III. THE ARK AND THE CROSSING OF JORDAN. "And the priests that bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan."—JOSH. iii. 17. III. THE ARK AND THE CROSSING OF JORDAN. AMONG all the names which mark the spots of Palestine so full of varied interest and charm, there are few which serve to awaken deeper feelings about the power and grace of God than that of Jordan. Upon the river Jordan did Jacob look down as, standing on Penuel, he thought of past mercies rich and undeserved, and wrestled with prevailing might for mercies richer than any yet enjoyed. Across Jordan did David return from the exile to which Absalom's rebellion had driven him. From the banks of Jordan it was that Elijah ascended to God, while the parted stream told of the power which dwelt in the prophet who was gone, and in Elisha on whom a double portion of his spirit rested. In Jordan was Naaman, the Syrian, cleansed of his leprosy. And when our Lord Jesus was about to enter on His public ministry, to Jordan He came to be baptised by John; and there, as He went up out of the water, did the Spirit rest upon Him, and the Father declare, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” To all these interesting incidents we must add that which forms the main subject of the third and fourth chapters of the Book of Joshua; the drying up of the stream of Jordan, by the agency of the Ark of God, for the passage of the Israelites into the land of Canaan. With this subject before us let us consider, I. THE CIRCUMSTANCES AS CONNECTED WITH THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL. It does not appear that any intimation was given to the Israelites, before the morning of the day on which they crossed the river as to the manner in which their passage was to be effected. They were told beforehand that they were to follow the Ark at the distance of two thousand cubits when they saw it moved by the priests, and that they were to sanctify themselves, for that God would work wonders among them on the following day; but, to judge at least from the text of the Scripture, it was not till they were ready to start that they were made aware of the way in which their thousands were to pass into the long-promised inheritance of Canaan. This would be a great trial of their faith; and the readiness which they showed to go on when the Ark did move was a clear proof that their faith, through the grace of God, stood the trial; and that they were actuated by simple trust in God, believing that whatever He said should be done would surely come to pass, however impossible it might seem to the judgment of men. The fact is, that Israel had become accustomed to the constant exhibition of the most amazing miracles. They had been delivered from the bondage of Egypt by a succession of wonders. Their passage of the Red Sea was the very counterpart of the promised passage of the river Jordan. The Wilderness had witnessed their journey through its trackless extent marked by displays of Almighty power, now in love, now in judgment. Miraculously delivered, sustained, guided, instructed, why should they not at last be brought miraculously to the resting-place whither all else was tending? Indeed, it was rather to be expected that Jehovah would put forth His might in some conspicuous way so as to give a fitting close to that long journeying every step of which had told of might and grace Divine. True, these miracles did not serve to keep the nation faithful to the Lord; nothing but the grace of the Holy Spirit could do this, and the Spirit is a sovereign God, dispensing His grace as He pleases: but the national mind was so possessed with the conviction that the Lord was in the midst of them doing wonders, that the people at once rose up to |