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The background of what we are about to read is this:After 400 years of living in Egypt (with at least the last 50-75 years or so being slaves), the descendants of Jacob (who became Israel) were led out of Egypt by Moses and had spent the next 40 years wandering in the land between the Red Sea and Canaan, their Promised Land. They spent about 38 years in their Wilderness walk because of disobedience, faithlessness, and continued rebellion against God. For much of that time, they were pagan-Israelites, more Egyptians in their beliefs and pagan practices then they were God-fearing children of Israel. By Joshua chapter one, Moses had died and Joshua was now the anointed leader of an estimated two-million+ men, women, and children; the two spies had just returned from Jericho with a report that encouraged the congregation to ready themselves to move across the flooding Jordan River and into the land of their promise. But how can they do that being such a great multitude of people and belongings—a people on-foot, including the elderly, children, sheep, goats, cattle, carts and other worldly belongings? It would require a strong and commanding leader and an act of Almighty God.
And ~ An Act Of Almighty God † Joshua 3:1 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. 2 And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host; 3 And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it. 4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore. 5 And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you. [On the next day] 6 And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people. (King James Version) The premise of today’s message is from verse 4 where Joshua tells the people, “You have not passed this way heretofore.” He was informing and warning them that “what is about to happen is new to you—you’ve not been down this road before; it’s not something you are familiar with nor have any experience about.” He then commands the people to “sanctify yourselves”, which word sanctify is the Hebrew word qadash, meaning “be clean”. So, Joshua (whose name is yehoshua, a type and shadow of Jesus) tells the congregation (this people of God) “make yourselves clean”; the word qadash/sanctify is the source of where we get the word holy, as in the Holy Spirit and the command “be ye holy for I am holy”. Essentially, Joshua says that for what is to happen not just tomorrow but, in their days, weeks, months and the years to follow, they need to be ceremonially clean of sinful ways, for God will be among them doing awesome things. At this primitive juncture of a people’s relationship with God, the best they could do to be sanctified was to follow the commandments and ways of God learned over the past 40 years and participate in the physical washings and animal sacrifices for sin they were required to do as needed. These things were commanded by God until the Messiah would come some 1400 years or so later and become the perfect solution to sin, which would take a man and woman from external ceremonial cleanness before God—to actual spiritual cleanness from sin and freedom from the nature of sin. [Referenced: † Hebrews 10:1, 10-20] Now to the point of applying the Joshua 3:5 text to our present day and lives (Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.) If you will receive it, by His Spirit the Lord Jesus is saying this to the church today: Be clean and stay clean, for the Lord is about to do wonders among those that are clean. This word “wonders” (Hebrew: pala) means “great works, difficult things, amazing answers to needs, a marvelous work, and wondrous things”—in short: miracles!
† Job 25:4 How then can man be justified (made right) with God? or how can he be clean (innocent, cleansed) that is born of a woman? † Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ ... 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
[Referenced: † Hebrews 4:15-16, 6:1-2]
Now about this “Unfamiliar Road” indicated by our message title ... [Referenced: † 2 Corinthians 6:14-18, † Revelation 18:4-5, † Matthew 24:21-22]
Our Joshua says to us, “Draw near to God, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way before. Sanctify yourselves: for very soon the LORD will do wonders among you.” An unfamiliar road lies ahead—ready yourself for the journey! † 1 Thessalonians 5:15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. 16 Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 19 Quench not the Spirit. 20 Despise not prophesyings. 21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. 23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
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