以色列人過約旦河
1 約書亞清早起來，和以色列眾人都離開什亭，來到約旦河，就住在那裏，等候過河。 2過了三天，官長走遍營中， 3吩咐百姓說：「你們看見耶和華－你們神的約櫃，又見祭司利未人擡着，就要離開所住的地方，跟着約櫃去。 4只是你們和約櫃相離要量二千肘，不可與約櫃相近，使你們知道所當走的路，因為這條路你們向來沒有走過。」 5約書亞吩咐百姓說：「你們要自潔，因為明天耶和華必在你們中間行奇事。」 6約書亞又吩咐祭司說：「你們擡起約櫃，在百姓前頭過去。」於是他們擡起約櫃，在百姓前頭走。
7耶和華對約書亞說：「從今日起，我必使你在以色列眾人眼前尊大，使他們知道我怎樣與摩西同在，也必照樣與你同在。 8你要吩咐擡約櫃的祭司說：『你們到了約旦河的水邊上，就要在約旦河水裏站住。』」 9約書亞對以色列人說：「你們近前來，聽耶和華－你們神的話。」 10-11約書亞說：「看哪，普天下主的約櫃必在你們前頭過去，到約旦河裏，因此你們就知道在你們中間有永生神；並且他必在你們面前趕出迦南人、赫人、希未人、比利洗人、革迦撒人、亞摩利人、耶布斯人。 12你們現在要從以色列支派中揀選十二個人，每支派一人， 13等到擡普天下主耶和華約櫃的祭司把腳站在約旦河水裏，約旦河的水，就是從上往下流的水，必然斷絕，立起成壘。」
14百姓離開帳棚要過約旦河的時候，擡約櫃的祭司乃在百姓的前頭。 15他們到了約旦河，腳一入水（原來約旦河水在收割的日子漲過兩岸）， 16那從上往下流的水便在極遠之地、撒拉但旁的亞當城那裏停住，立起成壘；那往亞拉巴的海，就是鹽海，下流的水全然斷絕。於是百姓在耶利哥的對面過去了。 17擡耶和華約櫃的祭司在約旦河中的乾地上站定，以色列眾人都從乾地上過去，直到國民盡都過了約旦河。
各位弟兄姊妹平安，我們今天讀的是約書亞記第三章。這邊約書亞帶領以色列人過約旦河。
在聖經裡面有記載另外兩個比較類似的神跡，其中一個是摩西分紅海，這個大家都聽說過，是一個非常令人震撼的故事。當然，對於摩西當時分開紅海的面積有多大或者多遙遠，聖經學者並沒有一定的定論。在後人的一些畫裡，我們看到的都是一大片的海水被上帝分開。
相比之下，約旦河拿到今天來看，其實並不是一條多麼大的河流，也不是這麼龐大的河流，說實在的，如果你在網上搜尋約旦河的圖片，你會發現約旦河更像是一條比較水多一點的小溪而已。
然而，約旦河在聖經中卻是一條非常重要的河流，也是當地重要的水源。我們知道後來以利亞用衣服拍河，河水就分開；我們也知道以利沙指示乃縵將軍在這裡沐浴七次，就把身上的大痲瘋給洗掉了。在聖經裡面，約旦河是一個具有非常深刻屬靈意義的地方。
除了是重要的水源之外，約旦河也是一個邊界。到今天，約旦河東、約旦河西，仍然作為國界的分界線。它象徵著以色列百姓從曠野到應許之地的進入，上帝指示說 “這些路你們沒有走過“，上帝在亞伯拉罕死後四百多年，要親自帶領祂的子民進入到迦南地。
在《約書亞記》第三章中，我們看到一個特別的細節：上帝指示約櫃要走在百姓的前面，而約書亞吩咐百姓要與約櫃保持約 2000肘 的距離，這個距離大約是一公里左右。
在當時，約櫃是以色列人最重要的聖物，因為它象徵著 上帝的同在。約櫃內放置了摩西法版上的 十誡石板，代表上帝的律法，而約櫃的行動象徵著上帝的行動與臨在。
然而，約櫃的使用有非常嚴格的規範：
只有利未人可以搬運，且必須依照上帝的啟示進行。
不得隨意觸碰或移動，否則會招致上帝的懲罰。
在《撒母耳記下》第六章中，烏撒因為扶了一下即將傾倒的約櫃而被擊殺，說明約櫃的神聖性不容侵犯。當非利士人擄走約櫃，並將其放置在他們的廟中時，他們的偶像大袞倒伏於地，災禍隨之降臨，迫使他們將約櫃歸還給以色列人。
約櫃代表了上帝的話語和臨在，並且成為以色列人敬畏與信仰的中心。在舊約時代，約櫃的行動與位置不僅是宗教的象徵，更是上帝親自引領百姓的象徵。因此，百姓必須保持一定的距離，以彰顯對上帝的敬畏。
在巴比倫摧毀耶路撒冷時，約櫃也隨之被毀或丟失。這一事件並不意味著上帝的同在與恩典消失，而是表明：
象徵性的約櫃已完成其歷史使命。
上帝透過先知的話語、百姓的敬拜和歷史事件，顯明祂的旨意。
以色列的被擄是上帝的心意，約櫃的消失並非偶然，而是上帝對以色列的懲戒與提醒。
到了新約時代，耶穌基督成為 神與人同在 的最終彰顯，取代了舊約中的約櫃象徵。 約櫃的消失，並不代表上帝離開，而是預表更大的救贖計劃。如今的十字架代表著新約，代表著上帝與人同在，直到耶穌再來的日子。
在這一章中，我們清楚地看到，上帝以奇妙的方式親自確認了約書亞作為新領袖的地位，並通過 約櫃的同在 讓以色列百姓明白，上帝始終與他們同行。雖然百姓踏上未知之路，他們不確定未來的挑戰，但他們清楚上帝在前方帶領。
這正如今天的我們，雖然面對生活的未知和挑戰，我們有上帝透過 聖經的話語 和 十字架的救恩 帶領我們前行，讓我們可以充滿信心地走每一步。
明天我們將繼續分享《約書亞記》第四章，感謝各位的聆聽！
Joshua 3
The Israelites Cross the Jordan
Early the next morning Joshua and all the Israelites left Acacia Grove and arrived at the banks of the Jordan River, where they camped before crossing. Three days later the Israelite officers went through the camp, giving these instructions to the people: “When you see the Levitical priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord your God, move out from your positions and follow them. Since you have never traveled this way before, they will guide you. Stay about half a mile behind them, keeping a clear distance between you and the Ark. Make sure you don’t come any closer.”
Then Joshua told the people, “Purify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do great wonders among you.”
In the morning Joshua said to the priests, “Lift up the Ark of the Covenant and lead the people across the river.” And so they started out and went ahead of the people.
The Lord told Joshua, “Today I will begin to make you a great leader in the eyes of all the Israelites. They will know that I am with you, just as I was with Moses. Give this command to the priests who carry the Ark of the Covenant: ‘When you reach the banks of the Jordan River, take a few steps into the river and stop there.’”
So Joshua told the Israelites, “Come and listen to what the Lord your God says. Today you will know that the living God is among you. He will surely drive out the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites ahead of you. Look, the Ark of the Covenant, which belongs to the Lord of the whole earth, will lead you across the Jordan River! Now choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. The priests will carry the Ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth. As soon as their feet touch the water, the flow of water will be cut off upstream, and the river will stand up like a wall.”
So the people left their camp to cross the Jordan, and the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant went ahead of them. It was the harvest season, and the Jordan was overflowing its banks. But as soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the Ark touched the water at the river’s edge, the water above that point began backing up a great distance away at a town called Adam, which is near Zarethan. And the water below that point flowed on to the Dead Sea until the riverbed was dry. Then all the people crossed over near the town of Jericho.
Meanwhile, the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant stood on dry ground in the middle of the riverbed as the people passed by. They waited there until the whole nation of Israel had crossed the Jordan on dry ground.
Brothers and sisters, peace to you all! Today, we are reading Joshua chapter 3, where Joshua leads the Israelites across the Jordan River.
The Bible records two other similar miracles, one being Moses parting the Red Sea—a story that is widely known and incredibly awe-inspiring. Of course, biblical scholars do not have definitive conclusions about the exact dimensions or extent of the parted Red Sea. In various artistic depictions, we often see a vast expanse of water divided by God's power.
In contrast, the Jordan River, even today, is not an imposing or massive river. In fact, if you search for images of the Jordan River online, you will find that it resembles more of a broad stream than a mighty river.
However, in the Bible, the Jordan River holds profound spiritual significance. It is not only a vital water source for the region but also a location of pivotal events. Later, Elijah parted its waters with his cloak, and Elisha instructed Naaman, the commander, to bathe in it seven times to cleanse his leprosy. The Jordan River serves as a symbolic and sacred place in Scripture.
Apart from being an important water source, the Jordan River acts as a boundary. Even today, the eastern and western banks of the Jordan River demarcate a national border. For the Israelites, crossing the Jordan symbolized their transition from the wilderness into the Promised Land. God declared, "You have not passed this way before," underscoring that He Himself would lead His people into Canaan, over 400 years after Abraham's time.
In Joshua chapter 3, we see a notable detail: God commanded the Ark of the Covenant to go ahead of the people, and Joshua instructed the Israelites to maintain a distance of about 2,000 cubits, roughly one kilometer, from the ark.
At that time, the Ark of the Covenant was the most sacred object for the Israelites, symbolizing God's presence. It housed the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments given to Moses, representing God's law. The movement of the ark symbolized God's actions and presence among His people.
However, the Ark of the Covenant was to be handled with strict regulations:
Only Levites were allowed to carry it, and they had to do so according to God’s instructions.
It could not be touched or moved casually; otherwise, it would bring about God's judgment.
In 2 Samuel chapter 6, Uzzah was struck dead for merely steadying the ark when it appeared to be tipping over, underscoring its sanctity. When the Philistines captured the ark and placed it in their temple, their idol, Dagon, fell face-down before it, and plagues afflicted them until they returned it to Israel.
The Ark represented God's Word and His presence, becoming the focal point of Israel's reverence and faith. In the Old Testament era, the position and movement of the Ark signified God's leadership. The Israelites were required to keep their distance to show reverence for God.
When Babylon destroyed Jerusalem, the Ark of the Covenant was also destroyed or lost. This does not mean that God’s presence and grace vanished. Instead, it signifies:
The symbolic purpose of the Ark had been fulfilled.
God continued to reveal His will through the words of the prophets, the worship of His people, and historical events.
Israel's exile was part of God's plan, and the Ark's disappearance was a reminder of His discipline and sovereignty.
In the New Testament era, Jesus Christ became the ultimate manifestation of "God with us," replacing the Old Testament symbol of the Ark. The Ark's disappearance foreshadowed a greater plan of redemption. Today, the cross represents the New Covenant and signifies God's presence with His people until Christ returns.
In this chapter, we clearly see how God confirmed Joshua’s role as the new leader through miraculous acts and how He used the presence of the Ark to assure the Israelites of His continued guidance. Though the Israelites faced an unknown path and uncertain challenges, they were confident that God was leading them.
Likewise, in our lives today, as we face uncertainties and challenges, we have God's guidance through His Word in the Bible and the salvation of the cross. These truths give us the confidence to take each step forward.
Tomorrow, we will continue with Joshua chapter 4. Thank you all for listening!
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