Joshua 4:24 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.”
Have you ever gotten a gift or a compliment and wondered about the motive of the giver? There was just something about the presentation or the content that didn’t sit just right in your spirit. Maybe it was just a bit over the top, too much. It didn’t match the circumstances.
It can be strange to be in those moments. What are you supposed to do as the recipient of that compliment or gift? The socially acceptable things is to just politely accept and move on. But is that the best thing to do?
Our text is part of the preparatory speech that Joshua is giving the Israelites before they cross the Jordan to begin the conquest of the Land. They have been repeatedly told that the LORD will be with them and go before them, that victory is assured. But do they believe it? Will they remain faithful?
The Israelites are given specific instructions, some of which involves getting twelves stones from the middle of the Jordan River, right where the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant stand as the people cross the Jordan on dry ground. Those stones are then to be set up as a memorial for generations to come. They will stand as a way to pass along the history of the LORD’s intervention in humanity’s story.
We sometimes forget that the LORD is doing things in the life of Israel for a bigger purpose. Just as He did things for Abraham so that the nations of the earth could be blessed, so He is doing things during this time to reach all the earth. All of humanity is the recipient of blessing of the crossing.
Notice the dual focus of our text. The first focus is on the “peoples of the earth.” This action of deliverance happens so that all of humanity might hear a message. This action took place to trumpet the power of the LORD. The LORD actually shows up and does things, unlike other gods.
This message of the power of the LORD that will be heard in the nations actually has taken place already. The people of the land are already “melting in fear” because of what the LORD has already done on behalf of His people. To put it in somewhat modern terms, they are shaking in their boots.
The peoples of the earth are the larger of the two audiences. They are the recipient of this deliverance. They are the primary targets of the LORD’s work.
The second focus is on Israel. They are being shown these things, and are participating in them to do something in their spirits that so far has not really happened. They have failed every test of trust that the LORD has placed before them. To put this in betting terms, they are a long shot to win.
But they are the chosen vessel to reach the world, imperfect as they are. These words have been written to help increase the likelihood that they will remember the things the LORD has done and come to fear/reverence Him. It is one thing to remember and another thing to reverence Him in the way that we live our lives. This is what the LORD was calling them to do. Change their behavior to match the character of the One who had rescued them repeatedly.
And this the call of holiness to which we ourselves are called. We are to remember what Christ has done for us and live our lives for Him. Not out of some false sense of earning His blessing, but out of a thankful heart, fully cognizant of our own unworthiness. And yet He loves us!
The Arnold Journey 