Joshua 5:1 And it came pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were on the side Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea, heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.
The response of the enemies of God’s people when they heard about the dried up Jordan was a melted heart and an empty spirit. They could have and should have repented of sin and unbelief and turned to the Lord in faith. A few, like Rahab, did, but the vast majority of pagan unbelievers did not. God’s Word of Law and Judgment is designed to soften the heart and expose the dead spirit, preparing us to receive the Gospel of forgiveness and mercy.
This story reveals a picture of what is really happening in the spiritual world when a sinner believes and is baptized. Crossing the Jordan is symbolic of our entering the Kingdom of God. Sin, Death, and the Devil hate that. Our spiritual enemies lose heart and spirit at the proclamation of Jesus’ death and resurrection. They cringe and shriek when they see a child of God being baptized. In our Baptism God takes away Sin, gives life to overcome Death, and drives the Devil away. The Spirit applies to us the violent overthrow of our Enemies by Jesus.
By faith we pass clean over from death to life. Our strength, courage, hope, confidence, joy, and peace are renewed. At the same time, the hold of our enemies, their strength and fight, is destroyed. Discouragement is lifted for the believer, for it is the enemies who are discouraged.