The Jordan River is one of the most important rivers in the Bible.
It is the setting for incredible miracles, powerful encounters with God, and life-changing events.
From the Israelites crossing into the Promised Land to the baptism of Jesus, the Jordan River holds deep spiritual significance.
One of the most amazing miracles recorded in the Bible is when the Jordan River dried up, allowing God’s people to cross on dry ground.
But what does this event mean?
Why did God cause the river to stop flowing?
And does the Bible say anything about the Jordan River drying up again in the future?
Let’s take a deep dive into Scripture and explore what the Bible says about this miraculous event.
The First Time the Jordan River Dried Up
One of the most famous miracles involving the Jordan River happened when the Israelites were about to enter the Promised Land.
After forty years of wandering in the wilderness, they finally stood at the edge of the land God had promised to them.
But there was one problem.
The Jordan River stood in their way, and it was at flood stage, making it impossible to cross.
That’s when God performed a miracle.
Joshua 3:14-17 describes the moment:
So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them.
Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest.
Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing.
It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off.
So the people crossed over opposite Jericho.
The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.
This was a powerful moment in Israel’s history.
The river did not just slow down; it completely stopped flowing, allowing more than a million people to cross safely.
This was a clear sign that God was with them, just as He had been when He parted the Red Sea for their parents’ generation.
It also showed that Joshua was God’s chosen leader, just as Moses had been before him.
Why Did God Dry Up the Jordan River?
God does not perform miracles without a purpose.
In Joshua 4:24, we find out exactly why He stopped the river:
He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.
This miracle was not just for the Israelites.
It was meant to be a testimony to the entire world.
The surrounding nations heard about it, and they were filled with fear.
Joshua 5:1 says:
Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the coast heard how the Lord had dried up the Jordan before the Israelites until they had crossed over, their hearts melted in fear and they no longer had the courage to face the Israelites.
This was God’s way of preparing the land for His people.
It showed that He was going before them, removing obstacles, and leading them into His promises.
The Second Time the Jordan River Dried Up
Many people do not realize that the Jordan River dried up more than once in the Bible.
The second time was when Elijah and Elisha crossed it together.
2 Kings 2:8 describes what happened:
Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water with it.
The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground.
This miracle was different from the one in Joshua’s time, but it still showed God’s power.
Elijah was about to be taken up to heaven, and this was one final display of God’s presence in his life.
After Elijah was taken up in a chariot of fire, Elisha also parted the Jordan River in 2 Kings 2:14:
He took the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and struck the water with it.
Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah? he asked.
When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.
This was a sign that Elisha had received Elijah’s prophetic anointing.
Just as God had worked through Elijah, He would now work through Elisha.
The Jordan River in the New Testament
By the time we reach the New Testament, the Jordan River is still a place of spiritual significance.
It is where John the Baptist preached and baptized people, calling them to repentance.
And most importantly, it is where Jesus Himself was baptized.
Matthew 3:16-17 describes this event:
As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water.
At that moment heaven was opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on Him.
And a voice from heaven said, This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.
This was a defining moment in Jesus’ ministry.
The Jordan River, which had once been a physical barrier that the Israelites had to cross, now became a place where people crossed from their old lives into new lives through baptism.
Even though the river did not dry up during Jesus’ baptism, it still carried the same meaning.
God was doing something new, just as He had done in the Old Testament.
Could the Jordan River Dry Up Again?
The Bible does not specifically say that the Jordan River will dry up in the future.
However, it does speak about rivers drying up as part of the end times.
Revelation 16:12 says:
The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East.
Although this verse is about the Euphrates River, some believe it symbolizes God removing barriers to allow prophecy to be fulfilled.
Since the Jordan River has already dried up twice in history through God’s power, He could certainly do it again if He chose to.
What Can We Learn from the Jordan River Drying Up?
The drying up of the Jordan River was not just a historical event.
It carries deep spiritual meaning for believers today.
First, it teaches that God makes a way where there is no way.
The Israelites were standing at the edge of a flooded river with no bridge and no boats, yet God stopped the water, allowing them to cross.
This is a reminder that God can remove obstacles in our lives when we trust Him.
Second, it shows that obedience leads to miracles.
The priests had to step into the water before it stopped flowing.
They did not wait for dry ground; they moved forward in faith.
Many times, God calls us to step out in faith before we see the miracle.
Third, it confirms that God’s power is not limited to one time or place.
He dried up the Jordan in Joshua’s time, then again for Elijah and Elisha.
He continued to use the Jordan River as a place of spiritual transformation through John the Baptist and Jesus.
This means that God is still working today.
He is still moving obstacles, still calling people to step out in faith, and still leading His people into His promises.
Final Thoughts
The Jordan River drying up was one of the most powerful miracles in the Bible.
It was a sign of God’s presence, power, and faithfulness.
He used it to lead His people into the Promised Land, confirm the ministry of His prophets, and prepare the way for Jesus.
Even today, the Jordan River serves as a symbol of new beginnings and God’s ability to do the impossible.
When we face obstacles in life, we can remember what happened at the Jordan.
God can still part the waters.
He can still make a way.
And He is still leading His people into the promises He has for them.