A Complete History and Mystery of the Old and New Testament, Biblical tract · Volume 2 · Chapter 3
CHAP. III.
Joſh. the Third relateth the miracle of Iſrael's paſſing through Jordan, in all its circumſtances of time, place, manner, &c.
The Firſt Remark upon this Relation is, the ſolemn preparation of Iſrael for their beſt Reception of this Miracle of mercy: Iſrael had three Days time not only to provide neceſſaries for a march from Shittim to the Banks of Jordan, Joſh. 1.11. but alſo to prepare themſelves both in Body and Soul, with Ceremonial and Spiritual Purifications to render them capable of that glorious Efficacy of Gods powerful preſence, in dividing Jordan, verſ. 5. God oft call'd them to a ſanctifying themſelves for his preſence, Exod. 19.10, 15. Levit. 20.7, 8. Numb. 11, 18. &c. a due preparation for Gods preſence brings a true participation of it, and the more that our minds are purified for meeting the Lord, the more influence hath his preſence upon our Spirits, and the deeper impreſſion it maketh upon our memories.
The Second Remark is, the Cloudy Pillar being now departed at Moſes's Death (ſhewing, the ſhadows of the Law, cannot lead us into the Land of promiſe,) The Ark of the Covenant (being a Type of the Angel of the Covenant, Mal. 3.1. the Lord Jeſus) takes the Conduct of Iſrael through Jordan into Canaan, Joſh. 3.3, 11. which ſhew, that the order of the march of the Ark of God in Moſes's time was in the midſt of the Camp, Numb. 2.17, &c. But now this courſe was changed in Joſhua's time, for the glorious Cloud being gone, the Ark of God muſt go before Iſrael, who muſt follow after it, denoting, That as there was no other way of entrance into the Earthly Canaan, but by following the Ark of God; ſo there is no other way of entrance into the Heavenly Canaan, but only by following the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, Joh. 14.6. Act. 4.12. Matth. 16.24.
The Third Remarks is, The much Congruity or Parity 'twixt this Ark, the Type, and Chriſt, the Antitype, as (1.) The Ark was made of Shittim-Wood, Exod. 25, 10, &c. A Wood moſt durable, and not ſubject to putrefaction. So Chriſt was neither ſubject to the corruption of Sin, nor to the putrefaction of the Grave, Heb. 27.1. and 4.15. Pſal. 16.9, 10. (2.) the Ark was covered with pure Gold: So Chriſt had the Gold of his Godhead covering his Manhood, Col. 2.9. (3.) it had the Tables of the Teſtimony and pot of Manna, &c. ſo Chriſt had Treaſures of Wiſdom hid in him, Col. 2.3, &c.
Fourthly; the Ark was an Aſſurance of Gods preſence with Iſrael; Joſh. 3.11. calls it the Lo…d of the whole Earth, which is added to corroborate Iſrael's confidence; for if that God (who made the whole Earth out of nothing, and governeth all things contained in it, by his wiſe and powerful providence) did dwell in the Ark that paſſed over before them, there could be no place left for incredibility, or ſo much as doubting of their ill ſucceſs; where the Ark was, there God was. Hence the Ark is call'd Gods Face, Pſal. 105 4. and 'tis call'd God himſelf, Pſal. 132.5. wherewith God was preſent in caſting down Dagon and plaguing the Philiſtins, 1 Sam. 5.2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12. and 6.19, 20. Where the Ark is, and where the ordinances are, there God is, &c. Thus. Chriſt is both the cauſe, and the aſſurance of Gods merciful preſence with us, Joh. 17.21. The Son's union with the Father is an aſſurance of our Union, both with the Father and the Son, and of theirs with us.
Fifthly, a reverend reſpect muſt be had to the Ark of God, ſo that the People muſt not come near to it; but keep at diſtance from it two thouſand Cubits or a thouſand Yards Joſh. 3.4. Which diſtance was preſcribed to affect their Hearts with a due Veneration to Gods preſence, whereof the Ark was a Sign, in which reſpect, at the giving of the Law there were bounds appointed about the Mount Sinai, to keep the People from approaching too near it, Exod. 19.12. Thus Gods Command concerning this Ark was [they ſhall not go in to ſee it,] Numb. 4.20. The Men of Bethſhemeſh paid dear for their peeping, 1 Sam 6.19. Gods ſecrets muſt not be ſearched into, Deut. 29.29. Hic oportet mirari potiùs quàm Rimari: Arcana Dei ſunt Ara Dea; a preſumptuous prying into the work of Gods Arcanum's, is not only an Impious curioſity, but 'tis alſo forbidden upon pain of Death as above; and Peter giveth charge againſt that Curioſity as againſt Theft or Murder, 1 Pet. 4.15. 'tis Bucholcer's Counſel. Tu fuge ceu peſtem, foreign.
We ſhould be wiſe to ſobriety, and not ruſh raſhly into Gods ordinances or Sacraments, Dr. Hall ſaith well, God loves at once Familiarity and Fear, Familiarity with him in our Converſation, and fear of him in his Commands: God loves to be acquainted with Men in the Walks of their Obedience, yet he takes ſtate upon him in his ordinances, and will be trembled at in his Word and Judgments. Thus it is ſaid of Chriſt.
Surely, they will Reverence my Son, Matth. 21.37. As the Ark of Gods preſence and Hearers are all here and before the Lord to hear his word, Act. 10.33. which ought to be trembled at, then God will reſpect us, Iſa. 66.2.
There be many more Parities or Congruities follow to be ſpoke to in their proper place; the Sixth whereof leads in.
The Fourth Remark, which is, As by the Ark of God the River Jordan was divided and dried up, inſomuch that the People went dry and ſafe over to Canaan; So by the Son of God a moſt plain, eaſy, and ready way is made through the Horrours of Death for us to come ſafely to our Heavenly Canaan and Kingdom, Pſal. 23.4. Heb. 10.19, 20. This drying up of Jordan by the Ark approaching it, Joſh. 3.13. was a wonderful work of God, and much admired by the Pſalmiſt, Pſal. 11.4, 3, 5. The many circumſtances of this miracle make it the more marvelous, as (1.) the Time when, namely, at ſuch a time when Jordan overflowed all its Banks, Joſh. 3.15. at the time of Barly Harveſt. This might be Natural 1 Chron. 12.15. as to Nilus and other Rivers cauſed by the melting of Snow, which lieth all Winter upon the adjacent Mountains, and is melted in their Harveſt time by the Heat of the Sun: Therefore the drying of it up when it was under its moſt dreadful innundation muſt needs be the more Supernatural: Hereupon the Pſalmiſt asks the Queſtion [what ailed thee oh thou Jordan that thou waſt driven back, &c?] Pſal. 114.5. as if he had ſaid, what was the matter? What power overpower'd thee? Can there any natural reaſons be rendred for it? No; it was God powerful preſence, thou ſaw, that did affright thee, and not only ſtop'd thee in thy natural courſe, but alſo cauſed thee to run a Retrograde Motion: as God chuſed this very time of an Innundation (1.) that his powerful kindneſs to Iſrael might be more ſingular, and the Miracle the more admirable; when God will perform his promiſes of deliverance to his People, no created Being can obſtruct his Proceedings, for all Creatures are Gods Servants, Pſal. 119.91. and ſhall contribute their help and not hindrances. (2.) So it moſt highly commends the ſtrong Faith of thoſe Holy Prieſts that did firſt ſet their Feet upon thoſe Waters while they ſo fearfully overflowed, and ran with ſuch a rapid, fierce and ſtrong Currant (3.) and Laſtly, this time likewiſe gives the greateſt illuſtration of Gods good providence toward his People in bringing them into the Land of their Enemies, even in Harveſt time, when it was the beſt furniſhed with all neceſſary Proviſion both for the preſent and the following Year; here one Sowed and another Reaped, Joh. 4.37.
The Second Circumſtance that exalts this Miracle is, The place where it was wrought, what part of Jordan muſt be dried up for Iſrael's March over into Canaan: No place of Jordan muſt ſerve, but that part which was Right over against Jericho Joſh. 3.16. This was the place which God choſe, becauſe, (1.) God would ſhew himſelf to be their Captain who would lead them over in ſafety there, where there was a ſtrong City, a potent King, and a valiant People; (2.) Becauſe this wonderful wafting Iſrael over ſafely there, would ſtrike a greater terror upon the Hearts of their Enemies; (3.) To Signalize this very place, call'd after Bethabara, Trajectum, or place of paſſage, where John the Baptiſt did Baptize the Lord Jeſus, Joh. 1.28. &c. Here Baptiſm was firſt Adminiſtred, not without Divine Direction, being fore-ſhadowed by Iſrael's paſſage through Jordan (as before through the Red-Sea, 1 Cor. 10.2.) to ſignify that Chriſt is the true Beth-Abara or place of paſſage, into our Heavenly inheritance, Eph. 2.18. To which may be added (4.) becauſe this place led Iſrael to the moſt pleaſant and fruitful part of Canaan, and therefore the moſt convenient both for Iſrael's refreſhment after their long and tedious Marches; and for their encouragement to their preſent expedition.
The (3.) Circumſtance that makes this Miracle famous, is, The manner how this differ'd from the drying up of the Red-Sea; for (1.) That deliver'd them from the Egyptians, but this led them into Canaan: (2.) In that the Waters ſtood up on each ſide as a wall, in this the upper Waters only ſtood up on an heap, the nether Waters were clean cut off (as with a Sword, Job 6.17. ſaith Tremellius) and ran away into the Dead Sea. (3.) There the Waters were divided at the ſtretching out of Moſes's Rod, but this was done by the preſence of the Ark of Gods preſence. (Laſtly) this huge Heap of the upper Waters of Jordan, did not fall all at once (as the Red Sea did to drown the Egyptians) but, being Reſtrain'd by the power of God, abated by little and little and brought to their ordinary courſe, otherwiſe the Heap being higher than the Banks had drown'd all the Country, by a ſudden and entire Fall.
The Fourth Circumſtance of this marvelous Miracle is, The means whereby Iſrael was tranſported, it was not by Bridges, or by Boats, &c. but on Foot yet dry ſhod notwithſtanding the vaſt Innundation which teacheth us, that ſuch as are Iſraelites indeed Joh. 1.47. Need not to fear their paſſage through Jordan, the Agonies of a corporal Death (having the Ark of Gods Covenant in their Eye,) to take poſſeſſion of the Heavenly Canaan, Eph. 2.18.
The Fifth Remark is, Theſe Holy Prieſts, that bare the Ark of the Lord, ſtood betwixt the People and danger, as a wall of Defence to them, whether their ſtation appointed them were either in the middle of Jordan (as ſome ſay from verſ. 17.) then they preſerved them from fear of the Flood overflowing them in the midſt of the River; or if the Prieſts marched end-Ways through the River to the brink of it on the other ſide (as others do interpret, verſ. 8. leſt the People ſhould otherwiſe get before the Ark, who were bid to follow after it) then the Prieſts expoſed themſelves to the Peril of the Enemy who might be ready to hinder their Landing, as Rationally could not but be expected. In which caſe the Peril of thoſe Holy Prieſts muſt needs be the greater, becauſe of their diſtance 2000 Cubits from the reſt of the Army: However underſtood, it teacheth us, That 'tis the frequent State and Portion of Goſpel-Miniſters to be moſt expoſed unto Peril from Perſecutors, whoſe conſtant Cry, is, ſmite the Shepherds, and the Sheep be ſoon ſcattered, &c. Zech. 13.7. Oh pray for Paſtors who bear the brunt and burden of the Day.
The Sixth and laſt Remark is, Thoſe whom God gives up to Deſtruction, he firſt gives them over to Infatuation, which is the Engliſh of [quos Deus vult deſtrui, priùs dementat] Tho' it be the common Dictate of the Light of Nature, that Nations in danger of Invaſion, do carefully ſecure their Coaſts, and guard their Frontiers; yet thoſe Canaanites, in neglecting this here, ſeem deprived of their reaſons; probably, their preſent ſecurity might be, becauſe they look'd on it as Impoſſible for: Iſrael to paſs over Jordan when it overflow'd its Banks; but certainly they were ſtruck with ſuch a Terror by this Miracle, that they durſt not come forth, but immured themſelves in the High wall'd-City.