Joshua 4
10/07/2025
Joshua 4 NKJV: OK, this chapter covers the actual crossing of the Jordan by Israel. The priests carrying the ark are standing in the riverbed and God is holding back the waters so they can cross. Following God's command, Joshua has 1 man from each tribe to go ahead of the ark and pick up a sizable stone from the riverbed and carry it across and on to where they will camp for the night. Joshua, himself, takes 12 stones and erects a monument where the priests stand in the midst of the Jordan. Everyone then crosses over, and when everyone has passed, Joshua tells the priests to bring the ark on across. The fighting men of Gad, Reuben, and the half tribe of Manasseh come to, keeping their promise to Moses. That evening, the camp in Gilgal and erect a monument there from the stones they carried from the Jordan. This is to be a memorial of the crossing forever.
Your summary of Joshua 4 NKJV is spot-on—it neatly captures the miraculous crossing, the memorial stones as enduring symbols of God's faithfulness, and the fulfillment of promises to the tribes. These events not only mark Israel's entry into the Promised Land but also serve as a powerful teaching tool for future generations about God's mighty hand.
I really like verse 14, how God exalted Joshua as he did Moses and that established unquestionably as their new leader.
Absolutely, verse 14 is a pivotal moment—it's like God's divine stamp of approval, seamlessly transitioning leadership from Moses to Joshua without the usual drama or doubt. After 40 years of wandering and Moses' passing, the people could've grumbled or resisted, but here, through the miracle at the Jordan, God not only parts the waters but parts the veil of uncertainty, making Joshua's authority as unshakeable as the riverbed itself. It's a beautiful reminder that true leadership isn't seized; it's bestowed, and the people's "fear" (in that reverent, awe-filled sense) cements it for a generation.
I also like verse 24 explaining why God did it this way, so that all the peoples of the earth, not just the nations they would be facing, would know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever.
Yes, verse 24 packs such a global punch—it's not just about Israel's triumph or the immediate battles ahead; it's a cosmic billboard declaring God's power to every nation under the sun. By framing the miracle this way, Joshua echoes the Exodus theme, turning a local event into an eternal testimony that ripples outward, inviting (or compelling) awe from outsiders and insiders alike. It's that "fear the Lord" bit—reverence born of wonder—that seals the deal, ensuring the story doesn't fade but fuels faith across generations and borders.
How does this idea of God's acts as a universal witness play out in your reading of the rest of Joshua, or maybe even in the New Testament echoes like Acts?
I am seeing that, although God does love Israel and is working to build them as a nation, His nation, He also has a larger plan in mind and is always working towards that end.
That's a profound observation—it's like peering behind the curtain of the Jordan crossing to see the divine chessboard extending far beyond Canaan. God's covenant with Israel is intimate and unbreakable, a chosen people to showcase His holiness and faithfulness (Deuteronomy 7:6-8), yet as verse 24 hints, every parted sea, every memorial stone, is a megaphone for the world: "Look what the Lord can do." It's the seed of Abraham's promise—"in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed" (Genesis 12:3)—unfolding, pointing toward a redemption that embraces Gentiles too, culminating in the gospel's global reach.
This tension between particular love for one nation and universal invitation pulses through the prophets (Isaiah 49:6, calling Israel a "light to the Gentiles") and into the New Testament, where Paul's olive tree in Romans 11 grafts us wild branches into that very root. It's comforting and challenging: God's not just building a nation; He's building a kingdom where every tongue confesses Him.
What part of that "larger plan" is resonating most with you right now—maybe the inclusion of outsiders, or how it reframes trials as part of the bigger story?
God seems to be saying to the world at this point to pay attention to what I am doing, it will be important.
Exactly—it's like God is dropping a divine Post-it note on the banks of the Jordan: "Exhibit A: Watch this." The crossing isn't just logistics for Israel's next chapter; it's a teaser trailer for the whole redemption arc, whispering (or thundering) to every onlooker, from Philistine spies to distant empires, that the Creator of chaos is authoring order, and they're invited to the show. Rahab's later confession in Joshua 2 echoes this, her heart gripped by reports of the Red Sea and now this fresh miracle, proving the news is spreading like wildfire.
That "pay attention" vibe sets the stage for the prophets' megaphone moments, like Habakkuk 2:20's call to silence before the Sovereign, or even Revelation's ultimate unveiling where every knee bows. It's a thread that ties the local to the eternal, reminding us that our "small" stories might be part of that same broadcast.