Israel's Preparation for the Conquest

The promises of God and the the faith of a Canaanite prostitute brought the nation of Israel to the brink of the land promised to them six hundred years prior. They had to respond in faith to God's word by moving ahead and into the land beginning by crossing the Jordan river at flood stage, no less. God didn't make it easy but He promised and proved His presence, power, and faithfulness by again stopping the waters upstream. The visual of His manifest presence by the Ark of the Covenant was to precede them in. God also used the miracle crossing and the miraculous events surrounding it to confirm Joshua as HIs appointed leader for the nation. The nation had to be prepared spiritually for the conquest ahead. As they acted in belief God would ensure their victories as He promised. God keeps His word doing what is good and best as blessing upon the obedience of the believer and what is bad for the rebellious who come under His judgment as consequences for sin.