He is Among You and He Goes Before You

"​Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is crossing before you into the Jordan." Joshua 3:11

Joshua and the Israelites were crossing the Jordan, and the Lord gave Joshua specific instructions for the order of passage. The priests were to proceed first, carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord to the water’s edge of the Jordan and stand in the Jordan. Joshua explained the order of procession to the children of Israel so they would know that the ark of the covenant of the Lord going before them signified that the living God was among them and before them to drive out the nations. 
​
When the feet of the priests who carried the ark of the Lord before the Israelites came to the Jordan and dipped in the water's edge, the waters stood still and rose so that they stood on dry ground, until all of Israel crossed over. 

In this passage, Joshua emphasized that the living God was among the Israelites and that He would not fail to drive out the nations. In their past rebellion, Israel served false gods that were powerless and dead. Joshua’s reference to the all-powerful, ever-present, all-knowing, and living God was a stark contrast to Israel’s idolatrous worship of false gods. The Lord’s powerful display of the priests' feet dipping into the water’s edge with the ark of the covenant of the Lord, the waters of the Jordan parting and remaining parted so that all of Israel could cross the Jordan on dry land, was to reveal that He is the living God who was with them and going before them. His powerful work at the water’s edge of the Jordan would prove His faithfulness to drive out the nations as they entered the Promised Land.
​
From this passage, we learn that God is always among His children, and He goes before us. We must acknowledge His presence, power, and faithfulness in all things while following His order and His ways. We, like the Israelites, have followed false gods, which is idolatry. God, in His infinite holiness and love, desires to be the only focus of our devotion, affection, and worship. If we be still, listen, observe, and obey, He is showing us that He is among us and that He goes before us to drive away every obstacle so that we will remain in His perfect will to receive His promises.