A commentary of M. John Calvin, upon the book of Joshua finished a little…A commentarie of M. Iohn Caluine, vpon the booke of Iosue finished a little…

10 Hereby you shall know, &c.) He extendeth the force of the miracle further than to their entrance into the land, and not without good cause: For that they should only have a way opened into their enemies land, out of which they could have no escape, had been nothing else but to deliver them up unto death and destruction. For being taken in the strait of an unknown land, they might easily have been cut in pieces, or else have perished through famine and want of all things. Wherefore Joshua telleth them before hand, that when God should drive back the river, it should be all one, as if he stretched forth his hand to chase away all the inhabitants of the land: & that token of his power, which he showed in the passage of Jordan, should be a certain prophecy of the victory that they should obtein• against all those nations. Hereby shall you know (saith he) that God will be at hand to help you. For what purpose: Not only that you ⟨image 20⟩should have footing in the land of Canaan, but that you may enjoy the same as your own. For truly when mention is made of chasing away the nations, a quiet and undisturbed possession is noted. Therefore, as by dividing of the river, God clearly showed, that his power was with the Israelites: so the people likewise ought to conceive hope of continual aide, as if they had already seen their enemies vanquished and discomfited. For God useth not to forsake the work of his hands which he hath taken upon him, maimed and unperfect. God divided ¹the waters of Jordan, to make a dry passage to bring his people into the promised inheritance. Therefore, what had been greater frowardness, than that they should have stayed in that one transitory act, and not to have had sure trust in him always afterward, until they had obtained full and quiet possession of the land. Wherefore, by this example let us learn, wisely to join together, such benefits of God, as pertain to the sum of our salvation: that happy beginnings, may nourish in us an hope of like ending. And whereas Joshua doeth say, that the people should know by that miracle that God was present: he doth covertly reprove their distrust: because the only promise of God ought to have ben sufficient to their full assurance upon which alone if our faith be not grounded, we can not choose but waver and stagger often times.