Joshua 4:23-24
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Joshua's words here beautifully connect the present miracle of the Jordan crossing with the foundational miracle of the Red Sea, reminding the Israelites that God’s faithfulness isn't a one-time event but a continuous covenant. He includes himself and others present by saying "before us" for the Red Sea, emphasizing that even those who weren't physically there experienced that deliverance through their ancestors, showing God's family has always been united in His saving acts.
For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Right after crossing the Jordan River, the Israelites established a memorial of twelve stones to remind future generations of God's mighty act. Joshua instructs parents to explain the significance of these stones to their children, emphasizing that God miraculously dried up the Jordan just as He had done for their ancestors at the Red Sea. This recollection serves to solidify their faith and underscore God's consistent faithfulness across generations.
How can a miracle done before you were born feel like it happened to you? Joshua reminds us that God's mighty acts aren't just history lessons, but living testimonies.
Joshua 4:23 deliberately links the Jordan crossing to the Red Sea crossing. Even though generations had passed since the exodus from Egypt, Joshua speaks of the Red Sea miracle in the present tense: 'which he dried up for us.' This wasn't just for the older generation; it was for the new generation entering the Promised Land.
God's Faithfulness Endures
Think about it: the people standing at the Jordan were largely not the ones who saw the Red Sea part. Most were either born in the wilderness or still in their parents' 'loins' (as some commentators put it).
Yet, Joshua declares it happened 'for us.' This emphasizes that God's covenant blessings and powerful acts extend beyond individual lifetimes. What God did for the fathers, He also did for the children. It’s a powerful reminder that we are part of a continuous story of God's faithfulness.
These monumental miracles weren't just for show. They had a specific purpose: to reveal God's power and secure His people's trust.
The story of the Jordan crossing, as highlighted by Joshua 4:23, wasn't just about getting dry feet.
Making God Known
Joshua explains that the stones and the stories were meant to be seen and discussed. The ultimate goal was that 'all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is mighty' (Joshua 4:24).
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This isn't just about nations recognizing God's power; it's about His own people knowing Him. The miracles served to establish their trust and fear of Him. For the nations, it was an involuntary confession of His might. For Israel, it was meant to cultivate a deep, abiding reverence and confidence in their God.
Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The covenant name of the one true God, signifying His eternal self-existence, faithfulness, and relationship with His people.
Elohim · Hebrew Proper Noun
The supreme Being who created and sustains the universe, and who has entered into a covenant relationship with His people. It emphasizes His power, sovereignty, and authority.
yare · Hebrew Verb
A profound attitude of reverence, awe, and submission toward God that characterizes a believer's life; it involves trusting in His holiness and obeying His commands.
yad · Hebrew Noun
The instrument of God's active power and intervention in history to deliver His people, judge His enemies, and accomplish His purposes.
chazaq · Hebrew Adjective
Possessing great strength, power, or authority; often used to describe God’s ability to act decisively in creation and redemption.
am · Hebrew Noun
A distinct group of people defined by a common ancestry or history; in Scripture, this often refers to the nations outside the covenant family of Israel.
By linking the Jordan crossing to the Red Sea deliverance, Joshua emphasizes God's consistent faithfulness across generations, reminding the new generation that they stand in the same covenant lineage as their ancestors who witnessed God's power firsthand.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
After generations of slavery, God miraculously delivered the Israelites from Egypt, culminating in the parting of the Red Sea.
c. 1446 BC
Wandering in the Wilderness
The generation that left Egypt wandered for 40 years due to their disobedience, except for Caleb and Joshua.
c. 1406 BC— this verse
Conquest of Canaan Begins
Under Joshua's leadership, the Israelites crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land, beginning their conquest.
c. 1406 BC
Jordan River Crossing
The Jordan River's waters were miraculously stopped, allowing the entire Israelite nation to cross into Canaan on dry ground.
c. 1406 BC
Gilgal Established
The Israelites set up their first camp in Canaan at Gilgal, where Joshua erected a memorial of twelve stones from the Jordan.
This passage directly parallels the Jordan crossing by describing how God miraculously dried up the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to cross on dry ground, just as Joshua 4:23 recalls.
Psalm 114:3This psalm explicitly references both the Red Sea and the Jordan River crossings as acts of God's power and sovereignty, highlighting the consistent faithfulness of God in delivering His people.
Deuteronomy 31:3This verse speaks to God's ongoing commitment to be with His people as they enter new territories and face challenges, echoing the theme of God's powerful intervention in both the Red Sea and Jordan crossings.
Joshua 3:14-17This passage describes the actual event of the Jordan River drying up, providing the context for Joshua 4:23's remembrance and emphasizing God's power to halt natural forces for His people.
calvinJoshua 4:19-24: "And the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho."
- And the people came up, etc Why the day on which they entered the land, and first encamped in it, is marked, we shall see in next chapter. But the name of Gilgal is given to the first station by anticipation, for this new name was afterwards given to it by Joshua on the renewal of circumcision; its etymology will be explained in its own place. Mo…
jfbJoshua 4:14-24: "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."
Jos 4:14-24. God Magnifies Joshua.14-17. On that day the Lord magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel—It appeared clear from the chief part he acted, that he was the divinely appointed leader; for even the priests did not enter the river or quit their position, except at his command; and thenceforward his authority was as firmly established…
Joshua's words here beautifully connect the present miracle of the Jordan crossing with the foundational miracle of the Red Sea, reminding the Israelites that God’s faithfulness isn't a one-time event but a continuous covenant. He includes himself and others present by saying "before us" for the Red Sea, emphasizing that even those who weren't physically there experienced that deliverance through their ancestors, showing God's family has always been united in His saving acts.
Right after crossing the Jordan River, the Israelites established a memorial of twelve stones to remind future generations of God's mighty act. Joshua instructs parents to explain the significance of these stones to their children, emphasizing that God miraculously dried up the Jordan just as He had done for their ancestors at the Red Sea. This recollection serves to solidify their faith and underscore God's consistent faithfulness across generations.
Right after crossing the Jordan River, the Israelites established a memorial of twelve stones to remind future generations of God's mighty act. Joshua instructs parents to explain the significance of these stones to their children, emphasizing that God miraculously dried up the Jordan just as He had done for their ancestors at the Red Sea. This recollection serves to solidify their faith and underscore God's consistent faithfulness across generations.
"For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of t…" — Joshua's words here beautifully connect the present miracle of the Jordan crossing with the foundational miracle of the Red Sea, reminding the Israelites that God’s faithfulness isn't a one-time even…
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Last reviewed October 2026
