Sermon Central
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God's Undeniable Leadership-4 Series
Contributed by Byron Sherman on Aug 10, 2016 (message contributor)
Summary: 4 of 5. God began to make His leadership thru Joshua undeniable among His people. *God makes His leadership undeniable among His people. But How? God’s leadership is Undeniable in...
GOD's UNDENIABLE LEADERSHIP-IV—Joshua 3:7-17
Attention:
Who’s leading whom?
An elderly woman using a cane, was hesitantly waiting to cross on a busy street corner because of the heavy traffic. She waited & waited.
Then finally, an elderly gentleman also with a cane, came up to her & asked if he could cross the street with her. Gratefully she took his arm, but grew progressively more alarmed as he zigzagged randomly across the street, to the blare of horns & screech of locked brakes.
Finally on the opposite curb, she said angrily, "You almost got us killed!”
He retorted, “Well, that’s because I’m blind ma’am.” “That's why I asked if I could cross with you!”
Sometimes leadership can be questionable!
We are faced with a lack of integrity in leaders in the world today.
We should not tolerate it in Christian circles. God must be in control!
God began to magnify Joshua’s ministry among Israel.
*God makes His leadership undeniable among His people.
How does God endear leadership to His people?
Where is God’s leadership undeniable?
We’ve found previously that God’s leadership is Undeniable in...
1. CONTINUITY(:7)
2. DIRECTION(:8-9)
3. HOPE(:10)
4. OBEDIENCE(:11-13)
5—God’s leadership is Undeniable in...
EXPECTANT FAITH(:13)
Explanation:(:13)Witness/Observance/Tangible
:13—“And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, that the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off, the waters that come down from upstream, & they shall stand as a heap.”
The Israelites WOULD witness(:14-17) the cutting off of the waters of the Jordan river(at flood stage—:15).
The cutting off of the waters WAS TO OCCUR when the soles of the feet of the priests carrying the ark, entered the waters of the Jordan.
The “ark” acts as the visual representation of the LORD(YaHWeH). He is “the Lord of all the earth.”
The waters of the Jordan would be cut off so that the water(which was the Jordan & North of the Israelites) would stand in one heap. It is not as if “the waters” would flow around them but that they would be utterly stopped dead & pile up(“stand in a heap”) north of them. There would be no way for the waters from upstream to pass Israel’s path! The Israelites’ crossing would not be impeded...God made it so!
Remember, Joshua is now only TELLING the children of Israel what WILL happen. They haven’t seen it yet!
Many of Israel had witnessed the Red Sea Crossing & many had not.40 years ago, those 20 yrs. old & under did not die in the wilderness—Num. 14:29-30.
They are learning to trust those whom God has ordained to leadership as they are learning to trust the very God who is orchestrating it all. They are learning that YaHWeH(the eternally self-existent One) is indeed “the Lord(Master) of all the earth”!
The 12 disciples were amazed that Jesus could calm the sea.
Mk. 4:35-41—“On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, & the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him & said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” Then He arose & rebuked the wind, & said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased & there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” And they feared exceedingly, & said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind & the sea obey Him!”
“Soles”—Pk kaf—Noun Fem.—1) Palm, hand, sole, palm of the hand, hollow or flat of the hand. Strong—The hollow hand or palm(so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, & even of the bowl of a dish or sling, the handle of a bolt, the leaves of a palm-tree); figuratively--Power.
“Feet”—lgr reh’-gel—Noun Fem.—1) Foot. Strong—A foot(as used in walking); by implication--A step; by euphemistically--The pudenda.
“Lord”(See :11)—Nwda 'adown aw-done’ or (shortened) Nda 'adon aw-done' or ynda—1) Firm, strong, lord, master—1a) Lord, master—1a1) Reference to men—1a1a) Superintendent of household,of affairs, 1a1b) Master, 1a1c) King, 1a2) Reference to God—1a2a) The Lord God, 1a2b) Lord of the whole earth, 1b) Lords, kings—1b1) Reference to men—1b1a) Proprietor of hill of Samaria, 1b1b) Master, 1b1c) Husband, 1b1d) Prophet, 1b1e) Governor, 1b1f) Prince1b1g) King, 1b2) reference to God—1b2a) Lord of lords(probably = "thy husband, Yahweh”), 1c) My lord, my master—1c1) Reference to men—1c1a) Master, 1c1b) Husband, 1c1c) Prophet, 1c1d) Prince, 1c1e) King, 1c1f) Father, 1c1g) Moses, 1c1h) Priest, 1c1i) Theophanic angel, 1c1j) Captain, 1c1k) General recognition of superiority, 1c2) Reference to God—1c2a) My Lord, my Lord & my God, 1c2b) Adonai(parallel with Yahweh). Strong—from an unused root(meaning to rule); Sovereign, i.e. Controller(human or divine).
