2 At the end of three days the officers went through the camp 3 and commanded the people, “As soon as you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall set out from your place and follow it.4 Yet there shall be a distance between you and it, about 2,000 cubits in length. Do not come near it, in order that you may know the way you shall go, for you have not passed this way before.” – Joshua 3:2-4
19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh – Hebrews 10:19-20
Which Way?
A few years ago I was given two tickets to see a Detroit Tigers baseball game. Excited to see the new stadium (new to us at least), I raced home to get my youngest daughter Rachel and we headed to downtown Detroit. We rushed into the stadium as the National Anthem was playing and made our way to our seats. To our great surprise, we were right behind home plate. Justin Verlander was pitching for the Tigers that day and I felt like I was catching for him we were so close. The Tigers won in a laugher and we had a great time until we had to head back home.
Living out in the country isn’t great preparation for city traffic. Despite the everything goes mentality, we were barely moving. And when we did move it was the wrong direction. I wanted to go North but the police funneled us South. An hour after the game ended we were right back in front of the stadium. Why was everybody going the wrong direction? With no map or GPS to guide us, we were becoming more concerned and frustrated. In desperation, my daughter Rachel called my daughter Courtney. We told her what corner we were at and she guided us with the help of her computer. There were times I questioned some of her directions, but at that point what choice did I have? I was far from home in an area totally unfamiliar to me and daylight was quickly fading. I needed someone to lead me home and I unequivocally knew it.
This Way
When God freed the children of Israel from Egyptian bondage, He chose Moses to lead them out of Egypt. At least to a degree. We know from scriptures that God Himself led the Israelites in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night. When the Egyptians pursued the Israelites to the Red Sea, the pillar acted as a rear guard protecting the Israelites from the Egyptians. What a comfort it must have been for the Israelites to have Moses and the pillar to guide them on their journey to the Promised Land. But they would not guide them forever.
Deuteronomy chapter thirty-four records that Moses died in the land of Moab. Before his death, Moses laid hands on his successor Joshua who must now assume command. For three days, Joshua and the children of Israel are “camped” at the Jordan river. The Jordan is at flood levels and they must cross it to get into the Promised land. Not only is Moses gone, but apparently the pillar will not be leading them into Canaan either. Instead, as we see in the passage quoted in Joshua chapter three, the Levitical Priests will carry the ark of the covenant, and they will follow it. The ark was now to become their visible guide. This is not only uncharted territory, this is a new type of guidance. The children of Israel would enter into Canaan led by the Law. “You have not passed this way before.”
A New Way
This new way of being led came with two requirements and a promise. Keep your distance and consecrate yourselves and the Lord will do wonders among you. The command to keep their distance from the ark, of nearly half a mile, must have reminded the Israelites of God’s command to keep away from Mount Sinai when the Law was first given. God is a pure consuming fire. For a sinful man to touch Mount Sinai would have resulted in his death. The gap between the people and the ark, although practical for the viewing of it by such a large crowd, would have also served as a reminder to the people of the gap that existed between them in their sin and their Perfect Law Giver. But despite the lack of proximity, they would do well to follow the Law.
But before the ark would lead them, the Israelites were commanded to consecrate themselves. They needed to be spiritually ready to enter the Promised Land. Like the day of rest, they were to be sanctified, set apart for the Lord. They were to remove any form of defilement from their lives and devote themselves to God. In prayer and meditation, they were to prepare themselves for the promised manifestation of God. “Consecrate yourselves, and the Lord will do wonders among you.”
The time came for the Israelites to pass this new way. At Joshua’s command, the priests picked up the ark of the Covenant and entered the Jordan. As promised, God did a wonder among them. Like He did when He originally led their parents out of Egypt, God parted the waters. Just as they passed through the Red Sea on dry ground, so they now crossed the Jordan River on dry ground as the waters “stood and rose up in a heap” until they passed. Although they had not passed this way before, there must have been a feeling of deja vu. With Moses gone, Joshua was now exalted in the sight of the people. But like Moses and the pillar, Joshua and the Law would give way to a better guide.
The Way
Centuries after the Israelites miraculously crossed the Jordan River on dry ground, Jesus would come to the Jordan to be Baptized. To fulfill all righteousness and to associate with our sins, Jesus allowed John the Baptist to plunge Him under Jordan’s waters. When He came up out of the water the heavens were opened and the Spirit of God descended on Jesus like a dove. Like Joshua, Jesus was exalted at the Jordan River. Unlike Joshua, Jesus will never pass away.
As you know, Jesus lived a perfect life and fulfilled the Law. The Law served as our guardian until Christ came. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. Moses and Joshua are gone. The pillar and the Law have served their purpose. The death and resurrection of Christ have forever changed our course. In Christ, we now have a “New and Living Way” to get home. Instead of keeping our distance, we can draw near to God in confidence. We have been consecrated by the blood of Christ. The sin that separated us has been forever dealt with. The veil that separated the High priest from the ark has been permanently torn. In His flesh, Jesus paid the price once and for all. No more sacrifices are necessary.
Follow Me
What are you waiting for? The way to the “holy places” is open. The sacrificial death of Jesus has given us a New and Living Way to the Father. We have no excuse for being lost or aimlessly wandering. There is only one way home, and Jesus has cleared it for us.
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. – John 14:6
23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. – Galatians 3:23-27