This verse reminds us that God’s mighty deliverance in the past remains a present assurance for all who follow Him.
“Because the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed, just as the LORD your God had done to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed.” (Joshua 4:23). This verse takes place around 1406 BC, after God guides His people out of the forty-year wilderness journey to the banks of the Jordan River. The Jordan flows from the Sea of Galilee south into the Dead Sea, forming a significant boundary for entry into the Promised Land. In a manner reminiscent of the Red Sea crossing (which took place around 1446 BC, Exodus 14), the LORD miraculously stops the waters of the Jordan so the Israelites can pass safely into Canaan, confirming His promise to secure their inheritance and reveal His unmatched power.
In declaring that the same God “dried up” both the Jordan and the Red Sea, Israel’s greater story of redemption is made clear: the LORD is the consistent provider, going before them in battle, and establishing them as His covenant people. The parting of the Jordan also echoes the Red Sea event, reinforcing that Israel’s past deliverance from Egypt through Moses now continues under Joshua’s leadership. Just as Moses’ generation experienced salvation at the Red Sea, so Joshua’s generation receives confirmation of God’s faithfulness anew.
Looking beyond the Old Testament, the idea of crossing over water can foreshadow spiritual truths. In the New Testament, Jesus (whose name is the Greek form of “Joshua”) also calls believers to trust Him as the One who brings them from the wilderness of sin into abundant life. The Jordan River would become the symbolic place of baptism and repentance (Mark 1:4), illustrating a transition from old ways to new ones. Thus, Joshua 4:23 underlines God’s timeless ability to transform impossibilities into secure paths, showing He is the One who sustains and redeems His people across every boundary.
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Joshua 4:23 meaning
“Because the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed, just as the LORD your God had done to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed.” (Joshua 4:23). This verse takes place around 1406 BC, after God guides His people out of the forty-year wilderness journey to the banks of the Jordan River. The Jordan flows from the Sea of Galilee south into the Dead Sea, forming a significant boundary for entry into the Promised Land. In a manner reminiscent of the Red Sea crossing (which took place around 1446 BC, Exodus 14), the LORD miraculously stops the waters of the Jordan so the Israelites can pass safely into Canaan, confirming His promise to secure their inheritance and reveal His unmatched power.
In declaring that the same God “dried up” both the Jordan and the Red Sea, Israel’s greater story of redemption is made clear: the LORD is the consistent provider, going before them in battle, and establishing them as His covenant people. The parting of the Jordan also echoes the Red Sea event, reinforcing that Israel’s past deliverance from Egypt through Moses now continues under Joshua’s leadership. Just as Moses’ generation experienced salvation at the Red Sea, so Joshua’s generation receives confirmation of God’s faithfulness anew.
Looking beyond the Old Testament, the idea of crossing over water can foreshadow spiritual truths. In the New Testament, Jesus (whose name is the Greek form of “Joshua”) also calls believers to trust Him as the One who brings them from the wilderness of sin into abundant life. The Jordan River would become the symbolic place of baptism and repentance (Mark 1:4), illustrating a transition from old ways to new ones. Thus, Joshua 4:23 underlines God’s timeless ability to transform impossibilities into secure paths, showing He is the One who sustains and redeems His people across every boundary.