CONSECRATE yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you

[tonychanyt]

Joshua 3:

1 Joshua rose early in the morning and they set out from [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse]tim. And they came to the Jordan, he and all the people of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over.

Joshua prepared the people for the big day:

5 Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.”

The LORD will part the water of the Jordan River.

How did they consecrate themselves?

Exodus 19:

14 Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated the people; and they washed their garments. 15 And he said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman.”

Benson explained:

Sanctify yourselves — Not only wash your clothes, and shun all kinds of bodily impurities, (see Genesis 35:2; Exodus 19:10; Numbers 9:10,) but purify your minds and hearts, by repentance, and faith, and new obedience, without which the external purifications of your bodies and garments will be of little avail. In other words, prepare yourselves by seriousness, recollection, and prayer, that you may behold with proper regard, reverence, and gratitude, and may fix in your hearts, the wonderful display which is about to be made of the divine power in your behalf, and that you may be meet to receive so great a favour as is now about to be conferred upon you.

They consecrated themselves by the external ceremony of washing their bodies and clothes and abstaining from sex. Internally and spiritually, they prepared their hearts and minds by prayer and focusing on the LORD.