And as those who bore the ark came to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests who bore the ark dipped in the edge of the water… that the waters which came down from upstream stood still, and rose in a heap very far away at Adam, the city that is beside Zaretan. Joshua 3:15-16
The crossing of Jordan was a major turning point in Israel’s journey. It was a new day for them in almost every respect. The old generation and leadership had died off. A new generation and leadership had arisen. The wilderness testings were over and a new land awaited them.
After they crossed Jordan, their attitude was completely changed too. They never wanted to return to Egypt anymore. Something had happened in their hearts and in their nature. Even their diet changed. The manna ceased and they began to partake of the fruit of the land. What exactly does the crossing of Jordan signify? The very fact that the city of Adam is connected with their passage across Jordan is significant. Adam speaks of our old sinful nature. That they immediately came to Gilgal after crossing Jordan is remarkable too (Josh 4:19). Gilgal is the place of circumcision, the cutting away of the flesh.
The crossing of Jordan, therefore, represents the “dead to sin” experience of Romans 6:6. God’s people experienced salvation by the blood of the lamb when they were in Egypt. They marched out of Egypt, passed through the Red Sea (water baptism) and entered the wilderness. Then they came to Sinai at Pentecost. But although they were out of Egypt, Egypt had never gotten out of them. Whenever the going got tough, they murmured that they wanted to return to Egypt.
After Jordan, something changed. The Jordan experience removed Egypt from their hearts once and for all. They no longer desired to go back to the world. The Adamic nature was dealt with and they were circumcised from the flesh. God broke the power of sin and the love for the world at Jordan.
Jordan is equivalent to Romans 6:6, “Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.” Romans 6:6 renders your old man-or sin nature in operative. Romans 6:6 is a real experience. “Knowing this” in the Greek means “knowledge that comes by an experience.” It is neither something you grow into, nor something you claim by faith. It is a sovereign appointment and meeting with God. It is a definite revelation from God of what He did on Calvary’s cross. When you have such an experience, your life will never be the same again.
The crossing of Jordan was a major turning point in Israel’s journey. It was a new day for them in almost every respect. The old generation and leadership had died off. A new generation and leadership had arisen. The wilderness testings were over and a new land awaited them.
After they crossed Jordan, their attitude was completely changed too. They never wanted to return to Egypt anymore. Something had happened in their hearts and in their nature. Even their diet changed. The manna ceased and they began to partake of the fruit of the land. What exactly does the crossing of Jordan signify? The very fact that the city of Adam is connected with their passage across Jordan is significant. Adam speaks of our old sinful nature. That they immediately came to Gilgal after crossing Jordan is remarkable too (Josh 4:19). Gilgal is the place of circumcision, the cutting away of the flesh.
The crossing of Jordan, therefore, represents the “dead to sin” experience of Romans 6:6. God’s people experienced salvation by the blood of the lamb when they were in Egypt. They marched out of Egypt, passed through the Red Sea (water baptism) and entered the wilderness. Then they came to Sinai at Pentecost. But although they were out of Egypt, Egypt had never gotten out of them. Whenever the going got tough, they murmured that they wanted to return to Egypt.
After Jordan, something changed. The Jordan experience removed Egypt from their hearts once and for all. They no longer desired to go back to the world. The Adamic nature was dealt with and they were circumcised from the flesh. God broke the power of sin and the love for the world at Jordan.
Jordan is equivalent to Romans 6:6, “Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.” Romans 6:6 renders your old man-or sin nature in operative. Romans 6:6 is a real experience. “Knowing this” in the Greek means “knowledge that comes by an experience.” It is neither something you grow into, nor something you claim by faith. It is a sovereign appointment and meeting with God. It is a definite revelation from God of what He did on Calvary’s cross. When you have such an experience, your life will never be the same again.
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