“ Moses, my servant is dead, now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land which I give to them, to the children of Israel.”
Because of Moses' prior disobedience God had said that Moses would not be allowed even to enter the land of Canaan (Numbers 20:12; Numbers 27:13-14; Deuteronomy 1:37; Deuteronomy 3:26-27; Deuteronomy 32:52; Deuteronomy 34:4). Thus until Moses' death invasion was not possible. There is a warning in this that even a great man can falter and can become a hindrance to the work of God. But now Moses was dead. To the children of Israel the death of Moses was a tragedy. They must have felt deeply bereft. To God it presented them with an opportunity.
“Now therefore arise.” With God every tragedy is an opportunity. An opportunity to rise by His power over it and use it as a stepping stone to better things. There was first sufficient mourning (Deuteronomy 34:8). Due respect was paid to Moses. And then God expected Joshua to go forward.
“Go over this Jordan.” Interestingly this is a phrase only found on the lips of YHWH (Deuteronomy 3:27; Deuteronomy 31:2). The River Jordan lay before them, making its way through the deep Rift Valley (the Arabah). There were no fords at this time for the river was overflowing its banks (Joshua 3:15). Thus it appeared a great obstacle, and beyond it lay their destiny. However, the obstacle could be overcome with God's help, and the destiny achieved. It was a momentous situation. That river, overflowing its banks and difficult to cross, was the stepping stone into their future. We too should remember that whatever equivalent of Jordan we face, even if it overflow its banks, if God go with us we need fear nothing.
“You and all this people.” That was both Joshua's encouragement and his responsibility. He had strong forces behind him, but he was responsible for their future. They were his strength but they were also his problem. How was he to get so many, with their wives and children and provisions, across the flooded waters of the Jordan?
“Into the land which I give to them, to the children of Israel.” Here was the necessary certainty. YHWH was giving them the land. It was thus theirs to possess. And He was here acknowledging that mixed, multi-racial group as being within His promises, as being now ‘the children of Israel', those who would receive the inheritance promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Israel). Note that they were not called ‘the children of Jacob'. It was Jacob as the new man Israel, the chosen one, who was seen as their ancestor.