How does Joshua 24:7 connect to God's deliverance in Exodus 14? “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. Your own eyes saw what I did in Egypt. And you lived in the wilderness for a long time.” Key words from the verse: cried out, darkness, sea upon them, your own eyes. Scene Revisited: Exodus 14 Snapshot • Exodus 14:19-20 – “The Angel of God… moved behind them; and the pillar of cloud… came between the armies of Egypt and Israel.” Darkness for Egypt, light for Israel. • Exodus 14:21-22 – “Moses stretched out his hand over the sea… the waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground.” • Exodus 14:27-30 – “Moses stretched out his hand… the sea returned… The LORD overthrew the Egyptians.” • Exodus 14:31 – “When Israel saw the great power… the people feared the LORD and believed.” Direct Connections Between the Two Passages • Same cry for help – Exodus 14:10; Joshua 24:7: Israel “cried out to the LORD.” • Same divine barrier – Darkness/light in Exodus 14:19-20 matches “He put darkness between you and the Egyptians.” • Same sea judgment – Exodus 14:27-28: waters cover Egypt; Joshua 24:7: “brought the sea upon them and covered them.” • Same eyewitness testimony – Exodus 14:31: “Israel saw.” Joshua 24:7: “Your own eyes saw what I did.” • Same outcome: fear and faith – Exodus 14:31; Joshua 24:14-15 (call to fear and serve). Why Joshua Reminds Them Here • Covenant renewal moment (Joshua 24:1-28) demands a clear memory of rescue. • God’s past deliverance establishes His exclusive right to Israel’s loyalty (Deuteronomy 6:12-13). • Recounting the Red Sea frames obedience as grateful response, not mere duty. Themes to Notice • Salvation by divine intervention, not human strength (compare Exodus 14:13-14). • A visible, historical act grounding faith in something Israel “saw.” • Judgment and mercy side-by-side: Egyptians swallowed, Israelites spared (Psalm 136:13-15). • The call to remember: forgetting God’s works leads to compromise (Psalm 106:7, 13). Takeaways for Today • Remembering God’s past faithfulness fuels present obedience (Hebrews 10:23). • Deliverance stories are meant to be retold so every generation embraces covenant loyalty (Psalm 78:4-7). • God still makes a way where none exists, separating His people from bondage and defeating enemies no one else can overcome (Romans 8:31-39). |
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