Third, the result of the miracle was that the Israelites would fear the Lord forever. The gods of Israel’s enemies were created things that had no ability to move water and provide dry passage across a river. The miracle was done “so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful.” No other god could compare in power. Second, there was an emphasis on the power of God. This emphasis on God’s miraculous provision was an ongoing sign to the people of Israel. He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.” First, a comparison is made with the crossing that took place at the Red Sea under the leadership of Moses.

The Lord your God did to the Jordan what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. Joshua 4:23–24 says, “The Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The conclusion of this event offers an additional insight into its significance and the reason for the memorial. The memorial was to serve as a lasting sign of God’s work among the Israelites. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever” (Joshua 4:6–7). When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. Why did the Israelites build a memorial? Joshua said, “When your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. Their miraculous crossing affirmed God’s presence with them and His promise to remove their enemies from the land. And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the Lord-the Lord of all the earth-set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap” (Joshua 3:10–13). Now then, choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe.

See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you.

Joshua explained the significance of this event before it took place, stating, “This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites. The Israelites’ crossing of the Jordan River on dry land was of tremendous significance to the Israelites.

Splitting a river bible