当抬约柜之祭司的脚踏入涨过约但河两岸的水中，那从上往下流的水，便在极远之处立起成垒。这是人类历史中最大的神迹，是以色列人进入美地时，神为他们所行的第一个神迹。这样的神迹对以色列人来说必然是个记号，说出他们的神是又真又活的，并且是活跃的。
抬耶和华约柜的祭司在约但河中的干地上站定，以色列众人都从干地上过去，直到国民尽都过了约但河。毫无疑问，要大约两百万人，包括小孩、年长的、软弱的，同着他们所携带的一切东西过约但河，必定需要很长的时间。然而，我相信祭司们并不烦躁，而是喜乐的看到神所行的神迹，很高兴的看着所有百姓都过了约但河。
以色列十二支派的十二代表，从约但河中，祭司脚站定的地方，取十二块石头带过去，放在以色列人当夜要住宿的地方。十二块石头表征新以色列的十二支派。这些石头从约但河的水中起来，表征从死里复活。从水中被举起的十二块石头乃是记号，表征复活的新以色列人是越过死水的见证。这预表信徒与基督一同经历从死复活。
约书亚把十二块石头立在约但河中，在抬约柜的祭司脚站立的地方。这些乃是另外的十二块石头，表征在旧生活和旧性情里的以色列十二支派。约书亚把十二块石头立在约但河中约柜所在的地方，表征主要把在旧性情里的以色列人留在约但河的死水下。这预表信徒的旧人应当留在基督的死里。我们这些在基督的死与复活里与祂联合，与基督一同复活成为新人的人，该将我们的旧人留在祂的死里。我们这些在教会生活中的人都该能宣告说，我们的旧人已经与基督一同埋葬，并留在基督的死里，现今我们乃是新人。
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Crossing the River Jordan (2) — Jos. 4:8-9
When the feet of the priests who carried the ark dipped into the edge of the waters that overflowed all the banks of the Jordan, the waters that flowed down from upstream stood and rose up in a heap a great distance away. This was the greatest miracle in human history, and the first miracle performed for Israel as they entered the good land. Such a miracle surely was a sign to the children of Israel that their God was real, true, living and active.
The priests who carried the ark of Jehovah stood firmly on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel was crossing over on dry ground, until all the nation had completely crossed over the Jordan. No doubt it took a long time for about two million people, including children, older ones and weaker ones, to cross over the river with all the things that they were carrying. However, I believe that the priests were not bothered but, happy about the miracle God had performed, were glad to watch all the people cross over the Jordan.
Twelve representatives of the twelve tribes of Israel took up twelve stones from the place where the priests’ feet stood firm in the middle of the Jordan and brought them over and laid them down in the place where Israel lodged that night. The twelve stones signify the twelve tribes of the new Israel. Their being raised up from the waters of the Jordan signifies resurrection from death. The twelve stones raised up from the water were a sign, signifying that the resurrected new Israel would be a testimony of the crossing of the dead water. This typifies the believers’ experience with Christ of the resurrection from death.
Joshua erected twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests who carried the ark had stood. These were another twelve stones, signifying the twelve tribes of Israel in their old life and in their old nature. Joshua erected these twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan where the ark was, signifying that the Lord wanted Israel in their old nature to remain under the dead water of the Jordan. This typifies that the old man of the believers should remain in the death of Christ. We who have been identified with Christ in His death and resurrection, who have been resurrected with Christ to become the new man, should leave our old man under His death. We in the church life should all be able to declare that our old man has been buried with Christ and remains under the death of Christ and that we are the new man.