"And when those who bore the ark came to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water, now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest, the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan. And those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho." — Joshua 3:15-16 (ESV)
In the book of Joshua, we encounter a powerful moment of faith and obedience as the Israelites cross the Jordan River on their way into the Promised Land. This moment is significant not only because of the miracle that occurred, but also because it is rich with symbolism that speaks to our journey with God.
The Ark of the Covenant, carried by the priests, represented the very presence of God among His people. When the priests stepped into the waters of the Jordan River, the river ceased to flow, parting so the Israelites could walk across on dry ground. But it wasn’t just any river; the Jordan River flows into the Dead Sea, a body of water so salty and devoid of life that nothing can survive in it. The river, like all rivers that flow to the Dead Sea, symbolizes the flow of life toward death—a consequence of the fall of man, as we read in Genesis 3. Just as Adam, the first man, fell into sin and brought death to all mankind, so the river, symbolizing the course of life, leads to death.
However, when the priests, carrying the Ark, stepped into the water, something extraordinary happened. The river, which should have continued flowing to its inevitable destination—the Dead Sea—was stopped at a place called Adam, the city named after the first man. The waters flowed back, ceasing to move downstream, and God made a way for His people to pass through on dry land, moving from the wilderness into the land of promise.
This act points to the greater work of Christ. Just as the presence of God in the Ark stopped the flow of the river, so the presence of God in our lives—through the Holy Spirit and through faith in Jesus Christ—stops the flow of death that we are all born into as descendants of Adam. Jesus, who entered this world as both fully God and fully man, did what Adam could not do: He conquered sin and death, opening the way for us to pass from death to life. The Ark of the Covenant in this story is a type or shadow of Jesus, the true presence of God who stops the flow of death and leads us into eternal life.
The river, representing the consequences of sin, was stopped at Adam, the very city named after the first man who brought death into the world. And yet, in God’s mercy and grace, He made a way for His people to cross over into new life. This same grace is extended to us today, as we, too, carry the presence of God in our lives. We no longer have to walk the path toward death. Through Jesus Christ, the river of death has been stopped, and we are called to walk in faith into the fullness of life that He has promised us.
Additional Scriptural References:
Romans 5:12 – "Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned…"This verse points to the consequence of Adam’s fall—sin and death entering the world. The flow of life was tainted, but through Christ, we have a new way.
Romans 5:17 – "For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ."Just as Adam’s sin brought death, Jesus’ grace brings life. We are now part of the new creation in Christ.
John 14:6 – "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"Jesus is the ultimate way to life, just as the Ark carried the presence of God, opening the path for the Israelites to cross into their promise.
1 Corinthians 15:22 – "For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive."Jesus reversed what Adam initiated. Through Him, death no longer has the final word.
The crossing of the Jordan River is a powerful reminder that no matter how impossible the journey may seem, God is with us and is able to stop the flow of death in our lives. In Christ, we are given the opportunity to walk from death to life, leaving the wilderness of sin and entering the promises of God. Just as the Ark made a way for Israel, God’s presence in our lives makes a way for us today. Let us walk in the victory that Christ has won for us, knowing that He has made a way where there was no way.
