“And when they cried unto the LORD, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea upon them, and covered them; and your eyes have seen what I have done in Egypt: and ye dwelt in the wilderness a long season.”
Context: The book of Joshua recounts the story of the Israelites’ conquest of the Promised Land under the leadership of Joshua, following the death of Moses. In this particular verse, Joshua is speaking to the Israelites, reminding them of God’s faithfulness and deliverance from Egypt.
Crying out to the Lord: The verse begins with the mention of the Israelites crying out to the Lord. It refers to the time when the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt, and they groaned and cried out to God because of their oppression (Exodus 2:23-25). This demonstrates their desperation and dependence on God for deliverance.
God’s response: The verse states that when the Israelites cried out to the Lord, He put darkness between them and the Egyptians. This refers to the plague of darkness that God sent upon Egypt (Exodus 10:21-23). By this miraculous act, God protected the Israelites from the pursuing Egyptians, giving them an opportunity to escape.
Crossing the Red Sea: The verse further recounts how God brought the sea upon the Egyptians, covering them and destroying their army. This event refers to the miraculous parting of the Red Sea, where God allowed the Israelites to cross on dry ground while drowning the pursuing Egyptian army when they tried to follow (Exodus 14:21-28). This event demonstrated God’s power and delivered the Israelites from their oppressors.
Witnessing God’s actions: Joshua reminds the Israelites that they were eyewitnesses to these remarkable events. They had seen firsthand what God had done in Egypt, the darkness, and the destruction of the Egyptians. This served as a reminder of God’s faithfulness and power.
