They set out in faith, and God’s guiding presence led them forward.
So when the people set out from their tents to cross the Jordan with the priests carrying the ark of the covenant before the people (v.14), we see the nation of Israel stepping out in obedience under Joshua’s leadership around 1406 BC, after nearly forty years of wandering in the wilderness. The Ark of the Covenant, carried by the priests, represented the very presence of God dwelling among His people. In carrying the Ark at the front, the Israelites placed their trust in God’s guidance, signifying that it was the LORD Himself who would make a way forward. This single verse sets the stage for one of the most miraculous events in the book of Joshua: the stopping of the Jordan’s waters so that the people might safely cross over.
Geographically, the Jordan River served as a boundary between the wilderness to the east and the Promised Land to the west. According to Moses’ earlier statements, this was the final stage of their journey, as “Soon Moses will die and Joshua will lead them across the Jordan River and into the Promised Land”. God had already met all of Israel’s needs—rescuing them from Egypt, sustaining them with manna, and leading them with His presence. Now, as they prepared to enter Canaan, the people left their tents to follow the priests and the Ark, physically and spiritually embracing the covenant promises God had for them.
By highlighting “the priests carrying the ark of the covenant before the people,” this verse underscores Israel’s recognition that they owed their success to God’s favor rather than to their own might. In the New Testament, believers are similarly called to follow Christ in faith, trusting that God’s power and presence go before them (Hebrews 13:5-6), just as the Israelites depended on the LORD’s presence in the Ark. Ultimately, Joshua 3:14 reveals how Israel’s faith in God’s abiding presence leads them toward the fulfillment of His promise and His blessing.
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Joshua 3:14 meaning
So when the people set out from their tents to cross the Jordan with the priests carrying the ark of the covenant before the people (v.14), we see the nation of Israel stepping out in obedience under Joshua’s leadership around 1406 BC, after nearly forty years of wandering in the wilderness. The Ark of the Covenant, carried by the priests, represented the very presence of God dwelling among His people. In carrying the Ark at the front, the Israelites placed their trust in God’s guidance, signifying that it was the LORD Himself who would make a way forward. This single verse sets the stage for one of the most miraculous events in the book of Joshua: the stopping of the Jordan’s waters so that the people might safely cross over.
Geographically, the Jordan River served as a boundary between the wilderness to the east and the Promised Land to the west. According to Moses’ earlier statements, this was the final stage of their journey, as “Soon Moses will die and Joshua will lead them across the Jordan River and into the Promised Land”. God had already met all of Israel’s needs—rescuing them from Egypt, sustaining them with manna, and leading them with His presence. Now, as they prepared to enter Canaan, the people left their tents to follow the priests and the Ark, physically and spiritually embracing the covenant promises God had for them.
By highlighting “the priests carrying the ark of the covenant before the people,” this verse underscores Israel’s recognition that they owed their success to God’s favor rather than to their own might. In the New Testament, believers are similarly called to follow Christ in faith, trusting that God’s power and presence go before them (Hebrews 13:5-6), just as the Israelites depended on the LORD’s presence in the Ark. Ultimately, Joshua 3:14 reveals how Israel’s faith in God’s abiding presence leads them toward the fulfillment of His promise and His blessing.