Joshua 3:14-17; Joshua 4:1-8
The ark goes first into the waters, opening up a passage for the people. Christ’s entering into death makes a way for us by which we have not "passed heretofore", a new and living way (Joshua 3:4; Hebrews 10:20). Before the cross, no one had ever returned from death having once entered there. But Christ did just that, so that now we pass through it with Him without experiencing its bitterness. "They went through the flood on foot: there did we rejoice in him" (Psalms 66:6). We learn that the ark remained in the river bed until the entire nation had finished passing over (v. 17). Glorious guarantee of the people’s safety! Death cannot swallow us up! Christ went into it on our behalf. But let us think what it meant for the Prince of Life to offer up His soul unto death. Jonah 2:5 mentions all the terrible waves which passed over Him in their terrible reality. The waters compassed Him about even to the soul (see too Psalms 42:7). Precious Saviour! For Him suffering and death; for us deliverance, life, bliss. The waters could not quench nor the floods drown the love strong as death which led Him into those waves to save us from their power (Song of Solomon 8:6-7).