The Promised Land

• Found: Joshua 1-4

Joshua Crosses the Jordan (Joshua 1-4)

The children of Israel were on one side of the river Jordan. The promised land was on the other. Moses had died after seeing the land and been buried by God. The only men left alive from the time when the twelve spies had entered Canaan were the two good spies, Joshua and Caleb. Joshua had been appointed leader of the Israelites. God came and spoke with Joshua, promising to be with him as long as the people kept his commandments, and showed Joshua what he had to do to cross the river.

The people gathered together their belongings, got food ready and prepared their weapons. Joshua sent the priests ahead, carrying the ark of the covenant. They marched up to the river and kept walking. As soon as the first priest's foot touched the water, it drew back, revealing a path by which the people could cross. The priests walked to the middle of the river and stood there while the people crossed. After everyone was across, the priests went the rest of the way and the water started flowing again. They had crossed the mighty Jordan river by a miracle, and were now in the promised land.

When the people had crossed the Jordan, Joshua made one man of each tribe take up a stone from the river bed and carry it to the far side. After they crossed, Joshua set up a monument using the twelve stones. After that day, when anyone asked the reason for the monument they were to be told that Israel had crossed the Jordan on dry land.

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