“The waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho.” (Joshua 3:16)
“Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea and the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. 22 And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.” (Exodus 14: 21-22)
“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,”(Joshua 4:23)
He did it again. As the protagonist of Old Testament did to the Red sea, he dried up the Jordan again. According to Exodus, God made the sea dry land, and the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, and finally they escaped from Egypt. Also as same in Joshua, God dried up the waters of the Jordan, and people of Israel passed over, and finally they entered into the promised land. Why did God dry up the Jordan as he did to the Red Sea?
First, He wanted to exalt Joshua to give him authorities by drying up the Jordan.
After Moses, who was the greatest leader, deceased, there has not arisen a prophet in Israel like him, and none like him for all the signs and the wonders that the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt. However, God should had lead the Israelites so that he prepared Joshua the son of Nun. Eventually, the time had come to where God wanted to exalt Joshua as He did to Moses.
“The LORD said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.”” (Joshua 3:7)
The LORD wanted to give Joshua authority so he can lead the people of Israel. He greatly encouraged Joshua to be strong and courageous. When the Israelites saw the great power that the LORD displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared Him and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant. The display of God’s power showed His strength, therefore, the people of Israel followed him.
“Israel saw the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses.” (Exodus 14:31)
“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.” (Joshua 4:12)
Second, He wanted to make Israel remember that miracle from generation to generation so that all people of earth know that the hand of the LORD is mighty.
“And command them, saying, ‘Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests’ feet stood firmly, and bring them over with you and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight.’” (Joshua 4:3)
After the Israelites passed over the dried Jordan, God commanded Joshua to make Israel take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan from right where the priests stood and carry them over and put them down at the place where the Israelites passed over. And he commanded them tell the miracle to their children.
According to the passage, “all the male of the people who came out of Egypt, all the men of war, had died in the wilderness on the way after they had come out of Egypt.” (Joshua 5:4) That meant that for them who were new generation born in wilderness, the Red Sea’s miracle was just a historical event passed down through the ages. God, however, wanted to make Israel faithful and obedient. So, He showed His power to make them remember that He is mighty.
“That this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.”” (Joshua 4: 6-7)
“And he said to the people of Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in times to come, ‘What do these stones mean?’ then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.’ 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.”” (Joshua 4: 21-24)
According to the article by Tony Badillo, “he maintained that stones had serious meaning and suitable for the circumcision.” And according to the article of Cornerstone,” Joshua, like us, recognized that some things are worth remembering. He knew that the Israelites would gradually forget all God had done for them if they didn’t have a constant reminder of it. Building this monument would ensure their memories of Him wouldn’t soon fade.” Whether the twelve stones had serious meaning or not, according to the words, God dried up the Jordan and wanted to be remembered by Israelites through the ages.
At last, he wanted to make other kings feel anxiety so that made it much easier to conquer the promised land.
“As soon as all the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan for the people of Israel until they had crossed over, their hearts melted and there was no longer any spirit in them because of the people of Israel.” (Joshua 5:1)
According to the Literary STUDY BIBLE, Leland Ryken and Philip Graham Ryken, “God does not simply hand over the Promised Land as a gift; the nation need to fight for it and claim it.” (pg. 292) This mean they had to fight with other huge nations and conquer them by themselves. They would have a lot of wars and military collision and God wanted to lead them to victory. This caused the miraculous crossing of the Jordan that showed his great power to other nations for making it much easier for Israelites to conquer the Promised land. As you know, getting a head start is a good strategy of fighting. As other nations feared God when they heard of the miracle of the Red Sea, all the kings of Promised Land feared the God when they heard of the miracle of the Jordan, too.
“Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went out, and none came in.” (Joshua 6:1)
“The peoples have heard; they tremble; pangs have seized the inhabitants of Philistia. Now are the chiefs of Edom dismayed; trembling seizes the leaders of Moab; all the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away.” (Exodus 14: 17-18)
According to the article written by J. Hampton Keathely, “Essential to spiritual victory is our understanding that in Christ, all the enemies we face are in essence defeated foes.” God not only made other kings feel fear, but also gave a spiritual victory to Israel. God dried up the Jordan miraculously and showed his power to other kings, so that made them feel anxious. The fear that other kings felt about Israel kept remaining in their hearts, therefore, giving Joshua and Israelites an advantage over them. (Joshua 10:2) Even the five kings had fled and hidden in the cave at Makkedah. (Joshua 10:16) Isn’t it amazing?
In conclusion, according to the Bible, God dried up the Jordan and made the people of Israel pass over and enter the Promised Land. And through this miraculous event, he exalted Joshua, making Israelites remember his power through the ages, making other kings feel anxiety to God.
Bible literature 