Read: Joshua 3 (Part 2)

The children of Israel had been instructed to make their hearts holy. Only after they had made their hearts ready, would the Lord instruct them on how they would cross the Jordan River.

But then the Lord still said something else before they crossed through the river. He said that he would exalt Joshua. To exalt means to make great. Why would the Lord do that? What did it actually mean that Joshua would be made great? It didn’t mean that Joshua would be able to walk around like a proud man because the Lord had made him someone very important; rather, it meant that the people could know that God was with Joshua, just like the Lord had been with Moses. The people had to know that Joshua was their new leader and that the Lord was using him to instruct the people. The people had to know that when Joshua spoke, it was God using him to tell them what to do. They had to know that they could follow him. When Joshua spoke it was God speaking to them.

Who do you follow in your life? Whose instructions do you listen to? Yes, it is Jesus Christ who you must follow. He had been exalted by the Lord. He has been made great. The exaltation of Joshua pointed to the exaltation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

So always look to Christ, the exalted one. Follow him in everything that you do. He will always lead you in the way the Lord wants you to go. But how do you know what the Lord wants you to do? How do you follow Christ? By reading his Word, the Bible. Read it every day. Listen when it is explained to you. Don’t try and do your own things, but always go to the Bible to see what God wants you to do.

The Lord has also given you parents, elders in church, and teachers who can help you understand the Bible. So listen to them as they explain it to you.

Reflection with your child:

Why did the Lord exalt Joshua?

Source: Sermon by Rev. R. Vermeulen