The influence of this miracle, both upon the Hebrews and upon their enemies, was of great importance. It was an assurance 485 to Israel of God's continued presence and protection--an evidence that He would work for them through Joshua as He had wrought through Moses. Such an assurance was needed to strengthen their hearts as they entered upon the conquest of the land--the stupendous task that had staggered the faith of their fathers forty years before. The Lord had declared to Joshua before the crossing, "This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee." And the result fulfilled the promise. "On that day the Lord magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life."

Dette mirakel havde stor betydning både for hebræerne og deres fjender. For Israel var det en forsikring om Guds fortsatte nærværelse og beskyttelse og et vidnesbyrd om, at han ville yde dem sin hjælp gennem Josua, ligesom han havde gjort gennem Moses. En sådan forsikring var nødvendig for at styrke deres hjerter, når de begyndte at erobre landet - denne vældige opgave, som havde fået deres fædres tro til at vakle fyrre år tidligere. Inden overgangen over Jordan havde Herren sagt til Josua: "I dag begynder jeg at gøre dig stor i hele Israel øjne, for at de kan vide, at jeg vil være med dig, som jeg var med Moses." Dette løfte gik i opfyldelse som forudsagt. "På den dag gjorde Herren Josua stor i hele Israels øjne, og de frygtede ham alle hans livs dage, som de havde frygtet Moses."