Joshua 4:14
On that day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel, and they stood in awe of him just as they had stood in awe of Moses, all the days of his life.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse highlights that God intentionally elevated Joshua's authority by linking his leadership to the profound awe Israel felt for Moses. It wasn't just about Joshua's own accomplishments, but about God demonstrating that He was with Joshua just as He had been with Moses, solidifying Joshua's position through a shared experience of divine power.
Right after the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River, God explicitly honors Joshua. The people witness Joshua directing the priests who carried the Ark, a powerful public demonstration of his authority that had been established by God after Moses' death. This pivotal moment solidifies Joshua's leadership in the eyes of all Israel, earning him the same deep respect and awe that Moses had commanded.
Joshua's first major act as leader was monumental. How did God use this event to solidify his authority in the eyes of the entire nation?
The crossing of the Jordan River wasn't just a physical passage; it was a divine endorsement of Joshua's leadership.
God's Direct Action
God commanded the priests to stand in the Jordan with the Ark of the Covenant until all the people had crossed. This wasn't a passive event; it required immense faith and obedience from the priests and a direct act of God to hold back the waters. Joshua, acting under God's instruction, directed these crucial steps.
Public Vindication
Verse 14 states, 'On that day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel.' This public miracle served as God's visible declaration that Joshua was His chosen successor. The awe and respect the Israelites had for Moses, their former leader, was now transferred to Joshua.
The Israelites had an unparalleled leader in Moses. How does Joshua's reception compare, and what does this tell us about leadership and legacy?
Moses was a towering figure in Israelite history. For over forty years, he led them, communed with God, and performed mighty deeds. His leadership was deeply ingrained in the national consciousness.
A New Standard
When the verse says Israel 'stood in awe of him just as they had stood in awe of Moses,' it highlights the immense standard Moses had set. It wasn't just about obedience; it was about a deep, reverential respect born from witnessing God's power through him.
Transition and Trust
For Israel to transfer that same level of awe to Joshua, God needed to provide a sign that transcended mere succession. The miraculous parting of the Jordan River was that sign. It demonstrated that God’s power and presence were still with Israel, now operating through Joshua. This transition wasn't automatic; it was divinely orchestrated to ensure the people's trust in their new leader.
Understand the original words
gadal · Hebrew Verb
The act of making someone great, raising their status, or bestowing honor and authority upon them, often as a sign of divine appointment.
yare · Hebrew Verb
A profound sense of reverence, fear, or trembling, often produced by encountering the manifest power or holiness of God or His chosen representative.
This miraculous event wasn't just about crossing a river; it was a pivotal moment where God publicly invested Joshua with authority, mirroring the reverence the people once held for Moses, thus solidifying his leadership for the challenging conquest ahead.
c. 1406 BC
Moses Appoints Joshua
Moses publicly commissions Joshua as his successor, laying hands on him and receiving God's assurance that He would be with Joshua as He was with Moses.
c. 1406 BC
Death of Moses
Moses dies after viewing the Promised Land from Mount Nebo. Joshua is then left to lead the Israelites, but his authority is not yet fully established in the people's eyes.
c. 1406 BC— this verse
Israelites Cross the Jordan River
Under Joshua's command, the priests carry the Ark of the Covenant into the Jordan River. The waters miraculously part, allowing the entire Israelite nation to cross into the Promised Land on dry ground.
c. 1406 BC
Setting Up Memorial Stones
As commanded by God, twelve stones are taken from the Jordan's dry riverbed by representatives of the tribes to serve as a perpetual memorial of their miraculous crossing.
This passage shows the Israelites' awe and belief in God after the Red Sea crossing, mirroring the awe they later felt for Joshua after they crossed the Jordan.
Numbers 27:20Here, God commands Joshua to take authority and give commands, showing his divinely appointed leadership, similar to how the Israelites obeyed him in Joshua 4.
Joshua 1:16-18The people pledge their obedience to Joshua, just as they did to Moses, highlighting the continuity of God's leadership through Joshua and the people's recognition of it.
Deuteronomy 34:9This verse directly links Joshua's wisdom and leadership to the fact that the Lord was with him, explaining why the people revered him just as they had Moses.
1 Kings 18:36Elijah's prayer before Israel shows a leader acting with divine authority, paralleling Joshua's position as God magnified him before his people.
calvinJoshua 4:10-18: "For the priests which bare the ark stood in the midst of Jordan, until every thing was finished that the LORD commanded Joshua to speak unto the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua: and the people hasted and passed over."
- For the priests which bare the ark stood in the midst of Jordan, until every thing was finished that the LORD commanded Joshua to speak unto the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua: and the people hasted and passed over.…
clarkeJoshua 4:14: "On that day the LORD magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life."
The Lord magnified Joshua - See the note on Joshua 3:7 .
This verse highlights that God intentionally elevated Joshua's authority by linking his leadership to the profound awe Israel felt for Moses. It wasn't just about Joshua's own accomplishments, but about God demonstrating that He was with Joshua just as He had been with Moses, solidifying Joshua's position through a shared experience of divine power.
Right after the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River, God explicitly honors Joshua. The people witness Joshua directing the priests who carried the Ark, a powerful public demonstration of his authority that had been established by God after Moses' death. This pivotal moment solidifies Joshua's leadership in the eyes of all Israel, earning him the same deep respect and awe that Moses had commanded.
Right after the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River, God explicitly honors Joshua. The people witness Joshua directing the priests who carried the Ark, a powerful public demonstration of his authority that had been established by God after Moses' death. This pivotal moment solidifies Joshua's leadership in the eyes of all Israel, earning him the same deep respect and awe that Moses had commanded.
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c. 1406 BC
The Circumcision and Passover
After the crossing, all the Israelite men are circumcised, and the Passover is celebrated for the first time in the Promised Land, signifying a new beginning under Joshua's leadership.
"On that day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel, and they stood in awe of him just as they had stood in awe of Moses, all the days of his life." — This verse highlights that God intentionally elevated Joshua's authority by linking his leadership to the profound awe Israel felt for Moses. It wasn't just about Joshua's own accomplishments, but ab…
