BIBLE GEOGRAPHY

The Jordan River (2)

Victor M. Eskew

 

            The southern portion of the Jordan River flows from the Sea of Galilee south to the Dead Sea.  As the bird flies, the distance is about 75 miles from one end to the other.  However, the Jordan River winds and twists many times as it makes its way from one sea to another.  Thus, the total distance if a person is travelling on the water is 200 miles.  This body of water is a dividing line between Canaan and the Trans-jordan region of Israel.  It is also a place where several events in the history of Israel occurred. 

            In this article, we will begin by noting four miraculous events that happened at the Jordan River.  The first miracle occurred when the armies of Israel crossed the Jordan in order to conquer the land for God’s people.  If you recall from our previous article about the Jordan, The Jordan is fed in two ways:  the snowmelt from Mt. Hermon and the rainwater from several tributaries.  In the rainy season, the Jordan River is no longer a slow winding river that is a few feet deep.  It burst forth out of is banks and becomes a raging river.  It was during the flood season that Israel made its crossing.  God knew Israel needed His assistance.  Here are His words to Joshua:

 

                        “Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every          `                                   tribe a man.  And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the                                              priests that bear the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the                                            waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from above; and                                               they shall stand up an heap.  And it came to pass, when the people removed                                            from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the cov-                                        enant before the people; 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 at the time of harvest,) 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 to-                                           ward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off:  and the                                             people passed over right against Jericho” (Josh. 3:11-16).

 

Can you imagine seeing those waters to the right of the Israelites standing up as a heap.  The water from north continued to flow, but it just continued to pile up into the sky until all of the host of Israel had crossed.  After they had crossed, all of the water was released and returned to its normal flow.  It would have almost been like seeking the Red Sea parting once again. 

            A similar miracle occurred in the days of the prophets, Elijah and Elisha.  The mantel of leadership was about to be passed from the older prophet to the younger.  The transfer was going to occur on the east side of the Jordan River.  “And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground” (2 Kings 2:8).  After Elijah was taken into heaven on a chariot of fire, Elisha returned to his home.  To get there, he had to cross the Jordan again.  The Bible tells us:  “He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan:  and he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah?  and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither:  and Elisha went over” (2 Kings 2:14).  Fifty sons of the prophets witnessed these events (2 Kings 2:7, 15).  When they saw Elisha do as Elijah had done, they said:  “The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha.” 

            We turn just three chapters further into the book of 2 Kings and another miracle happens on the Jordan River.  A leper by the name of Naaman was informed of a prophet who could heal him of his deadly disease.  When Naaman finally arrived at the prophet’s house, Elisha sent a messenger to reveal what he needed to do to be healed of his leprosy.  His words were simple:  “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean” (2 Kings 5:10).  Naaman was angered by these instructions.  At first, he stormed off and refused to obey the prophet.  Naaman’s servants finally convinced him to do as the prophet instructed.  “Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God:  and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean” (2 Kings 5:14).  Dear readers, the power of healing was not in the waters of the Jordan River.  The healing involved the power of God.  The line of faith that had to be crossed in order to receive the blessing involved Naaman’s trusting the prophet enough to obey his words and dip in the Jordan.  When he did, “his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.”  Here are two questions for some of our denominational friends who reject the need of water baptism in the salvation process (See Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38):  1)  Was Elisha teaching some type of “works healing” by asking Naaman to dip in the Jordan River?  and 2) “Did Naaman believe in water healing because he dipped in the Jordan seven times to be cleansed?

            The final miracle that involves the Jordan River is in 2 Kings 6.  The sons of the prophets had outgrown their living quarters.  The edge of the Jordan had trees that could provide timber for a new structure.  Thus, they said unto Elisha:  “Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan, and take thence every man a beam, and let us make us a place, there, where we may dwell” (v. 3).  Elisha granted permission for them to go.  In fact, he also went with them.  “And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood.  But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water; and he cried, and said, Alas, master!  For it was borrowed” (vs. 4-5).  Most would believe that finding that axe head would be impossible.  It was lost in muddy water.  The weight of it would have buried it in the mud at the bottom of the river.  It would take a miracle to recover the axe head.  “And the man of God said, Where fell it?  And he showed him the place.  And he cut down a stick, and cast it in hither; and the iron did swim.  There said he, Take it up to thee.  And he put out his hand, and took it” (vs. 6-7).  A piece of iron swam from the bottom of the river to the top of the water.  Then it was recovered by the prophet who had lost it.  All would have marveled to see that heavy piece of metal floating on the top of the Jordan River. 

            In the New Testament, we do not read of any miracles occurring at the Jordan River.  However, we do find another prophet engaged in a great work there.  His name was John, John the Baptist.  “John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.  And there went out unto him all the land of Judea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river Jordan confessing their sins” (Mark 1:4-5).  It has been some 400 years since the voice of a prophet had been heard.  John’s message was refreshing, challenging, and encouraging.  He prepared the way for the coming Messiah.  He told the masses:  “There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.  I indeed have baptized you with water:  but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost” (Mark 1:7-8).  It is interesting that John was privileged to baptize this man about whom he speak to the Jews in the Jordan River.  “And it come to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan” (Mark 1:9).  This event marked the beginning of Jesus’ earthly ministry, a ministry that would literally change the world.

            The Jordan River is not a special river in an of itself.  It is just a shallow, slow-moving body of water with only a few minor purposes.  However, almost all people in the world are familiar with the Jordan River.  Its name is known because of its connection to the Bible, to the people of God, and to Jesus Christ the Son of God.