God’s faithful intervention rescued the Israelites from bondage and established their trust in Him as they journeyed to His land of promise.
“But when they cried out to the LORD, He put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea upon them and covered them; and your own eyes saw what I did in Egypt. And you lived in the wilderness for a long time.” (v.7)
Joshua recounts how Israel became desperate in the face of overwhelming opposition and “cried out to the LORD” (v.7). Their plea for help was answered by God’s miraculous intervention, manifested as “darkness between you and the Egyptians” (v.7). This supernatural barrier points back to the monumental events of the Exodus, where the nation of Israel was delivered from bondage (Exodus 14:19-20). Historically, Egypt was in the northeast corner of Africa, centered on the fertile lands surrounding the Nile River, and had been the powerful empire that enslaved Israel for centuries. When the Israelites pleaded to God, He heard them and demonstrated His sovereignty over nature and nations alike.
God’s actions “brought the sea upon them and covered them” (v.7), referring to the parting of the Red Sea and the subsequent destruction of the Egyptian army. The verse reminds the Israelites, “your own eyes saw what I did in Egypt” (v.7), underscoring the personal, eyewitness experience they had of God’s mighty deliverance. This moment shaped Israel’s collective faith and history, marking the beginning of their journey toward becoming a distinct people under God’s covenant. Joshua, historically placed as Moses’ successor sometime around the late Bronze Age (traditionally dated to the 15th century-14th century BC), is reminding a new generation of how God acted on behalf of their ancestors and proved Himself faithful in times of dire need.
Finally, Joshua highlights that the people “lived in the wilderness for a long time” (v.7), recalling the forty-year period Israel spent wandering before crossing into the Promised Land. This time in the desert tested and refined Israel’s loyalty to God. Jesus would later experience His own testing in the wilderness, triumphing where Israel often wavered (Matthew 4:1-11). Joshua’s call for remembrance challenges the people to maintain their trust in the same God who delivered them, knowing that He alone has power over creation, kingdoms, and the span of human history.
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Joshua 24:7 meaning
“But when they cried out to the LORD, He put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea upon them and covered them; and your own eyes saw what I did in Egypt. And you lived in the wilderness for a long time.” (v.7)
Joshua recounts how Israel became desperate in the face of overwhelming opposition and “cried out to the LORD” (v.7). Their plea for help was answered by God’s miraculous intervention, manifested as “darkness between you and the Egyptians” (v.7). This supernatural barrier points back to the monumental events of the Exodus, where the nation of Israel was delivered from bondage (Exodus 14:19-20). Historically, Egypt was in the northeast corner of Africa, centered on the fertile lands surrounding the Nile River, and had been the powerful empire that enslaved Israel for centuries. When the Israelites pleaded to God, He heard them and demonstrated His sovereignty over nature and nations alike.
God’s actions “brought the sea upon them and covered them” (v.7), referring to the parting of the Red Sea and the subsequent destruction of the Egyptian army. The verse reminds the Israelites, “your own eyes saw what I did in Egypt” (v.7), underscoring the personal, eyewitness experience they had of God’s mighty deliverance. This moment shaped Israel’s collective faith and history, marking the beginning of their journey toward becoming a distinct people under God’s covenant. Joshua, historically placed as Moses’ successor sometime around the late Bronze Age (traditionally dated to the 15th century-14th century BC), is reminding a new generation of how God acted on behalf of their ancestors and proved Himself faithful in times of dire need.
Finally, Joshua highlights that the people “lived in the wilderness for a long time” (v.7), recalling the forty-year period Israel spent wandering before crossing into the Promised Land. This time in the desert tested and refined Israel’s loyalty to God. Jesus would later experience His own testing in the wilderness, triumphing where Israel often wavered (Matthew 4:1-11). Joshua’s call for remembrance challenges the people to maintain their trust in the same God who delivered them, knowing that He alone has power over creation, kingdoms, and the span of human history.