The LORD said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God's promise to Joshua isn't just about boosting his reputation; it's a foundational moment to establish that the divine empowerment Moses knew is now fully entrusted to Joshua. This divine endorsement, enacted through the monumental crossing of the Jordan, ensures the people will trust Joshua as their leader, just as they trusted Moses before him.
The LORD said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
As the Israelites stand poised to enter the Promised Land, the mighty Jordan River, swollen with spring rains, presents an impassable barrier. God speaks directly to Joshua, assuring him that He will begin to elevate him in the eyes of the people through the miraculous parting of the river. This divine endorsement aims to solidify Joshua's leadership, just as God had powerfully guided Moses, establishing His presence with Joshua for the monumental task ahead.
Joshua was stepping into the shoes of Moses, a legendary leader. How does God prepare him for this monumental task and assure a hesitant people?
God initiates this pivotal moment by speaking directly to Joshua. He declares, 'This day I will begin to magnify you in the sight of all Israel.' This isn't just a pat on the back; it's a public, divine endorsement. The miracle of crossing the Jordan is not only for Israel's physical passage but also to establish Joshua's authority. God is making it undeniably clear that He is with Joshua, just as He was with Moses. This establishes Joshua's leadership in the eyes of the people, securing their trust and obedience for the difficult journey ahead. It’s a powerful reminder that God equips and affirms those He calls, especially when they step into challenging new roles.
The Jordan River was swollen and formidable. Why did God choose such a dramatic display of power to inaugurate Joshua’s leadership?
The act of parting the Jordan River served as tangible proof of God’s active presence and power. For Israel, who had witnessed the parting of the Red Sea under Moses, this miracle was a direct parallel. It wasn't just about creating a path; it was about demonstrating that the same God who led them out of Egypt was now leading them into the Promised Land. By making the waters stand still, God showed His absolute sovereignty over nature and His commitment to His people’s destiny. This event served as a powerful lesson in faith, teaching them to trust God’s power not just in miraculous moments, but in all their future challenges, including the conquest of Canaan.
Understand the original words
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YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God, revealed to Moses, emphasizing His eternal existence, faithfulness, and self-sufficiency as the Savior of Israel.
gadal · Hebrew Verb
The act of raising someone to a position of honor, influence, or authority, often done by God to validate a leader’s commission and demonstrate His divine approval.
This moment is critical for Joshua's leadership. By directly intervening and magnifying Joshua in the sight of all Israel through the miraculous crossing of the Jordan—a feat as monumental as Moses parting the Red Sea—God establishes Joshua's authority and reassures His people that His presence and power remain with them, just as it was with Moses.
c. 1400 BC
The Exodus from Egypt
After 400 years of slavery, God miraculously delivered the Israelites from Egypt under the leadership of Moses, parting the Red Sea to allow them safe passage.
c. 1400 BC
Wandering in the Wilderness
Following the Exodus, the Israelites spent 40 years in the wilderness due to their disobedience, during which Moses led them and received God's law.
c. 1400 BC
Death of Moses
Moses, the great leader who guided Israel out of Egypt and through the wilderness, died on the plains of Moab before they could enter the Promised Land.
c. 1400 BC
Joshua Appointed Leader
Joshua, a faithful servant of Moses and a veteran warrior, was divinely appointed to succeed Moses and lead the Israelites into the Promised Land.
c. 1400 BC— this verse
Israel Arrives at the Jordan River
The Israelites camped in the plains of Moab opposite Jericho, facing the formidable Jordan River, which was swollen by spring rains and impassable by normal means.
c. 1400 BC
Miraculous Crossing of the Jordan
At God's command, the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant stepped into the raging Jordan, causing the waters to stop flowing, allowing all Israel to cross on dry ground.
This passage describes the miraculous parting of the Red Sea, a foundational event that demonstrated God's power and presence with Moses, setting the precedent for God's similar powerful intervention with Joshua.
Deuteronomy 31:7-8Here, Moses himself encourages Joshua, emphasizing that God will be with him just as He was with Moses, a promise directly echoed in the verse from Joshua.
Joshua 1:5This verse reiterates God's promise to Joshua, stating 'as I was with Moses, so I will be with you,' underscoring the continuity of God's presence and support for His chosen leader.
Joshua 4:14This verse looks back to the event in Joshua 3, stating, 'On that day the LORD magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel,' directly fulfilling the promise made in Joshua 3:7.
Psalm 114:3This Psalm poetically recounts the parting of the Red Sea and the Jordan, linking the power displayed at both events to God's majestic presence, which awe-struck the natural elements.
calvinJoshua 3:1-13: "And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over."
Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that you may know the way by which you must go: for you have not passed this way heretofore.
Veruntamen interstitium erit inter vos et ipsam fere duorum milium cubitorum in mensura: ne appropinquetis e…
clarkeJoshua 3:7: "And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee."
This day will I begin to magnify thee - By making him the instrument in this miraculous passage, he did him honor and gave him high credit in the sight of the people: hence his authority was established, and obedience to him as their leader fully secured. What must have confirmed this authority was, his circumstantia…
God's promise to Joshua isn't just about boosting his reputation; it's a foundational moment to establish that the divine empowerment Moses knew is now fully entrusted to Joshua. This divine endorsement, enacted through the monumental crossing of the Jordan, ensures the people will trust Joshua as their leader, just as they trusted Moses before him.
As the Israelites stand poised to enter the Promised Land, the mighty Jordan River, swollen with spring rains, presents an impassable barrier. God speaks directly to Joshua, assuring him that He will begin to elevate him in the eyes of the people through the miraculous parting of the river. This divine endorsement aims to solidify Joshua's leadership, just as God had powerfully guided Moses, establishing His presence with Joshua for the monumental task ahead.
As the Israelites stand poised to enter the Promised Land, the mighty Jordan River, swollen with spring rains, presents an impassable barrier. God speaks directly to Joshua, assuring him that He will begin to elevate him in the eyes of the people through the miraculous parting of the river. This divine endorsement aims to solidify Joshua's leadership, just as God had powerfully guided Moses, establishing His presence with Joshua for the monumental task ahead.
"The LORD said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you." — God's promise to Joshua isn't just about boosting his reputation; it's a foundational moment to establish that the divine empowerment Moses knew is now fully entrusted to Joshua. This divine endorsem…
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Last reviewed October 2026