What Was Later Done At The Place Where The Israelites Crossed The Jordan?

Introduction

In this study we will look at the event that transpired when the Israelites crossed the Jordan.

Let us first begin by noticing the passage in the Book of Deuteronomy.

Deut. 3:27-28

“Get thee up into the top of Pisgah, and lift up thine eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and behold it with thine eyes: for thou shalt not go over this Jordan. [28] But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him: for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see.”

We see concerning the crossing of the Jordan that Moses was not the one to lead them across the Jordan, but to charge and encourage, and strengthen Joshua for he will be the one to lead them to the Land which thou shalt see.

The Scripture teaches that the Law was a shadow of the good things to come.

Hebrews 10:1

“For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.”

E.M. Zerr

In Zerr’s Commentary in volume 3 page 228:

“The difference between shadow and very image is the same as between type and antitype, or between form and substance. The sacrificial system under the Law was a figure of the one under Christ. Have those sacrifices been complete; they would have ceased to be offered. When a devoted Hebrew Nation had made one full program of atonement for sin, it would have been permanent and would not have to be repeated. Such a conclusion is logical, and it should have convinced the Judaizers that something was to come in the place of those institutions.”

The Law was a shadow of the good things to come. Joshua was a shadow of another who was to come. There is also a shadow here that there was going to come another who was going to cross the Jordan and give the children of God deliverance.

About 1400 years after the Israelites being led by Joshua; Jesus was baptized at the same place where Joshua crossed.

Matthew 3:13-17

“Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. [14] But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? [15] And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him. [16] And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: [17] And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Here Jesus became our High Priest at the age of 30 and was washed and anointed with the Holy Spirit to deliver us and make atonement for our sins, to be able to make intercession for us.

The shadow and type of the crossing of the Jordan is that Jesus was to later cross this Jordan as Joshua, to become our Savior to give us deliverance leading us to the Promised Land.

Conclusion

As the Law was a shadow of the good things to come, it can not be doubted that the crossing of the Red Sea by Moses was fulfilled in Jesus Christ at His baptism in the Jordan by John the Baptist, and that as Joshua led them to the Promised Land; Jesus washed and anointed to be our High Priest forever is leading His people to the Promised Land.