God brought the children of Israel, his people at that time, out of Egypt. For us, this represents coming out of the world when we receive Jesus and his new birth. Then he led them into and throughout the wilderness under the leadership of Moses—a good man who communed with God and wrote the law.
Moses represents the law personified. His was a mighty move of God, which structured the massed descendants of Israel into one nation under God. He organized their worship, social, and political life. God was with them and was constantly manifested to them in the pillar of cloud and pillar of fire. Yet, Moses's leadership was unable to lead them successfully out of this time into their promised land:
(Numbers 20:12 NLT) But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!"
For us, this is a picture of a carnal Christian, or of a Christian community living under legalism. It implies that being under the law cannot take us into our land of promise fulfillment—even with a very good leader, who is God-ordained for that season. God chose a different leader, Joshua, to lead into the land he promised his people. His role was to be strong and to meditate in God's written word until it came alive. Then to lead the people by the instructions God thus revealed to him.
Under Moses's time—living under the Old Testament and representing carnal Christianity—he was the only one with the one-on-one, face-to-face personal relationship with God. However, Joshua—representing living fully in the New Testament—was about to bring God's people into their own, individual encounter with God … meeting him face-to-face and experiencing his glorious, personal presence one-on-one.
The special, symbolic box God instructed Moses to make—called the ark of the covenant—was where God met with Moses. It was the focal point of the covenant the God of glory made with his people; it was where God's glory manifested, implying that the covenant guaranteed that God's glorious presence would be constantly manifested to them—if, that is, they kept their side of the covenant.
The ark was housed in the holy of holies, in the innermost part of the tabernacle (tent). God had them make it while in the wilderness. It represents the glorious manifestation of God's magnificent presence; and it is the place of personal encounter and communication with God.
As God's people came to the brink of leaving the wilderness under Moses—representing the carnal Christian life of laws and leadership—and coming to their life of promise fulfilment and full spirit-led Christian living, God instructed Joshua about how to lead this change:
(Joshua 3:1 NKJV) Then Joshua rose early in the morning; and they set out from Acacia Grove and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they crossed over.
The only access to the Promised Land was via the Jordan river. "Jordan," means flow from above; for us, it represents the river of God flowing from his throne to us in the secret place of intimacy with him. For you, this may be in worship, in your quiet times with God, bible study, devotion, and/or prayer—however the Holy Spirit is leading you at the time.
To enter their promised land, each person had to have their own encounter with the ark—representing God's manifested presence and glory—in the centre of God's river:
(Joshua 3:3–5 NKJV) and they commanded the people, saying, "When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it.
(Joshua 3:15–17 NKJV) and as those who bore the ark came to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests who bore the ark dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks during the whole time of harvest), (16) that the waters which came down from upstream stood still, and rose in a heap very far away … and the people crossed over opposite Jericho. (17) Then the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan; and all Israel crossed over on dry ground, until all the people had crossed completely over the Jordan.
Prior to entering the river bed, the people had to stay far away from the ark. However, in the centre of the "river of God," they could all have their own close encounter with it. The natural waters stopped flowing to allow for this; encountering God is purely spiritual, not physical.
After each person had had their encounter with the ark in the river of God, they could enter the Promised Land. This shows us what it will take for us to go from carnal Christian living—going around and around the same mountain in a wilderness experience—to the abundant, ownership, autonomous life that God has promised us. (Wilderness living in carnal Christianity may have its good side: great leadership, miraculous provision, friends and family nearby, very few wars, glorious manifestations, etc. But it is not, and I repeat … this is not the Promised Land of living in fruitful Christianity that God has designed for us.)
Today, remember that the ark was where God met with Moses one-on-one and spoke with him as a friend speaks to his friend, face-to-face. As you make the determined step to move forward into the abundant land of promise fulfillment that God has for you, remember that the only way in is via God's river where you can begin your own face-to-face encounter with him. Thus, you can develop intimate knowledge of God, and can step into a different, God-destined way of living.
As you meditate in God's word, as you meet with him in your secret place with him; and as you step deeply into the river of life flowing from his throne; you can have your own encounters with him and experience his glory. This way, you can move on, clothed in glory, and have your heart full of the one-on-one assurance that God's promises will come to pass in your life. Thus, you will be able to take your place in the glorious church—the pure, spotless, holy bride—for which he is returning.
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