Look at verse 14, ‘That day the Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they revered him all the days of his life, just as they had revered Moses.’ And this has been a recurring theme in the book so far hasn’t it?
Joshua 1:5, ‘As I was with Moses, so I will be with you.’
Joshua 1:17, ‘May the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses.’
Joshua 3:7, ‘I am with you as I was with Moses.’
And now Joshua 4:17, ‘That day the Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they revered him all the days of his life, just as they had revered Moses.’
So, there’s this definite sense that Joshua needs to live up to his predecessor—not by his own strength—but by virtue of being the one chosen by God. And he most certainly has that status.
He was the one to whom God spoke.
He was the one who led the people across the Jordan.
He was the one who was now setting up this monument of stones.
This recalls the confirmation of Jesus being the one God the Father chose and accredited.
Matthew 3:7, ‘a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”’
Matthew 12:18, ‘Here is My servant, whom I have chosen, My beloved, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will proclaim justice to the nations.’
Matthew 17:5, ‘While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!”‘
