God stopped the waters of the Jordan River so Israel could cross over on dry ground, performing another unmistakable supernatural sign for His covenant people.
When the priests carrying the ark stepped into the water, the Jordan suddenly piled up and Israel crossed at flood stage on dry ground. Les explains that the supernatural was commonplace when God dealt with Israel, and that Israel, as Paul wrote, required a sign.
Joshua 3:16-17 — These verses record the waters being cut off and Israel crossing on dry ground, directly showing why and how God stopped the Jordan.
1 Corinthians 1:22 — Les uses this verse to explain that Israel's need for signs was part of why God performed such miraculous displays.
God commanded the priests who bore the ark of the covenant to stand still in the edge of the Jordan River (Joshua 3:8). As soon as the priests' feet touched the water, the waters that came down from above stood up and rose in a heap, and the people crossed over on dry ground opposite Jericho (Joshua 3:16). The Jordan was at flood stage — overflowing all its banks at harvest time — yet the priests stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the river while all Israel passed over clean (Joshua 3:15-17). The New Testament confirms why such shows of power were needed for Israel: "For the Jews require a sign" (1 Corinthians 1:22).
Les emphasizes that when you deal with God and Israel, "the supernatural is commonplace" — never be shocked by a supernatural miraculous event in God's dealings with His covenant people. The stopping of the Jordan was exactly that kind of miracle: when the priests carrying the ark stepped into the water, the water suddenly piled up, and Israel was able to cross the Jordan even though it was at flood stage, on dry ground. Les points to 1 Corinthians to show that Israel, the Jew, required a sign — "it was just part of their nature. They had to constantly see" the evidence of God at work. God repeatedly gave them miraculous signs throughout their history. By contrast, Les explains that in this age of grace God has chosen not to perform the supernatural in the same way because He has given us His Word, and that is all we need.
Yes. Les notes that Israel was able to cross the Jordan "even though it's at flood stage on dry ground." This makes the miracle unmistakable: the waters were not low or easily fordable, yet the people walked across on dry land when the water piled up.
Les says that as Paul stated in 1 Corinthians, the Jew required a sign — it was part of their nature, and they had to constantly see something visible from God. The miraculous was common in God's dealings with Israel, so events like the Jordan stopping were part of that pattern. Les contrasts this with today, when God has given us His Word and we do not need a manifestation of the miraculous to trust what He has said.
Les brings the Red Sea crossing into the picture as a repeated example of God's supernatural power. At the Red Sea, God opened the sea and Israel went through on dry ground; at the Jordan, the water suddenly piled up so the people could cross on dry ground again. Both were miraculous acts of Almighty God, not natural events that can be explained away.
Les is careful to say that God is still the same sovereign, all-powerful God who can do anything He wants. But in this age of grace, He has chosen not to perform the supernatural in the way He did with Israel. Instead, He has given believers His Word, and that is all we need.
The Jordan Stopped at Flood Stage
Les teaches that when the priests stepped into the Jordan, the water suddenly piled up and Israel crossed on dry ground even though the river was at flood stage. He connects this to the supernatural being commonplace for Israel and to Israel's need for signs.
God Constantly Performs the Miraculous for Israel
Les points to Exodus 19:4 to show that the God of Israel is constantly performing real miraculous events, setting the pattern for supernatural acts like the Jordan crossing.
Red Sea Precedent of Dry Ground
Les describes the Red Sea crossing as a similar supernatural event, where the waters opened and Israel walked through on dry land before the sea returned on the Egyptians.
Why God Separated Israel: The Meaning of the Blood on the Doorposts
And it was based first upon a person, which was Moses in his case, and it was upon the blood, the Passover lamb in this case, and thirdly the word is hour. We're going to come to that in some future moment when the power of God is going to be exercised not so much now in all the plagues that have come on Egypt, but when Israel stands before the Red Sea and with no way out.
Why God Separated Israel: The Meaning of the Blood on the Doorposts
It was a miraculous act of God. And they'll try to explain away the parting of the Red Sea. And I know many of you have read of it, and you've heard of it, that it was up at the shallower end up there near the Mediterranean Sea, and they went through water 18 inches deep.
Israel Saw Miracle After Miracle
Les reminds his class that Israel had seen the exodus, the Red Sea, the cloud and pillar of fire, and Mount Sinai — miracle after miracle — showing how God dealt with the nation by supernatural signs.
What Does "Justified by Faith" Really Mean? Romans 5
How that the nation of Israel stood there on the shores of the Red Sea, the Egyptian army behind them, ready to destroy them, forbidding mountains to their right, and no possibility of going left. Here they are, they're locked in. They're without strength, and they knew not what to do.
Water Baptism vs. Spirit Baptism: What Places You in the Body of Christ?
Now I know they did quite well with what technology they had, but I'm again convinced that not only did God move this whole multitude miraculously faster than just a three-mile -an-hour walk, but also He must have opened the Red Sea an amazing amount of distance. He had to have, in order for that large a multitude to go through within such a short period of time.
Joshua 3:8: And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still.
God commanded the priests to stand at the water's edge before the waters were stopped.
Joshua 3:15: And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,)
Shows the Jordan was at flood stage when the priests stepped in.
Joshua 3:16: That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.
Records that the waters were cut off and piling up, allowing the crossing.
Joshua 3:17: And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.
Confirms that all Israel crossed on dry ground while the waters were held back.
1 Corinthians 1:22: For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
Les uses this verse to explain why Israel needed visible signs like the stopping of the Jordan.
Yes. Les explains that when the priests stepped into the water, the Jordan River suddenly piled up and Israel crossed on dry ground even though the river was at flood stage. This was one of the supernatural, miraculous events that were commonplace in God's dealings with Israel.
God stopped the Jordan so that Israel could cross over on dry ground into the Promised Land. It was another sign of His supernatural power and presence, and Les points out that Israel, as Paul wrote, required a sign.
Les says God is still the same all-powerful God, but in this age of grace He has chosen not to perform the supernatural in the same way. We have been given His Word, and that is all we need.
God told the priests carrying the ark to stand still at the edge of the water. When they stepped in, the waters backed up and piled in a heap, and the people crossed on dry ground.
Watch the Teaching: Crossing the Jordan on Dry Ground — What Most People Miss