“The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed. The New Testament is the Old Testament revealed.” --unknown

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“Faith turns a promise into a prophecy.”--Philip Brooks

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“As soon as the priests who carry the ark of the LORD---the Lord of all the earth---set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off....
“Then the waters which came down from above stood and rose up in a heap far off, at Adam, the city which is beside Zarethan; and there flowing down toward the Sea of Arabah, the Salt [Dead] Sea, were wholly cut off, and the people passed over opposite Jericho...” (Joshua 3:13...16)

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“Why was it, O sea that you fled,
O Jordan, that you turned back....?
Tremble, O earth, at the presence
of the Lord,
at the presence of the God of Jacob,
who turned the rock into a pool,
the hard rock into springs
of water.” (Psalm 114: 5...8)

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In the Old Testament Book of Joshua (Chapter 3), we are told how the Hebrew people crossed over the Jordan River into the Promised Land. Forty years earlier, these same people, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, were miraculously released from Egyptian captivity where they had been held as slaves for four hundred years. Then for one generation (ie., forty years), the twelve tribes of Israel wandered fitfully in the desert wilderness until God allowed them... at last... to cross the Jordan River and to enter the Land of Promise.

The story behind the Jordan River crossing is both fascinating and, I am convinced, prophetically revealing. According to the scriptures, the river was at harvest or “flood stage”. Despite that, however, the Levitical priests who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant on their shoulders in advance of the people, were told simply to move forward and to step into the swollen and rushing flood waters of the Jordan. And when the priests did so, we are told that the waters retreated probably in much the same way that the waters of the Red Sea had done earlier when the people were being pursued by the armies of Pharaoh. (Exodus 14: 21-22).

By faith, trusting in God's Word, the priests stepped boldly forward and immediately the flood waters were “cut off” (v. 16). Consequently, the twelve tribes of Israel were able to cross the river on dry ground and were safely delivered into the Promised Land. The Jordan River....which naturally flows and empties into the Dead Sea... rolled back for miles, apparently to a city called Adam “beside Zarethan”.........

Interestingly, the Hebrew word, “zarethan” ..(pronounced, tsaw-reth-THAWN')... means “punctured” or “pierced”.

And “Adam” means “man” or “mankind”.

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“Zarethan!.... Lord, Run Us Through!”

 

Stir the water, Holy Spirit...
Roll it back...Reveal The Way;
Ark of Promise, go before us....
Lord, perfect our Faith, we pray!


Dam this flow of Dead Sea waters!
Second Adam pierced for all!
Help us cross this Jordan River....
By the Cross, redeem the Fall.

Give us Grace to see this picture;
Stir the waters of the soul....
Father God of all creation,
May The Truth in us unfold!


Zarethan!....O Holy Spirit,
Pierce the heart that we may see.
Help us step into this water....
Through the wounds of Calvary!

Ark of Promise, go before us
Through the flood...and Blood of Christ.
Spirit, move us 'cross the river
At this Cross of Sacrifice.


Help us step into the water....
Help us trust You more and more.
Help us cross this Harvest River...
Call us to the distant shore!

Help us see The Cross more clearly;
With your Word, Lord, run us through!
Living Water, flow into us...
Father, call us home to you.


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“When dealing with a supernatural Being and taking things from Him that are humanly impossible, it is actually easier for us to take a lot than it is to take a little. And it is easier to stand in a place of bold trust than in a place where we cautiously and timidly cling to the shore.” --AB Simpson

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“But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53: 5)

“Grace and peace to you from him who is, who was and is to come....To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood....
“Look, he is coming with the clouds,
and every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him....” (Revelation 1: 4...7)