The crossing of the Jordan was a miraculous testament to God’s supremacy, serving both as evidence of His might and an invitation to trust Him.
When the people of Israel crossed the Jordan River on dry ground, their leader Joshua explained that this happened so, “that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, so that you may fear the LORD your God forever.” (v.24) This statement links their extraordinary crossing to the fame of God’s power throughout the world. The Jordan River, which flows south from the Sea of Galilee into the Dead Sea, served as a physical barrier to the Promised Land, yet through God’s intervention it ceased to flow temporarily. The people of Israel wanted the surrounding nations to see that their God was both sovereign and actively working on their behalf. This public demonstration of divine might was reminiscent of the parting of the Red Sea under Moses decades earlier (Exodus 14:21), reinforcing Israel’s history of miraculous deliverance.
The verse continues, “…so that you may fear the LORD your God forever.” (v.24) This reveals that God’s mighty acts are also intended to inspire reverent worship among His own people. Joshua, an important figure around 1400 BC, led Israel after Moses’s death, marking a pivotal shift in Israel’s history as they transitioned from nomadic wanderers in the Sinai wilderness to settled inhabitants of Canaan. The permanent impact of these signs was meant to shape the hearts of Israel for generations, causing them to remember God’s greatness and live in obedience to His covenant. The fear of the Lord mentioned here underscores both awe and submission, a theme carried forward into the New Testament where believers are also urged to respond to God’s power and mercy with obedient faith (Hebrews 12:28-29).
This miraculous event foreshadows future moments in Scripture where God’s might is revealed to draw people into His redemptive plan, culminating in Jesus Christ, whose ministry included crossing the Jordan at His baptism (Matthew 3:13-17). The continuity of God’s demonstration of power, whether through parting waters or resurrecting Christ from the dead, encourages all who follow Him to trust wholeheartedly in His promises. By placing memorial stones at the river’s bank, God’s people created a permanent reminder of His hand at work in their lives, which still stands as a testimony to God’s sovereignty and faithful care.
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Joshua 4:24 meaning
When the people of Israel crossed the Jordan River on dry ground, their leader Joshua explained that this happened so, “that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, so that you may fear the LORD your God forever.” (v.24) This statement links their extraordinary crossing to the fame of God’s power throughout the world. The Jordan River, which flows south from the Sea of Galilee into the Dead Sea, served as a physical barrier to the Promised Land, yet through God’s intervention it ceased to flow temporarily. The people of Israel wanted the surrounding nations to see that their God was both sovereign and actively working on their behalf. This public demonstration of divine might was reminiscent of the parting of the Red Sea under Moses decades earlier (Exodus 14:21), reinforcing Israel’s history of miraculous deliverance.
The verse continues, “…so that you may fear the LORD your God forever.” (v.24) This reveals that God’s mighty acts are also intended to inspire reverent worship among His own people. Joshua, an important figure around 1400 BC, led Israel after Moses’s death, marking a pivotal shift in Israel’s history as they transitioned from nomadic wanderers in the Sinai wilderness to settled inhabitants of Canaan. The permanent impact of these signs was meant to shape the hearts of Israel for generations, causing them to remember God’s greatness and live in obedience to His covenant. The fear of the Lord mentioned here underscores both awe and submission, a theme carried forward into the New Testament where believers are also urged to respond to God’s power and mercy with obedient faith (Hebrews 12:28-29).
This miraculous event foreshadows future moments in Scripture where God’s might is revealed to draw people into His redemptive plan, culminating in Jesus Christ, whose ministry included crossing the Jordan at His baptism (Matthew 3:13-17). The continuity of God’s demonstration of power, whether through parting waters or resurrecting Christ from the dead, encourages all who follow Him to trust wholeheartedly in His promises. By placing memorial stones at the river’s bank, God’s people created a permanent reminder of His hand at work in their lives, which still stands as a testimony to God’s sovereignty and faithful care.