“I sent Moses also and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, according to that which I did among them: and afterward I brought you out.”
Context: Joshua 24 contains Joshua’s farewell address to the Israelites, in which he reminds them of God’s faithfulness throughout their history. In this particular verse, Joshua recounts God’s deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt through the leadership of Moses and Aaron.
Historical Background: The Israelites were enslaved in Egypt for several centuries. God heard their cry for deliverance and chose Moses to be their leader (Exodus 3:10-12). Moses, along with his brother Aaron, confronted Pharaoh and demanded the release of the Israelites, leading to a series of ten plagues that God brought upon Egypt (Exodus 7-12). These plagues included turning the water of the Nile into blood, the infestation of frogs, gnats, flies, the death of livestock, boils, hailstorms, locusts, darkness, and the final plague of the death of the firstborn (Exodus 7-11).
God’s Authority and Power: In Joshua’s statement, he acknowledges that God sent Moses and Aaron. It highlights God’s sovereignty and His choice to work through human leaders to accomplish His plans. The plagues on Egypt were not merely natural disasters but were direct judgments from God. They were designed to demonstrate God’s power and to break Pharaoh’s resistance to letting the Israelites go. God’s authority over nature, demonstrated through these plagues, was a clear message to the Egyptians that their false gods had no power in comparison to the one true God.
God’s Faithfulness and Deliverance: Joshua reminds the Israelites of God’s faithfulness in fulfilling His promise to deliver them from Egyptian slavery. Despite the hardships they faced, God displayed His power and brought about their liberation. The plagues served as a means to reveal God’s supremacy and to set the stage for the miraculous event of the Exodus, where He led the Israelites through the Red Sea on dry ground (Exodus 14:21-22). By bringing the Israelites out of Egypt, God demonstrated His love, faithfulness, and commitment to His chosen people. He delivered them from oppression and initiated a covenant relationship with them.
Application: Joshua’s reminder of God’s faithfulness in the past serves as a call to the Israelites to remain faithful to God in the present and future. For believers today, this verse emphasizes the importance of remembering God’s faithfulness in our lives. Reflecting on God’s past deliverance and provision can strengthen our faith and trust in Him during challenging times. It encourages us to recognize God’s authority and power over all circumstances and to place our confidence in Him. This verse also reminds us that God is active in history and that He is intimately involved in our lives, guiding and delivering us according to His plans and purposes.
In conclusion, Joshua 24:5 highlights God’s authority, power, faithfulness, and deliverance in the context of the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt. It serves as a reminder for us to trust in God’s faithfulness and to reflect on His past acts of deliverance in our own lives.
