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Crossing the Jordan
305
When the news that God had held back the waters of the Jordan
for the children of Israel reached the kings of the Amorites and
Canaanites, their hearts melted with fear. To the Canaanites, to all
Israel, and to Joshua himself, unmistakable evidence had been given
that the living God, the King of heaven and earth, was with His
people. He would not fail them nor abandon them.
The Hebrews made their first camp in Canaan, not far from the
Jordan river. The stopping of the Passover celebration and the rite of
circumcision had been an evidence of the Lord’s displeasure because
of their desire to return to the land of slavery and their breaking of
the covenant. Now, however, the years of rejection had ended, and
the sign of the covenant was restored. The rite of circumcision was
performed on those who had been born in the wilderness, and the
Lord declared to Joshua, “This day I have rolled away the reproach
of Egypt from you.”
Heathen nations had ridiculed the Lord and His people because
the Hebrews had failed to take possession of Canaan soon after
leaving Egypt. Their enemies had triumphed because Israel had
wandered so long in the wilderness, and they had mockingly declared
that the God of the Hebrews was not able to bring them into the
Promised Land. The Lord had now unmistakably shown His power
and favor by opening the Jordan before His people, and their enemies
could no longer ridicule them.
They celebrated the Passover, “and the manna ceased on the day
after they had eaten the produce of the land; and the children of
Israel no longer had manna, but they ate of the food of the land of
Canaan.” The long years of their desert wanderings were over. The
feet of Israel were at last walking in the Promised Land.
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