Trust and Tell
Two Tasks for God’s People
Aaron Lee | Joshua 3:1-4:24 | FCBCW Youth Worship | January 18, 2026
Introduction
There’s a new feature documentary film coming soon that’s causing quite a stir: Disneyland Handcrafted, by Leslie Iwerks. “Disneyland Handcrafted reveals the extraordinary artistry and grit it took hundreds of craftspeople to bring Walt Disney’s seemingly impossible dream of Disneyland to fruition—from groundbreaking to Opening Day on July 17, 1955.” It tells the story of something truly remarkable that deserves to be remembered.
As we study the book of Joshua and especially Israel’s crossing of the Jordan River, we see how God documents his own acts of wonder in his Word. He gives us so many stories of his amazing grace that deserve to be remembered and retold. And when God’s people forget what He has done, they stop trusting Him—and they stop telling others about Him.
Our passage today is very much like a documentary film—it shows us, from different angles, why God works the way He does.
Context
At this point in the story, Joshua was getting ready to go into the Promised Land. If you remember, God’s people were once slaves in Egypt. Moses was Israel’s greatest leader, he led them out of Egypt during the Exodus. He received the Ten Commandments from God at Mount Sinai. And he led them through their wanderings in the wilderness for 40 years. But Moses would die, he would lead God’s people right up to the Promised Land, and Joshua would be next to lead. In order for Joshua to get to the Promised Land, they would have to cross the Jordan River. And God would use this moment to affirm that God’s presence was with Joshua, and God would use this moment to show that God was still powerful.
Sermon Preview
In this story, we’re going to see two tasks for God’s people:
Trust in God’s presence
Tell of God’s power
Throughout our sermon, I’m going to show how these tasks point back to God’s command to be strong and courageous as they enter the Promised Land. I’ll also speak specifically to young leaders, with specific applications to be like Joshua.
1. Trust in God’s Presence
The first task is trust in God’s presence:
3 Then Joshua rose early in the morning and they set out from Shittim. And they came to the Jordan, he and all the people of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over. 2 At the end of three days the officers went through the camp 3 and commanded the people, “As soon as you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall set out from your place and follow it. 4 Yet there shall be a distance between you and it, about 2,000 cubits in length. Do not come near it, in order that you may know the way you shall go, for you have not passed this way before.” 5 Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” 6 And Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on before the people.” So they took up the ark of the covenant and went before the people. (Joshua 3:3-6)
Explanation
God was with his people and led them across the Jordan river to the Promised Land.
The key to understanding this section is the ark of the covenant. The ark of the covenant was a physical metaphor of God’s mobile chariot as he led his people into battle. God’s presence was symbolized by the ark of the covenant. The ark was a wooden chest covered with gold. It had two angels on it with their wings stretched out towards each other to represent God’s throne. It contained the tablets of the Ten Commandments (God’s covenant and rule), Aaron’s staff (God’s priesthood and people), and a jar of the manna from the wilderness (God’s provision). The Israelites were to keep a distance of 2,000 cubits (1,000 yards, about half a mile) from the ark. This was to clearly show that God knew the way. The Israelites were to consecrate themselves, sanctify themselves, to prepare themselves to be in God’s presence, as God would work wonders among them – he would clearly show that he was with them, powerful, and in control.
God’s presence is often forgotten in our lives. While we don’t have an ark of the covenant – we have the cross of Christ. When you stop to think about it, it’s incredible that the God who created everything, holds all things together, knows everything, and controls everything says that he is with you and will walk with you through your life. If you are God’s child, even if you don’t feel it, he has never left your side. He has never left you alone. There is no greater companion than God! When you forget about God’s guiding presence, it’s like your first day at school, and instead of asking your older sibling or friend or teacher who knows, you try to Google directions online yourself. No, we can trust in God to take us and lead us in love.
Application
So, will you trust in God, not man?
While Joshua was the leader, Israel was not to put their trust in a man, a human, a creature. No – they were to trust their Creator, the living God, the Lord of all the earth.
7 The Lord said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. … 9 And Joshua said to the people of Israel, “Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God.” 10 And Joshua said, “Here is how you shall know that the living God is among you and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Perizzites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, and the Jebusites. 11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is passing over before you into the Jordan. … 13 And when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap.” (Joshua 3:7-13)
Joshua says that as you walk, the water will be cut off from flowing and stand in one heap. God was effectively controlling the river and creating a dam, a wall to hold the water. God would do it for them, they just had to trust and walk forward.
It’s worth mentioning that some of the Israelites would have been alive during Moses’ time, so they would have been under both Moses and Joshua’s leadership. I can directly apply this to our church. I’ve been through every single youth pastor this church has had. Some I’ve had as my own youth pastor, and some I’ve worked with. They were all great men of God. But they were not God himself. So when youth pastors leave, when any type of leader leaves, it’s tempting to become discouraged. We must remember that God is the one we follow. We trust that God is with us and walk forward.
In your life there will come times when you have to trust that God is with you and walk forward in faith, especially when it comes to doing what you know God already wants you to do. I was scared to switch up some friends because of the ways I knew I would sin, but I had to trust that God was with me. I was afraid to trust God with our adopting a child, there were financial and familial concerns, but I had to trust that God was with me. I’ve been scared to tell the truth, afraid to apologize, and lived in fear of the future. If you are God’s child, trust that God is with you and walk forward in faith.
This is a way we can be strong, to trust and walk forward. The people did show their trust in God. They obeyed the commands that ultimately came from the Lord, and 40,000 people passed over in haste. That word haste (Joshua 4:10) means they did so in a hurry. They did so without hesitation. It’s possible that they passed over in haste because they were scared, but it could also mean they did so because they were strong. They heard the word and off they went. The idols in this world are blind guides – we follow God. This is the type of Christian I want to be – strong to do what God says.
If you are a leader like Joshua, I charge you to trust in God’s presence by giving your entire life to him, unafraid even to die for the mission of making disciples everywhere God calls you to go. Especially for the seniors, for those that go away to college, you will be away from this local church community. But I want you to remember that God goes with you. Resolve to find a new church in college, make new Christian friends, and know that you can always come back home:
18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)
2. Tell of God’s Power
The second task is to tell of God’s power:
4 Then Joshua called the twelve men from the people of Israel, whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe. 5 And Joshua said to them, “Pass on before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, 6 that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ 7 then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.” (Joshua 4:4-7)
Explanation
The Israelites were to remember and retell what God had done.
The key to understanding this section is in the stones. Israel had twelve tribes. Each tribe was going to have a man pick up a stone on his shoulder and arrange them as a sign to all of Israel. When the Israelite children saw the stones, they would ask what they were for, and the answer would be to tell of what God had done to lead his people over the Jordan River. This is how God’s mighty work would be remembered, and the retelling of the story is how it would be passed down from generation to generation, so that God would be worshiped.
God’s power is often forgotten in our lives. While we don’t have an ocean split apart – we have veil torn in two. When you stop and think about it, it’s amazing how God displays his power. Even if you don’t feel it, God has guided you through your life. God has given you undeserved blessings. If you are God’s child, he has overcome your sinful, rebellious heart and opened your eyes to see his glory! When you forget to tell of God’s great power, it’s like you’re standing on the beach, and instead of telling of the waves and the shore and the sand, you talk about the kiddie pool that’s in your back yard. No, his power is unparalleled.
Application
So, will you tell of God’s great power in your life?
While we tend to forget or just stop standing in awe of what God has done in our lives, this is not what God desires. He means to be glorified.
21 And he said to the people of Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in times to come, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 22 then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, 24 so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.” (Joshua 4:21-24)
For all the peoples of the earth to know that the Lord is mighty and to fear the Lord forever means that all the world will worship him.
It’s worth mentioning that the 12 stones were meant to symbolize all of God’s people together. I can directly apply this to our church. It’s easy for us to forget that there is a history to our church here. There are generations that went before us. God did mighty things through them and we are to remember. On a human level, we should honor those who have gone before us to make this church what it is. But on a spiritual level, we must worship God for growing this church. I’m a millenial. I grew up thinking that my generation was special. But I’m also a Christian, and I know that God is behind every blessing.
In your life there will come times when you will forget or stop standing in awe of what God has done. Don’t let that happen. Set up your own memorial stones in your mind. Learn to make things about God. I have a memorial stone at California Adventure. Mickey’s Funwheel is where I proposed to Jess, and I remember our love for each other, but I also remember how relationships are hard and how kind God was to give me a wife. Every time I pass my old schools, I remember how school was hard but God had helped me in my studies. Every time I go to the mountains, I remember how my faith is weak but how fellowship there with God was exceptionally sweet. I’m not spiritualizing things. Humble yourself and see what God has done in your life. It changes everything. And then you go and tell others, whether they believe in God or not. You just say it, this is where God did this, and let them reckon with what they think is real.
This is a way we can be courageous, to tell and put forth what God has done. The people did tell of God’s power. They told the story of crossing the sea and placing the stones, so much so that the people stood in awe of Joshua all the days of his life. That description of all the days of his life (Joshua 4:14) means that they did not forget. They remembered God’s faithfulness. What we talk about reveals what we treasure – and we found the pearl of great price. This is the type of Christian I want to be – courageous to proclaim God's power.
If you are a leader like Joshua, especially if you are going to a new school next year, don’t forget about how God has impacted your faith. Even if you are young, your moments with God have real meaning. Your testimony is still true. I charge you to put forward your weakness and proclaim God’s power profusely. Without restraint. With boldness. God does not call us to physical war, but to spiritual war. The conquest of Canaan points to God capturing our hearts - not by force, but by grace. The world speaks proudly against the knowledge of God, but we speak to destroy these strongholds:
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)
The Gospel
Our story in Joshua speaks to the Gospel. As Christians, we have our own Jordan River crossing, where we passed over from death to life. We have our own memorial – the cross to remember what happened to our Messiah. We have our stone that was rolled away – the tomb is empty, and we look forward to when we are resurrected by the power of God. And we have our own Promised Land – our forever home with God in Heaven, where we will finally experience God’s presence in full. We trust and tell about our own Joshua, Jesus:
16For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:16-17)
Big Idea
Christians trust in God’s presence and tell of God’s power.
Conclusion
I’m sure that Disneyland Handcrafted will be quality entertainment. But our story in Joshua is to be embodied. By his own sovereign, mighty hand, our Creator writes his story in the world. And while Disneyland will one day fade away, the Kingdom of Heaven is enduring and everlasting —a Promised Land for all God’s people.
Trust and Tell
To the tune of Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
Trust the Lord as he leads you
He’s with you wherever you roam
He will hold your hand, He will guide your paths
And we follow in faith as we go
Tell the world of his power
There’s nothing our God cannot do
He is big and strong, He is Lord of all
And remember he’s caring for you
Jesus, in you we place our trust
Jesus, the risen King and Son
For your power, your glory
Your grace shown at the cross
Oh Jesus, we tell of your great love
References
The ESV Expository Commentary by Crossway
The ESV Study Bible by Crossway
The Gospel Coalition Bible Commentary on Joshua by Richard Pratt
Joshua (Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary) by David G. Firth