Joshua 3:11

"Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan."

Moses has died and now Joshua is preparing to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. In this verse we have part of the instruction given by him to the people. In verses 3 and 4 we read, "When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it. Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore."

Something interesting happens here that is different from what the Israelites have known before. Previously, half of the people were to march before the Ark of the Covenant and half were to march behind. Also, they were told that the pillar of a cloud/fire was to lead them wherever they went. If this leader did not move, then neither were they to move. In their travels God was always in their midst. His residence and His going forth with them was always in the middle.

But now, as they enter the Promised Land, Israel's instructions are different. Now they were to stay back 2000 cubits as the Ark of the Covenant went over first, borne by the priests. The moment the priests stepped into the flooding Jordan River the water dried up and all 600,000 of the tribe of Israel walked over on dry ground.

Numbers 4 describes how the Ark of the Covenant was to be borne. Verses 5 and 6 tell us, "...when the camp setteth forward, Aaron shall come, and his sons, and they shall take down the covering vail, and cover the ark of testimony with it: and shall put thereon the covering of badgers’ skins, and shall spread over it a cloth wholly of blue..." Amongst other details they were told that it was to be covered by three items, the veil from the holy of holies, badger skins, and a cloth of blue. The Ark itself was a breathtaking, splendid piece of gold furniture. Its beauty was to be covered over in the way described.

In Hebrews 10:20 we are told, "...by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh..." In other words, scriptures tell us that the veil represents the flesh of Christ. The veil of the temple was torn at Christ’s death. Paul told the Romans that Jesus was "...made of the seed of David according to the flesh..." Taken together, these scriptures indicate to us that the first covering they put on the ark was a picture of the flesh of Christ, which He took on when He came to earth.

It is apparent through a careful study of the scriptures that Christ was born to die. That was his purpose in coming to this earth. Many times He told His disciples this truth, and many times they did not understand. Nevertheless, He told them. His goal was death. Of this the badger skins, the next covering on the ark, remind us. In order to gain the skins of the badger there needed to be the death of the animal. So the second covering speaks of the death of Christ.

Finally, the ark was covered with a cloth of blue. Numbers 15:38-39 tells us, "Speak unto the children of Israel...that they make them tassels on the corners of their garments...a lace of blue; and it shall be...that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of Jehovah, and do them..." The purpose for the ribbon of blue was to remind the Israelites that they were under God’s law. So, Paul told the Galatians, "But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law..." So the blue cloth reminds us of this aspect of our Lord Jesus Christ. He was made under the law.

So, the Ark of the Covenant in all of its glory was covered, its beauty hidden. Our Lord Jesus Christ was also covered in the same way, hiding His beauty. The ark itself is a reminder of our LORD Jesus Christ. In fact, Philippians 2:7, 8 tells us that Christ, "...made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."

Taking this back to the verse at the start, we can see that this event of Israel crossing the Jordan River into the Promised Land is a clear picture of Christ going before His people. When traveling through the Jordan River there were many things that could not be known. Scriptures tell us that at the time the river flooded over its banks. It was not possible for the Israelites to know what was in the river. They could not know the best place to cross. They could not see the rocks at the bottom. They needed someone to go before them, and the priests bearing the ark were the ones to go.

In the same way we need someone to go before us into the things that lie ahead. We cannot know where the dangers are, or where is the safest place. But our LORD Jesus Christ knows all of these things, and He goes before us. Scriptures tells us in Hebrews 6:19, 20 "...we have (faith) as (an) anchor of the soul, both secure and firm, and entering into that within the veil, where Jesus is entered as forerunner for us..." Jesus has gone before us all the way into Heaven. And Scriptures tell us that He is there ever living to make intercession for us.

In the Ark of the Covenant, covered as it was by the veil of the temple, the badger skins, and the cloth of blue, we see a picture of our LORD Jesus Christ. In its going before the Israelites through Jordan we see a picture of our LORD Jesus Christ going before us, all the way into the presence of his Father. We can rightly take this is a great comfort knowing that He knows the way, and, as all of the Israelites of old safely crossed the Jordan, so will we enter into God’s presence.

All the way my Savior leads me;
What have I to as beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who thro’ life has been my guide?
Heavenly peace, devinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well.

All the way my Savior leads me,
Cheers each winding path I tread,
Gives me grace for every trial,
Feeds me with the living bread.
Though my weary steps may falter,
And my soul a-thirst may be,
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see

All the way my Savior leads me;
Oh, the fullness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised
In my Father’s house above.
When my spirit, clothed Immortal,
Wings its flight to realms of day,
This my song through endless ages:
Jesus led me all the way.