel. With
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  Speaker 2: a booming voice carried by the waters, Joshua yelled, Prepare yourselves,
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  Speaker 2: for tomorrow you will behold the wonders of God. The
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  Speaker 2: people cheered, and Joshua nodded to the priests to go
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  Speaker 2: fetch the Ark of the Covenant. It was time to
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  Speaker 2: put the wilderness behind them. Joshua could feel the Spirit
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  Speaker 2: of God giving him confidence to lead. God spoke to him, saying,
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  Speaker 2: Today the people will know that I am with you,
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  Speaker 2: as I was with Moses. Joshua nodded and led the
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  Speaker 2: people to stand at the shoreline of the river. They
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  Speaker 2: stood still, watching the waters rage before them. All were silent, waiting,
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  Speaker 2: and the only sounds were that of the flowing river.
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  Speaker 2: Moments passed, and Joshua stood tall once again for all
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  Speaker 2: to hear him and say, Here, you shall truly know
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  Speaker 2: the living God is with us. And as Joshua was speaking,
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  Speaker 2: the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant came from
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  Speaker 2: among the people. They parted to keep their distance and
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  Speaker 2: watched as the priests walked towards the banks of the river.
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  Speaker 2: Slowly the priests began to walk into the water. As
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  Speaker 2: their feet sank into the river, the waters began to
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  Speaker 2: spill apart before them. With each step, the water moved.
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  Speaker 2: Mist flew into the air as the Jordan bowed before
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  Speaker 2: the mighty hand of God. As the Red Seas once parted,
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  Speaker 2: the Jordan divided to make way for freed captives. The
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  Speaker 2: people were still silent, in awe of the majesty unfolding
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  Speaker 2: before them. The wind from the waters blew their hair back.
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  Speaker 2: and tears filled their eyes. It was the most beautiful
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  Speaker 2: moment they had ever seen. The priests walked forward, carrying
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  Speaker 2: the written promises of God on their shoulders. The priests
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  Speaker 2: strode proudly, and their hearts welled up within them. One
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  Speaker 2: by one, the nation of Israel crossed the Jordan into
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  Speaker 2: the promised land. The priests stood in the midst of
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  Speaker 2: the waters on dry ground. The people crossed to the
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  Speaker 2: other side safely, God instructed every leader from each of
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  Speaker 2: the twelve tribes of Israel to carry a stone from
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  Speaker 2: one side to the other. They would build a memorial
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  Speaker 2: to him and his faithfulness. So each man did according
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  Speaker 2: to what God had said. The priests exited the waters,
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  Speaker 2: and the river went back to its place. And there,
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  Speaker 2: in the midst of all the people, Joshua built a
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  Speaker 2: memorial out of the twelve stones. This served as a
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  Speaker 2: reminder to all those who would ever question or forget
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  Speaker 2: the power of God. They gazed upon it, and God
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  Speaker 2: spoke to them through Joshua, saying, When your children ask
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  Speaker 2: of these stones, their fathers shall tell them that the
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  Speaker 2: Lord dried up the water of the Jordan as he
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  Speaker 2: did the Red Sea. These stones serve as a mausoleum
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  Speaker 2: to the entire earth, that the Lord is mighty. and
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  Speaker 2: to be feared for all eternity. The crowd cheered and worshipped,
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  Speaker 2: their hearts filled with gladness. This was truly a victory
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  Speaker 2: unlike any other. All was well, yet the struggle had
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  Speaker 2: just begun. Miles away, word of this miracle spread like wildfire.
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  Speaker 2: The people dwelling in the land of Canaan caught word
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  Speaker 2: of the mighty acts of God. They trembled. and fear
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  Speaker 2: gripped their minds and hearts. They knew the inevitable end.
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  Speaker 2: God would give Israel their land. Yet some would not
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  Speaker 2: go quietly. They were preparing for war. All the men
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  Speaker 2: of Israel who were not already circumcised cut themselves before God.
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  Speaker 2: They remembered the covenant of Abrahams. and sought to identify
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  Speaker 2: themselves as the promised people of God. Though bloody and painful,
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  Speaker 2: it was an act of devotion. The people celebrated Passover,
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  Speaker 2: and shouts of joy and laughter echoed across the valley,
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  Speaker 2: reaching the ears of their enemies. Danger was near, and
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  Speaker 2: war was coming.
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  Speaker 3: We open today's story with a crowd of people filled
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  Speaker 3: with hope and anticipation. This generation of the Israelites has
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  Speaker 3: known no other home but the wilderness, no way of
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  Speaker 3: life but that of a nomad. But now, at last,
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  Speaker 3: God's promise to his people was coming to fulfillment. They
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  Speaker 3: were going to receive their long-awaited home, the promised land.
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  Speaker 3: So it was moving time. But as they approached the
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  Speaker 3: raging river, it was clear to them that there would
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  Speaker 3: be no human way to pass through. There was no
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  Speaker 3: boat to take them over. There was no way across.
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  Speaker 3: Israel had faced impassable waters before. Only this time did
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  Speaker 3: you notice what was different? The only rumbling was that
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  Speaker 3: of waters rushing by, not of fearful people who turned
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  Speaker 3: on their leader and questioned God's ability to save them.
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  Speaker 3: They did trust in God. After all, what was a
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  Speaker 3: raging river to the one who parted the seas? God
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  Speaker 3: tells Joshua that he's about to show the people just
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  Speaker 3: how mighty he is. It will give the people confidence
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  Speaker 3: not only in God but in the leader, Joshua, whom
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  Speaker 3: God had chosen. When Moses faced the Red Sea, God
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  Speaker 3: went as a cloud of smoke and pillar of fire,
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  Speaker 3: but now the physical symbol of God's presence was the
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  Speaker 3: Ark of the Covenant. This holiest of symbols was not
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  Speaker 3: to be touched. Only the Levite priest could carry it.
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  Speaker 3: It was yet another reminder that God was with them,
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  Speaker 3: but not fully approachable by the people. One day this
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  Speaker 3: would all change, as God himself came to dwell among
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  Speaker 3: men in the person of his son, Jesus. That day
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  Speaker 3: had not yet come, so the people were told to
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  Speaker 3: keep their distance, but to keep a watchful eye. God
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  Speaker 3: was about to show them his power. Listen to how
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  Speaker 3: Joshua 3.17 recounts what happens next. Now the priest bearing
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  Speaker 3: the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly
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  Speaker 3: on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and
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  Speaker 3: all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all
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  Speaker 3: the nation finished passing over the Jordans. The people walked
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  Speaker 3: right across on dry ground into the promised land. A
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  Speaker 3: great miracle. Time and again, we see this in God's word.
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  Speaker 3: What appears to be impossible to human minds is accomplished
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  Speaker 3: with a word or just a step of faith when
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  Speaker 3: God is on the move. Whatever it is you may
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  Speaker 3: be facing today, whatever river that seems uncrossable or obstacle
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  Speaker 3: that seems impassable, if God is calling you to do it,
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  Speaker 3: then obey him and take that first step. and cross
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  Speaker 3: over in the miracle-working power of God. As the leaders
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  Speaker 3: of each tribe crossed, they carried with them a stone
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  Speaker 3: according to God's command from one side of the river
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  Speaker 3: to the other. And when they were safely on the
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  Speaker 3: other side, they built a memorial with these stones. This
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  Speaker 3: would be a perpetual reminder for generations to come of
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  Speaker 3: God's great might and faithfulness to His people. The Israelites
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  Speaker 3: further showed their devotion to their God as the men
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  Speaker 3: in camp who were not yet circumcised cut off their
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  Speaker 3: foreskins in remembrance of the covenant with Abraham. The people
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  Speaker 3: then observed Passover, remembering God's deliverance of them from Egypt
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  Speaker 3: the night when this whole journey began. All seemed well,
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  Speaker 3: but there were still battles to fight, and we're going
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  Speaker 3: to learn about these battles the next time. Dear God,
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  Speaker 3: thank you for today's passage, which reminds us that there
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  Speaker 3: is no obstacle that you cannot overcome. Help us, oh God,
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  Speaker 3: to take steps of faith and trust you in going
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  Speaker 3: through what you lead us through. In Jesus' name, amen.
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  Speaker 3: Thank you for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast.
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  Speaker 3: I'm Pastor Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. Download the Pray.com
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• 14:45
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  Speaker 3: be sure to visit jackgram.org. God bless you.